CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling, boating, and ATV activity over the Memorial Day holiday was extremely high. Although activity was high angling success was very low with most anglers only reporting success for northern pike and smallmouth bass. 

Violations included angling with no license in possession, operating an off-highway vehicle on a state highway and possession of an illegal-length fish.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and boaters this past week. He also followed up on an old litter complaint. Velsvaag took several nuisance-animal calls and checked anglers coming out of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the BWCAW checking anglers with area officers. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area forest and county roads checking ATV and motorcycle operators, checked anglers and boaters on lakes and accesses, and checked many campers over the holiday weekend. She handled questions about nuisance beavers, wildlife viewing, camping on DNR lands and campgrounds. 

Manning also assisted Cook County with reports of a domestic disturbance, an illegal campfire and a search for a missing person. 

Enforcement action was taken for operating a watercraft without required lights; no angling license in possession; no state park permit; illegal alcohol possession; and failure to display boat registration.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) focused on OHV activity and water-related activity throughout the week and busy Memorial Day weekend. A very high violation rate was encountered, with violations that included numerous people fishing without licenses; illegal-length northern pike; expired/unregistered watercraft; no personal flotation devices; transporting water in a live well; expired ATV and OHM registrations; illegal youthful operation; and failure to transfer ownership.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and boating activity this past week. Time was also spent in the BWCAW and border waters.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports Cook and Lake counties were full of people enjoying the outdoors leading up to and including the Memorial Day weekend. It seems as if every other vehicle had a canoe strapped to the roof headed northbound toward the BWCAW after the Superior National Forest opened it for overnight camping this past week. A few canoeists were spoken to about updating their registration along with making sure they have the necessary PFD for each person on board. 

Hill switched gears and patrolled for ATV activity throughout the station, contacting a few operators on some remote forest roads. Violations include failure to display registration numbers, no headlight and operate an ATV without a driver’s license. 

There is a hot walleye bite on a lake within the station, prompting Hill to spend some time monitoring anglers and the amount of fish they bring home. Hill responded to multiple calls given out by Cook County.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy holiday weekend on the North Shore. Angling and water recreation activity was high with warmer weather. Enforcement action was taken for unattended fire, no PFDs and licensing violations. Murray assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with an ATV accident involving one fatality.