District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-12-22
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) monitored trapping activity and checked anglers on the Roseau River and Lake of the Woods. The walleye bite generally has been fair. Violations for the week included no identification on traps, litter, and minor license violations.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were overlimits of walleye, angling with extra lines, litter on the ice, and no license in possession.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and surrounding public lands. Anglers reported mixed to poor success, and the highly variable conditions made for an interesting week of trapping for folks. Enforcement action was taken for failure to tag traps, using an illegal set, and no angling license in possession.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports significant angling activity on Lake of the Woods. Prachar worked with a neighboring officer, and they took enforcement action on a group of 10 anglers with an overlimit of walleyes. Other enforcement action was taken for separate cases of walleye overlimits, angling with no license in possession, and possession of fillets on special regulation waters.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports a hectic week as blizzard conditions impacted the region. Multiple accidents and vehicles off the road caused significant hazards. Despite the conditions, anglers hit the ice on the Red Lake and Thief rivers with measured results. Ice thickness continues to improve, but areas near weedlines are less than optimal for larger fish houses. Enforcement actions for the week included litter on the ice, allowing illegal operation of a snowmobile, angling without licenses in possession, and additional ATV/snowmobile violations.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) focused on recreational vehicle and angling activity throughout the week. Trappers were checked. They were having some success during the fisher/pine marten season. Time was spent presenting to a group of kindergarten through 12th-grade students on furbearer identification.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. The strong winds throughout the week caused significant drifting and whiteout conditions. The ice conditions continue to change, and caution is advised while traveling on the lake.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-12-22
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking ice anglers this week. Time was also spent working recreational vehicle enforcement. Trapping activity was monitored and various calls for service were also received.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week patrolling area snowmobile trails and lakes. Anglers who were willing to brave the cold and windy weather reported a slower bite. Ice conditions continue to improve with the colder weather, with most area lakes having 9 to 13 inches of ice.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) watched snow and snowmobile trail conditions deteriorate early in the week. Just after groomers were out, Mother Nature had other plans and now trails are in poor condition. Ice thickness remains highly variable, with 6 to13 inches observed on a single lake. Time was spent checking anglers and attempting to track down the first responsible parties of notable ice litter of the season. Goodman advises anglers a zero-tolerance approach will be taken for cigarette butts, feces, and other waste left on the ice.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ice anglers and small-game hunters. Other time was spent at monthly K9 training with other members for the DNR K9 Unit. Last week’s weather melted a good amount of the snowfall and limited area snowmobile trails, while recent cold weather has helped improve area ice conditions.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked fishing and trapping related activity. Several calls were fielded regarding motor vehicle operation on forest roads. Any forest road that is part of a designated snowmobile trail is closed to other motor vehicles. Enforcement action included no shelter ID, no shelter license, failure to display ATV registration, and litter.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ice angling and ice shelter activity. Area wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were monitored. A call of dogs chasing deer was investigated. Snowmobile activity was worked, but trails have deteriorated with the recent warm weather.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers and trapping activity in the Moorhead station. Enforcement action was taken for taking ducks out of season.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers, enforcing snowmobiling laws, and working on public waters violations. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, a restoration order, operating an unregistered snowmobile, and taking ducks out of season.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers on area lakes throughout the week. Fishing success has picked up more in the area. Ice thickness has been reported from 6 to 11 inches. A youth snowmobile safety class was spoken to about safe and legal operation. An illegal-length northern pike taken by spearing was addressed.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent time checking local anglers, with most lakes in the area having 12 inches of clear ice on them. Schaefer also assisted with a youth snowmobile safety education class. Enforcement action was taken and documented for individuals failing to purchase a state park vehicle pass and displaying expired ATV registration.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-12-22
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on following up on big-game and water-related cases. She also worked on some training.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) assisted volunteer instructors with a snowmobile safety class, certifying 31 youth. Fishing activity has picked up and fish house violations were monitored. Trapping activity was monitored throughout the week. A “Shop with a Hero” event was attended.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and snowmobile activity during the week. He also conducted equipment maintenance and fielded miscellaneous animal-related complaints.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Most lakes have quality ice for foot, ATV, or snowmobile travel. There have been some cars and trucks being driven on some area lakes. Please be cautious when using motor vehicles and check ice thickness before you use heavy vehicles.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) patrolled angling and snowmobile activity. Lots of anglers were out and having good success. Znajda followed up ongoing deer-season investigations and completed annual training.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) patrolled his station, monitoring ice fishing and trapping activity. Time was also spent fielding various wildlife-related calls and completing training.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) monitored fishing and pheasant-hunting activity in the area throughout the week and weekend. Some hunters are finding success and good ice has allowed people to start accessing lakes with ATVs and using fish houses.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his enforcement efforts towards ice angling and snowmobile activity. No limits of fish were seen in the buckets this week, but anglers were still having some success. Many anglers reporting a strong bass bite on Lake Minnewaska. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, not having angling licenses in possession, and not displaying ATV registration.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-12-22
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech and Winnibigoshish lakes for angling activity. Most anglers are reporting a slower bite, and caution should be used on lakes as ice thickness is variable. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) continued checking ice anglers as colder weather set in. Every week, more anglers have found their way onto the ice, and thickness has slowly increased. There have been several vehicles that have fallen through the ice, so Lien reminds all recreators to check ice thickness as they go when driving on lakes. Snowmobile enforcement was also conducted. The trails range from icy in open areas to small amounts of good snow in wooded areas.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) continued to monitor area fishing activity. Area snowmobile trails, which need some fresh snow, were also patrolled. While checking trapping activity, Sura contacted two individuals slowly cruising down a forest road in their SUV. Both had loaded firearms on their laps in the vehicle. The passenger produced a small-game license in addition to his ID, and when the driver was asked about any hunting licenses, he stated he did not have one, and that the loaded .22 was for target shooting at tree branches. Both were cited for transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling, snowmobiling, and trapping activity.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) observed more anglers making their way onto local lakes. Some hard shelters were observed, but most shelters on the ice are portable. Anglers had limited luck, with most groups checked having a few fish in their possession.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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