CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling activity was high for the final weekend of the winter trout season. Many anglers were contacted, including several groups who had travelled hundreds of miles. In line with the "Stay at Home" executive order, enjoy the outdoors but please do so near your home and while practicing social distancing. Violations included angling with extra lines and no trout stamp in possession.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers this past week. Trout fishing was slow but crappie fishing has picked up. Velsvaag also helped out on a BWCAW patrol and checked ATV riders.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area parks, lakes, accesses, forest campgrounds and cross-country ski trails. She also handled calls on bear hunting, road-killed deer, snowmobile traffic and fishing licenses. Park visitors are reminded that social distancing does not mean driving past the unstaffed self-service registration kiosk and avoiding buying a park permit. Please enjoy the outdoors close to home and don't forget to get your current licenses and registrations.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a very busy week of outdoor enforcement activity. Time was spent in and out of the BWCAW. Bermel observed the highest number of anglers he's ever seen on Birch Lake over the weekend. The activity was not due to a hot crappie bite but more to get out and enjoy the outdoors and nice weather. Plenty of enforcement action to report: trapping without a current trapping or small-game license, untagged trap, taking muskrats in a closed season, fishing without a license, expired snowmobile, OHM, and ATV registrations, ATV and OHM operation violations, and operating an aerator without a permit.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and the end of snowmobile activity. He also contacted several groups of young adults from central and southern Minnesota and Wisconsin camping on public accesses and at closed state park campgrounds.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) checked some last-minute trout anglers during the week. Very few fish were seen in the bag but spirits were still high. Anglers are starting to fish the tributaries as the ice is beginning to recede with a longer stretch of warm weather hitting the area this past week. Snowmobile trails in the area are showing mud and rock, so if you plan on snowmobiling be sure to ride as far north as possible on the G-Trail and the X-Trail to avoid beating your sled up too much. DNR facilities and state parks were monitored and Hill noticed high usage with the statewide push to get people outdoors during this time of uncertainty.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked fishing activity and a litter case where a large pile of trash was dumped at a public access. Many people were encountered from out of town venturing outdoors. Although outdoor activities are allowed, do not travel across several counties to get to your favorite fishing hole at this time.