DNR report: Through Feb. 15

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DNR officer reports through Feb. 15.

Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked snowmobile trails and found a few people out and about, the new snow will help with conditions. Some fishing is taking place but is hampered with the snow on the lakes making access on to the lakes difficult without a sled. Fredin attended a meeting in Duluth concerning future work with the Border Patrol.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) checked area lakes for fishing activity and found many people out on the lakes, though success was mixed. One angler was cited for an overlimit of crappies. The weekend brought more snowmobilers than the area has seen yet this year. Lack of current registration and not displaying or having the required trail sticker were a common theme throughout the weekend.

Mary Manning (Hovland) checked snowmobilers and worked sled trails and forest roads. Manning also worked lakes and checked anglers, many of whom were wondering where the fish are. Several ice fishing shelters were found with little or no reflective materials marking them. This can be a dangerous to the folks inside and to snowmobilers running on lakes at night who may not see the shelter until it is too late. The officer attended training from the Border Patrol, handled equipment maintenance, took calls about a party living on MNDOT land, and delivered a wolf carcass to DNR Wildlife for the Chicago Field Museum.

Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked trout anglers and snowmobilers. Fishing has slowed in the designated trout lakes.

Marty Stage (Ely) checked trout fishermen throughout the area. Fishing is relatively slow for most people, however, some anglers were having good luck with walleyes. A wolf was killed on a snowmobile trail near Ely. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to please call the TIP line at (800) 652-9093.

Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the week working fishing and snowmobile enforcement. Snowmobile trial conditions continue to be in excellent condition. Several calls of injured deer were fielded during the week. Officer Duncan also attended training with several officers given by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports angling success continues to be slow on Duluth area lakes. The primary activity throughout the area is snowmobiling with trails remaining in excellent shape. No current registration/GIA trial stickers, speeding, driving too fast for conditions and failing to stop at stop signs are frequently observed violations. A small amount of marijuana was seized from two anglers using a small fish house as a party shelter.

Jeff Humphrey (Cloquet) reports working angling and snowmobile enforcement throughout the week. Anglers were reporting a slow panfish bite. Snowmobile activity was moderate. Assisted District 10 officers with a snowmobile enforcement work detail in Pine County. Violations included snowmobile speed, registration/permits, fish house shelter license/identification, no angling license possession. He attended training w/U.S. Border Patrol officials in Duluth.

Tags: two harbors, dnr report, outdoors, fishing, recreation