District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports hot and dry weather over the weekend made for extreme fire conditions. Uncontrolled wildfires burning inside the BWCA made huge gains and smoke columns could be seen from the city of Ely. Residents and visitors are asked to be extremely careful with fires and follow the latest restrictions.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Ihnen also patrolled for AIS compliance near area lakes and PWAs. Additional time was spent checking ATV operators.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked area lakes and ATV trails. He responded to wildlife-related and burning complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating, and burning violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports that dry conditions and high temperatures have put the area at high risk for wildfires. Fishing has slowed tremendously with bug hatches and hot weather. Nuisance bears continue to be a problem. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and BWCA-specific violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working a busy week of angling, boating, and ATV enforcement. Many anglers have been encountered over the pastfewweeksfishingwithoutlicenses, and that trend continued this week. Other violations encountered this week included no trout stamp, ATV operation on state highways, driving after cancellation inimical to public safety, unlawful youthful off-highway motorcycle and ATV violations, transporting watercraft with the drain plug in place, no navigational lights after sunset, and minor consumption of alcohol.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily monitoring angling and ATV activity. Time was also spent assisting local agencies with arecovery call in a state park and investigating a TIP complaint. Unusually hot weather hit the North Shore late in the week. Coupled with low humidity and high winds, fire danger is high across the area.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling and ATV activity for the week. Nuisance-bear issues are ongoing. Areafiredangerremainshigh,and restrictions are in place. Please consult the DNR website for additional information. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of angling and ATV-related violations.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week patrolling area ATV trails. Time was also spent working AISenforcementwithK9Jet.Blockalso spent time working angling activity.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) spent most of his time patrolling area waterways throughout the week. Anglers were reporting better results as the week continued. He also attended the Littlefork District Fair and answered several questions related to the online licensing system. Kennedy took calls related to problem bears and injured animals in the area. Enforcement for t he week included angling without a license, no license in possession, and operating ATVs on a State Highway. He was advised of a public water access closed for the Tilson Bay Public Access Site: Tilson Bay Public Water Access Ramp on Rainy Lake will be closed to the public in late July due to the asphalt being replaced in the ramp area.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports the heat was brutal for anglers, leaving most of them on shore swimming instead. For those enduring time in the boat most reports were fish too big to keep. Conditions in the area are extremely dry with fire bans on for a large part of the area. Any fires are being strongly discouraged.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports fire danger is extreme, and numerous fires are ongoing locally. Closures have been enacted, and several restrictions related to campfires are now in place given the extreme conditions.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent most of the week on the water checking anglers and monitoring boating activity. Boating activity remains high with the hot weather, though anglers aren’t having much luck finding walleyes willing to bite.
