DNR report: May 28

Talk about it

Reports filed Sunday from conservation officers for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) monitored an area stream stocked with trout to ensure that length restrictions were being followed. Numerous bear complaints have been handled through the vacant Silver Bay station. Work continued on a wetlands case as well as investigating an incident of a truck being driven on a state snowmobile trail. Fishing was slow again this week with a few anglers filling their bag while others struggled to catch just one walleye.

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Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work area lakes for fishing and boating enforcement. Time was also spent working area rivers for trout fishing and taking enforcement action for fishing in closed areas. Also assisted DNR Forestry with a few illegal burn piles that contained prohibited materials. A few days were also spent at local accesses educating the public on invasive species and reminding them not to transport any water when leaving infested lakes.

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Randy Hanzal (Duluth) worked an invasive species detail along the St. Louis River. At least two unsuspecting watercraft owners were stopped as they were about to unknowingly transport zebra mussels back to their homes in the Twin Cities area. Illegal trapping out of season case was investigated. A possible wetland violation was inspected. Anglers keeping illegal length fish, steelhead and several boating violations were also encountered.

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Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) spent the week checking boaters and anglers on area lakes and the St. Louis River. He worked a shift at a boat access checking for compliance with invasive species laws. One angler kept a fish they were not sure about, which is not commonly caught in the St. Louis River. It turned out to be a species with no open season — be aware of what you are possessing or release it. Rivers were also checked. Responded to a complaint of anglers fishing in a closed spawning area. Enforcement action taken for boating and angling violations.

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Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. Two juveniles riding an unregistered ATV in the right-of-way of a state highway with no helmets were educated as to safe riding practices, along with their parents. VHS information was given boaters along the St Louis River, and assistance given to local agencies with in-progress calls. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, angling, and boating violations.

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Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked anglers and recreational boaters on Lake Superior. An invasive species detail was worked on the St. Louis River. Local tributary streams were checked that recently had been stocked with undersized rainbow trout. A timber wolf complaint was fielded from a local farmer.

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John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers on area lakes this past week. He also took several wolf calls and a beaver complaint. Received two complaints on deer baiting from last season.

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Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishermen throughout the week and found many to be doing well. The mosquitoes are winding up for the summer. Boat and canoe registrations are way better this year than last, but people not having their fishing licenses in possession seems to be getting a bit out of hand. You are required to have it with you when fishing. It takes a lot extra officer time to track down the information to verify if someone has a license or not.

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Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) did fishing and boating safety checks. Lake trout have been cooperating more than walleyes. He assisted with an ATV safety class and also took a complaint of a bear misbehaving in the Trail Center area.

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Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused on fishermen and boating safety. The walleye bite is slowly picking up. Taught the classroom and riding portion of an ATV class with neighboring officers and volunteer instructors.

Tags: two harbors, dnr report, outdoors