Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
May 05, 2021 07:18AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - May 3, 2021
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the past week checking steelhead anglers along the North Shore of Lake Superior. He responded to nuisance-animal calls and followed up on past investigations. Time was also spent preparing equipment for the upcoming fishing opener.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports checking a good number of ATV operators and a couple OHM riders. Compliance was very good. Manning also checked anglers on Lake Superior tributaries and took a few angling questions. Forest road conditions are greatly improved thanks to dry weather. Fire danger is also high and permits are restricted, so property owners should check before making plans to do any spring-cleanup burning.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked sucker spearing, checked anglers, patrolled state parks, and worked burning and ATV enforcement. One individual encountered was angling on a trout lake (closed season) while angling privileges were revoked, resulting in a citation for those violations. Other enforcement action included chasing a wild animal with a motor vehicle, no burning permit, no helmet on an ATV passenger under 18, expired registration, failure to stop at a road crossing, transporting watercraft with a drain plug in place, snagging fish, using a dip net in a closed season, and an illegal body gripping trap set. If anyone has information as to the identity of the male who speared a muskie in Tower on April 24, please call Bermel or the TIP line. You can remain anonymous.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and some boat traffic. ATV trails are still closed in the area, but Silver Bay was still able to host two ATV safety classes.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports anglers are hitting the tributaries hard in search of steelhead. Success has been pretty good with Hill seeing some nice fish being landed. Hens are still full of eggs and he anticipates this success will continue into the future are more fish are showing up to spawn. One steelhead angler was arrested after Hill contacted them carrying a handgun while the angler?s blood alcohol concentration was .04 or more. A few violations for using treble hooks, having no angling license, and having no trout stamp were also documented throughout the past week. ATVs are starting to utilize the trails and roadways with a nice stretch of weather upon us. Hill also saw good numbers of ruffed and spruce grouse frequenting the roadways. Hopefully a strong nesting season brings a bountiful fall.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked smelting and Lake Superior stream trout activity. Boating activity has risen as anglers prepare watercraft for the open-water season. A reminder to boaters to check watercraft for all required safety equipment such as PFDs, lights, fire extinguishers, a sound-producing device, and current registration.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the past week checking steelhead anglers along the North Shore of Lake Superior. He responded to nuisance-animal calls and followed up on past investigations. Time was also spent preparing equipment for the upcoming fishing opener.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports checking a good number of ATV operators and a couple OHM riders. Compliance was very good. Manning also checked anglers on Lake Superior tributaries and took a few angling questions. Forest road conditions are greatly improved thanks to dry weather. Fire danger is also high and permits are restricted, so property owners should check before making plans to do any spring-cleanup burning.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked sucker spearing, checked anglers, patrolled state parks, and worked burning and ATV enforcement. One individual encountered was angling on a trout lake (closed season) while angling privileges were revoked, resulting in a citation for those violations. Other enforcement action included chasing a wild animal with a motor vehicle, no burning permit, no helmet on an ATV passenger under 18, expired registration, failure to stop at a road crossing, transporting watercraft with a drain plug in place, snagging fish, using a dip net in a closed season, and an illegal body gripping trap set. If anyone has information as to the identity of the male who speared a muskie in Tower on April 24, please call Bermel or the TIP line. You can remain anonymous.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and some boat traffic. ATV trails are still closed in the area, but Silver Bay was still able to host two ATV safety classes.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports anglers are hitting the tributaries hard in search of steelhead. Success has been pretty good with Hill seeing some nice fish being landed. Hens are still full of eggs and he anticipates this success will continue into the future are more fish are showing up to spawn. One steelhead angler was arrested after Hill contacted them carrying a handgun while the angler?s blood alcohol concentration was .04 or more. A few violations for using treble hooks, having no angling license, and having no trout stamp were also documented throughout the past week. ATVs are starting to utilize the trails and roadways with a nice stretch of weather upon us. Hill also saw good numbers of ruffed and spruce grouse frequenting the roadways. Hopefully a strong nesting season brings a bountiful fall.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked smelting and Lake Superior stream trout activity. Boating activity has risen as anglers prepare watercraft for the open-water season. A reminder to boaters to check watercraft for all required safety equipment such as PFDs, lights, fire extinguishers, a sound-producing device, and current registration.
