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District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-03-16
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports the ice is going fast and that it probably won?t be safe to access the lakes by next weekend. Anglers were monitored and checked. Waterfowl migration is on and some great opportunities exist to watch birds in full plumage. It is a great time to check and clean wood duck boxes for something to do during the great spring weather.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the past week were concentrated on checking anglers and ATV operators. Ice conditions on area lakes are deteriorating, with most lakes only accessible by walking. Anglers are urged to use caution as the ice varies from day to day.
CO Emily Leeb (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement this past week. Enforcement action for the week included fishing without a fishing license in personal possession and operating an ATV without required headlights.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focusing on recreational vehicle and angling enforcement, as well as safety education classes. She took several calls from the public with various questions ranging from the light goose conservation season to lifetime licenses. Wood gave the CO presentation for a firearms safety class and a snowmobile safety class that took place in her area. Violations encountered this past week were angling without a license, operating a Class 1 ATV on a state highway, leaving a fish house at a public access, improperly marked fish house, operating outside the hours allowed by a limited license, and operating an ATV without headlights.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked with other officers on an incidentally taken wolf. This past week, Plautz monitored ice conditions and ice anglers, assisted numerous ELS agents with questions and troubleshooting the new husband/wife combination angling license, and spoke to a firearms safety class on laws and ethics. Plautz is working with area volunteer instructors and community education on setting up ATV safety classes for the upcoming months.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) watched throughout the week as ice conditions continued to decline. The number of anglers also dropped each day. A few easy-to-access spots are getting hit hard by sunfish anglers, but most lakes are foot-traffic-only, with very few ATVs observed on lakes. Several citations were issued for angling without licenses, as well as operating a side-by-side ATV on a snowmobile trail. A dead bald eagle was found in the middle of a lake with no signs of injuries. Lawler seized the bird and transferred it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for proper disposal.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, ATV riders, and area lakes. Ice on several area lakes has started to pull away from shore, making it unsafe to get on. Firearm safety class questions and ATV operation questions were handled.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) checked anglers and worked recreational vehicle activity during the past week. Time was also spent working on a public waters complaint and organizing a firearms safety class. Training was completed as required for the Wildfire Investigation Team. Enforcement activity involved ATV safety and registration violations.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-03-16
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working wildfire enforcement with DNR Forestry personnel. Time was also spent attending various meetings and training sessions. Anglers were contacted on local lakes.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked ice anglers, marked some ice shelters and answered animal-related complaints.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) checked anglers on area lakes. He spent a day field training with COC Baum. Ice conditions are still in good condition and individuals are reporting success catching panfish. Time was spent marking shelters before the removal deadline.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports ice condition have begun to deteriorate on the accesses as warmer weather has hampered access to some lakes. Travel has been reduced to foot and some ATV use, though reports of ATVs going through the ice have been reported. Enforcement activity has focused on some of the new quality sunfish lakes with information and education being the prime focus. Abandoned shelters were addressed. Vinton participated in a work detail in a neighboring district.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with a search warrant, attended training and worked on equipment maintenance.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the past week working sport fishing, trapping and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent responding to miscellaneous wildlife-related calls.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the past week checking ice anglers. The bite slowed down after the recent snowfall, but some anglers are having luck. Other time was spent patrolling for fire activity. With the nice weather, many people have started clearing brush and other items and starting their spring burning. Swedberg wants to remind Becker County residents that they are required to have a burning permit on hand if they are planning on having any fire larger than a campfire, and to make sure they are not burning any garbage or other prohibited materials.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling activity and fish house removal. An ice fishing tournament was monitored. Patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Warren investigated a call of a possible injured eagle. A law and ethics talk was given to a snowmobile safety class in Mahnomen.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the past week monitoring angling activity in the station. The panfish bite remains good, but ice conditions vary and anglers should use caution.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-03-16
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) continued to check fishing activity. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent time working state forests due to recent forest road and trail closures. Ice conditions are deteriorating quickly and the several anglers checked reported the bite to be slow. Enforcement action was taken for no horse trail pass, operating an unregistered ATV, no license in possession and no ATV safety. Anderson also made a DWI arrest.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time checking anglers and ATV riders during the past week. Kunst wants to remind people planning to ride ATVs in the Remer area that the ATV trails are still closed for spring thaw. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish without a license, failure to have an angling license in personal possession, expired ATV registration, ATV operating on a highway and juvenile riders failing to wear a helmet. Kunst also responded to a call about a snowmobile that went through the ice. Lakes continue to melt and the shorelines are quickly receding from the land. Remember to be extra cautious this time of year if you plan on heading out onto the ice.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) and COC Baum checked various lakes around the area. The ice has started to weaken and is variable in thickness in spots due to the recent warm weather. Some anglers were seen catching a few perch and crappies. Mathy attended a Bear Committee meeting. A deer case was also investigated. Enforcement action was taken for deer-hunting and ATV-related violations.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-03-16
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working ATV and angling activity on special regulation lakes this past week. Angler report a slow bite for panfish, and the warm weather has caused ice conditions to start to deteriorate. Regas reports starting to see open water on some lakes. Two tires of an ATV dropped through the ice on a bad spot of the ice on Gull Lake. Regas cautions anglers that ice conditions are starting to vary in thickness significantly. Time was spent monitoring ATV seasonal spring thaw complaint areas and working on online training.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad North) worked angling, off-highway vehicle and fire enforcement this past week. Anglers should be aware that ice conditions on most areas of Lake of the Woods are degrading fast. Few places are allowing traffic onto the lake, and for a good reason no fish is worth the risk of a loss of life or equipment. Forest roads and burning restrictions are now in place. Check the DNR website for updates. Enforcement action taken this past week included failure to obtain a burning permit, burning prohibited materials and camping in a closed area of a state park.
CO Marc Johnson (Warroad South) worked angling activity on Lake of the Woods, patrolled state forests and parks, and spent time assisting local law enforcement agencies. The ice conditions continue to deteriorate on Lake of the Woods, and anglers should exercise extreme caution as reports of vehicles and shelters falling through areas of poor ice continue. Spring road restrictions have been implemented on many roads in the Beltrami Island State Forest.
CO Aaron Larson (Baudette West) primarily checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Warmer weather has limited the number of accesses that are open to traffic onto the lake. Anglers seem to be having little success catching walleye and saugers.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and attended training for arson investigation. A litter complaint was investigated south of Badger regarding dumped deer carcasses. Walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods has been slow, while pike fishing has been picking up. Violations for the past week included litter, angling with extra lines and operating unregistered ATVs. Anglers are reminded to only buy certified dead bait for pike fishing and to keep the packaging with the bait.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls #1 -West) answered calls on the upcoming turkey seasons and elk lottery drawing. He investigated a complaint of unlawful snaring of coyotes and monitored the removal of the last of the ice shelters in the northern region.
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) reports ATV activity increases with the warmer weather. He spent time monitoring fishing and ATV activity. Brown also worked a detail on Lake of the Woods. Not too many fish to report from anglers. Remember to test the ice frequently as it is becoming unstable in some spots. Violations this past week included fishing with an extra line, failure to display ATV registration, failure to transfer title, and operating an ATV without the required lights activated.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls #2 – East) worked angling and ATV enforcement, and responded to several wildfires this past week. Violations encountered included taking fish out of season, angling without a license, and various ATV-related violations.
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