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District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he spent a portion of the week assisting with closures and evacuations from the major wildfires burning in the area. Although rain and cooler weather have now arrived, giving firefighters abreak from the extreme fire danger, residents and visitors are again reminded to use caution with fires. Violations included no trout stamp on a designated trout lake and failure to display ATV registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent most ofhistimethisweekfocusingonfishing and boating activity. Additional time was spent monitoring ATV activity. Ihnen also assisted the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office with responding to the wildfires.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers on area lakes, with a few reports of fish. Boaters are remindedtocheckforsafetyequipment before venturing onto the water. Area spawning closures were also monitored. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and fishing violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports the Arrowhead region of the state experienced strange weather conditions, ranging from aggressive wildfires to wet snow flurries. Fishing was slow for most anglers as pressure changes and cold water led to tough conditions. Enforcement action was taken for various violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working angling, boating, and AIS enforcement and assisting with local wildfires throughout the week. Enforcement action included fishing without a license, illegal-length northern pike, use of live minnows on a trout lake, insufficient PFDs, and failure to drain water prior to leaving the lake. Conditions went from hot and dry to cold and wet, aiding firefighting efforts but putting adamper on outdoor recreation.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week checking local anglers. Time was also spent assisting with the wildfires in the northeast. Cooler weather and higher humidity rolled in near the end of the week, hopefully helping reduce the fire danger.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling enforcement for the week. Time was spent patrolling the BWCA and assisting with the Camp House fire. He spoke with students about rules and regulations as part of the Cook County Middle School firearms safety course. Anglers are reporting a slower bite and cold water.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports the recent rains have put the fire conditions back to normal. However, the cold front has put a damper on the fishing success on the Rainy River and Rainy Lake. Along with responding to small fires, fishing, boating, and ATV enforcement continue to be the main emphasis of the workload.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week checking anglers on area lakes and rivers. Trapping and ATV activity were monitored throughout the area as well.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports activity in the area continues to increase aspeoplegetcampersandcabins open for the summer. An uptick in the number of boats on the roadway was noticed, coinciding with the Canadian fishing opener. Trapping activity has ended for the season and furs requiring registration were tended to. Fishing activity continues to pick up and success has been reported as the water temperatures have risen. Illegal burning was investigated, and multiple litter complaints were investigated. Equipment maintenance and preparation was completed.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) monitored area lakes over the week. Few fish were observed being caught. ATV activity and area forest roads were checked. Ongoing monitoring of public access sites continues. Numerous beaverrelated problems were dealt with over the week. Equipment work continues.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking anglers and monitoring ATV activity and the close of spring trapping. The bite on area lakes has been up and down with the big weather changes. Cannon also responded to several fires, including helping on the Jenkins Creek fire early in the week.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and trapping enforcement. He assisted DNR Wildlife with the spring otter registration station in Tower. He also spent time checking for ATV and OHV activity in his station. Violations were related to trapping and small game.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) spent the week at Camp Ripley assisting with training the current CO Academy, which consists of 13 cadets. The cadets were trained all week in use of force, firearms, and defensive tactics.
CO ShaneZavodnik(Virginia)spent time at the State Capital for National Police Week as an Honor Guard member. Additionaltimewasspentinvestigating a trespass complaint, attending spring fur registration day, and preparing for upcoming CO Academy training.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers continued to report limited success. Few ATVs were encountered this week. Broughten assisted with evacuations from area wildfires and investigated a wetland violation. Broughten also gave a presentation to Mesabi East first-grade students on life jackets and ATV helmets.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) made boat safety checks, enforced aquatic invasive species laws, and checked anglers.Enforcementactionwastaken for possession of fish within the protected slot. Wildlife-related calls were handled, and assistance was given to other law enforcement agencies. Atheft complaint was investigated involving a trap used for wildlife studies. The investigation resulted in the recovery of the stolen trap.
COJaysonHansen(Bigfork)worked ATV, small-game, and fishing activities. He patrolled area trails. Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, responded to TIP complaints,andmonitoredoff-highway vehicle activity. Fairbanks and his K9 partner Fennec also assisted in a warrant pick up and attended training. Enforcement action was taken for angling in a closed area, license issues, and illegal OHV operation.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked a cooler and slower first week of the walleye and northern pike season. Some individuals found bass biting more than other fish, with few walleyes being caught. The larger lakes like Bowstring and Winnibigoshish seemed to produce better in the area. Sutherland worked trapping issues and took enforcement action for angling without a license and operating an unregistered ATV.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working sport fishing, boating, ATV, and AIS enforcement activities. Anglers were greeted with a drastic change in weather over the weekend, slowing productivity. Enforcement action was taken for several angling, license, and boating violations.
CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) spent time checking anglers and monitoring boating activity. The ATV trails are now open and beginning to see some use. Recent rainfalls were very welcome as they greatly reduced the fire danger in the area.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) reports it is illegal to fish the Mississippi River within 300 feet below the Pokegama Reservoir Dam. Numerous complaints have been received and addressed. Time was also spent on boating safety and assisting stranded boaters. Holt investigated awildfire and attended a youth firearms safety field day. Enforcement activity involved AIS violations, angling license violations, and fishing in closed areas.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying numerous fire detection flights and one Rainy Lake creel flight. Anglerswerecheckedviaseaplaneand one public waters impact was forwarded to a local officer.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) conducted moose calf survey flights. Fire mapping flights were also completed to assist with wildfire efforts.
CO Pilot Ryan Hanna (Grand Rapids) received a request to verify a violation of illegal ATV use in a remote area. Hanna conducted the mission and relayed pertinent information to the CO on the ground for follow up.
CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) flew wood duck telemetry flights and a waterfowl surveyflight.Healsoconducted a training flight to regain currency in the amphibious float plane for summer missions.
