Image:  MN DNR

From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - December 11, 2024

District 6 - Two Harbors area

Last updated: 2024-12-09

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports warmer weather and rain arriving over the weekend put an end to the small amount of ice fishing activity seen in the Ely area. The first snowmobilers were checked operating where they could find snow. Violations included operating a snowmobile on a roadway and late deer registration.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused primarily on hunting and fishing activity this week. He also contacted ATV operators.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports checking anglers and muzzleloader hunters and working follow-up cases from deer season. Ice has been very slow to form, is inconsistent, and now with the warm weather and heavy snow people will need to take extreme caution if venturing out on the ice. Enforcement action for the week included permitting a youth to take a doe in a buck-only area, deer-registration violations, depositing garbage on the ice, and driving a pickup on a grant-in-aid snowmobile trail.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked early ice anglers, who had some luck with a few fish on the ice. Some lakes have decent ice and some of the bigger lakes are still completely open. Please use caution when venturing out on the ice. A few snowmobilers were checked hitting the backcountry roads.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports a few anglers have been checked venturing out on early ice. Most of the lakes in the area remain and ice thickness varies significantly from lake to lake. Equipment maintenance was performed.

CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on trapping and ice angling enforcement for the week. Time was spent answering wildlife-related calls and issuing deer-possession permits. A few ice anglers were checked but noted very thin and variable ice. Please use extreme caution if venturing out. Most snowmobilers and cross-country skiers remained on the sidelines waiting for better conditions.

CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) finished field training early this week and began working the Silver Bay station. Time was spent learning the area and checking early ice anglers. A handful of snowmobile riders have been seen using the trails after the recent batch of fresh snow.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping and angling activity during the week. Ice conditions remain unsafe for most area lakes until colder weather improves ice depths. Murray worked on division training items and continued to wrap up big-game investigations from the firearms season.