KFGO file photo
Last updated: 2025-02-24
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) worked Lake of the Woods, checking both anglers and snowmobile activity during the busy weekend at the Northwest Angle. Fishing in general is slow. Violations for the week included angling without a license, no shelter license, angling with extra lines, and operating an unregistered snowmobile.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and monitoring snowmobile traffic. Violations encountered were angling without a license, no angling license in possession, no shelter license, failure to display shelter license, and littering.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) attended emergency vehicle operation course training at Camp Ripley this week. Fontes also assisted with a law enforcement funeral.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased angling and snowmobile activity. Time was spent on Lake of the Woods following up on complaints of vehicles operating on the grant-in-aid snowmobile trail and patrolling near the Northwest Angle. Enforcement action was taken for illegal operation of an ATV, DWI, and expired registration on a snowmobile.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) checked on local anglers and patrolled area snowmobile trails with neighboring COs. With the higher temps later in the week he saw an increase in both activities. Warmer weather in the forecast may result in trail conditions deteriorating quickly. Enforcement action for the week included failure to display registration, no license in possession, no shelter license, and unmeasurable fish/fillets on ice.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking anglers on the Red Lake River who were enjoying the nice weather over the weekend. Time was spent speaking to a class of ninth- to 12th-grade students about becoming a conservation officer.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Snowmobile trail conditions deteriorated rapidly over the weekend with the warm weather. Angling success continues to vary on Upper Red Lake depending on where an individual sets up.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was spent working Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for litter and illegal possession of walleyes.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-03-03
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports speaking at the Fertile Community Center about the duties of a conservation officer. Time was further spent checking anglers and ATV operators. Most permanent fish houses have been taken off area lakes and rivers.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) kept busy handling animal-related calls and possession-permit inquiries. Meanwhile, the sudden warmup brought the snowmobile season to an abrupt halt. Most ice shelters also made an early exit, well ahead of the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on March 17 for inland waters in the northern one-third of the state.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) patrolled area lakes for panfish anglers and remaining ice shelters. Signs of receding ice on some shores, flowing water, and high-traffic areas were observed. While most lakes have significant ice thickness remaining, Goodman urges anglers to check conditions frequently this time of year.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) attended K9 training with his K9 partner Axel. It was the first week of their training and they both learned a lot during the week and are excited to continue. Swedberg also assisted with an investigation involving several fishing violations. He also found the source of a large plume of black smoke and issued a citation for burning prohibited materials.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) completed annual required training, continued to prepare for upcoming Academy instruction, and patrolled area lakes. Most shelters have been removed, but owners are reminded to not wait until last minute, as the conditions can change rapidly. Snowmobile riding appears to be done for the season.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and related activities. Anglers are reminded that 2024 ice angling licenses expired on Feb. 28. Fish house removals were monitored, and people are reminded that fish houses cannot be left at public accesses. Warren also worked snowmobile and ATV activity at the Snodeo event near Naytahwaush.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent most of the week ensuring the remaining ice shelters were removed from area lakes. Large amounts of litter were left behind from some shelters. Citations for litter on ice were written and more shelter owners will be followed up with.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked area lakes for activity. Most fish houses were removed and abandoned portable shelters were removed by Manteufel. Ice water rescue, with area first responders, was attended and ATV operation with no headlights on was addressed.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week working a detail on Lake of the Woods and a snowmobile event on North Twin Lake. Time was also spent checking burbot anglers on Lake Bemidji. Enforcement action was taken for prohibiting unlawful youthful operation of an ATV, fishing with extra lines, overlimit of walleyes, fishing without a license, and depositing litter on the ice.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-03-03
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling enforcement. With the ice conditions quickly deteriorating and the fish house removal deadline (11:59 p.m. on March 3 for inland waters in the southern two-thirds of the state), most shelters have been removed from the lakes. A general reminder that now is a good time to look at upcoming safety classes for the year and get youth signed up before classes fill.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) monitored fish houses on area lakes for the upcoming removal deadline. Fishing and ATV activity was worked, as were littering violations. An upcoming snowmobile safety class has been postponed due to lack of snow.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and the little snowmobile activity that was still present. Nuisance/miscellaneous wildlife-related calls were received and fielded. Equipment maintenance was also conducted throughout the week.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Fishing overlimits were investigated and lakes were checked for fish house removal. New angling licenses are required as of March 1, 2025.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continued monitoring angling activity. She reports public accesses in her station are quickly deteriorating with recent warm weather. She attended a training with Douglas County and the Alexandria Police Department. She also assisted in teaching officer water survival training to the newest State Trooper academy.
CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports angling success on Lake Traverse and neighboring lakes as the season ends. Although that is the case, there was a great turnout for the Lake Traverse Walleye Masters Tournament. Stringer wants to thank anglers for a great cooperative effort thus far in removal of shelters from the ice. Remember, leave no trace is always a good practice. Stringer assisted a station partner in an angling while revoked investigation where other serious violations were uncovered. Other enforcement actions included no shelter license, extra line, no license in possession, and ATV violations.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for expired ATV registration, youth passengers without helmets, and burning prohibited materials.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were focused on checking anglers and ATV operators. Additional time was spent setting up a firearms safety class and monitoring area lakes for the fish house removal deadline. Warm weather has started to deteriorate access points on area lakes and anglers are reminded to use caution when venturing onto late-season ice.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-03-03
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked anglers and on medical and law enforcement training throughout the week.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for ice angling activity. Baum found several anglers having luck on panfish on area lakes. Baum urges anglers with shelters on the ice to continue to monitor ice conditions with the nearing deadline. Area snowmobiles trails are showing ground in most areas with the recent snow melt. Baum took enforcement action on take fish out of season and shelter violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) monitored angling and snowmobile activity through the week. Wildlife-possession permits were issued. Enforcement action was taken for an overlimit of sunfish, no license in possession, and ice shelter identification violations. Shelters were documented, as the removal deadline is 11:59 p.m. on March 3.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked Leech Lake throughout the week. Overall, fishing is slow, and ice is starting to deteriorate. Caution is advised if venturing out on the lakes. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked perch anglers. The ice is already showing signs of weakening; a report of a truck that partially went through the ice on Cass Lake was taken. Mathy attended a Bear Committee meeting and a Leech Lake Advisory Committee meeting. Some time was spent completing training items.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) completed required annual training and miscellaneous equipment maintenance. Follow-up work was completed for ongoing wetlands and trespass complaints. A call was taken for a great gray owl that was struck and killed on the highway.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and ATV activity. She reminds anglers to purchase a new fishing license. She also investigated littering complaints.
Staples vacant.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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