DNR Report: March 30

Talk about it

Lake County

Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that he checked anglers along the North Shore rivers. Water temperatures were right and a few anglers reported catching steelhead. Patrolled Tettegouche and Split Rock state parks. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession and dog off leash in a state park.

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) reports that numbers of anglers are taking to the rivers in search of Steelhead and Kamloops. A few fish have been caught, but water temps remain on the cool side and rain is needed. Many anglers are trolling Lake Superior looking for salmon and kamloops. Worked local accesses looking for AIS issues. Most boaters in the area seem to be pretty well informed about drain plug requirements and are complying with the law. A district meeting was attended as well as an instructor meeting for the upcoming academy.

North Shore

Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked with other officers on a Rainy River detail. Two sober individuals thought it would be a good idea to have their intoxicated fishing partner drive the 115 horsepower boat while they fetched the truck and trailer for loading the boat after a day of fishing. The intoxicated boater thought it would be a good idea to draw attention to himself by driving the boat around in circles creating a big wake next to where other anglers were trying to load their boats on the ramp. These ideas didn’t work out well for the intoxicated boater. Compliance for pulling the boat plugs, draining bait water, and live wells was good overall, but a few citations were issued for those who didn’t comply. One individual was stopped for not having his plug out and was found to be hauling a live well full of water from an infested body of water.

Mary Manning (Hovland) reports Lake Superior tributaries are flowing and fish are beginning to move in. The officer checked anglers and patrolled area fish sanctuaries. Winter equipment was prepped for storage and summer equipment is being brought online. Attended a district meeting and answered questions on snowmobile water skipping, dogs chasing deer, and spring beaver trapping.

Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers along the North Shore in the Lake Superior tributaries. Few fish were caught but anglers were happy to get in the streams this early. The Officer attended a district meeting held in Two Harbors that involved AIS training. Wahlstrom completed equipment maintenance, returned phone calls and worked ATV enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling while revoked and litter.

North

John Velsvaag (Ely) checked ATVers this past week. Took several calls on trapping including several accidental catches. Attended a district meeting and Firearms Safety class.

Marty Stage (Ely) worked the last of the trout ice fishermen and documented garbage left on the ice by fish house owners. They will be receiving their summonses in the mail. Everything left on the ice is garbage. This included cardboard, plywood, carpet, blocks of wood, tackle wrappers, piles of ash (with nails and tinfoil among other things), oil, etc. It all needs to go off the lake when you go. Please keep our lakes beautiful by doing your part. The ice in Ely is either gone or so unsafe that no one should be out on it. Be careful.

South

Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work shore and river fishing along Lake Superior. The local rivers have been getting lots of fishing pressure during the past week. Assisted officers on a work detail along the Rainy River between Baudette and International Falls. Many fishermen were checked while fishing and also educated on invasive species laws at the accesses. A complaint is being investigated that will likely involve big game charges.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Keith Olson (Unit Leader-Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked shore anglers and river fishermen along the North Shore. He also worked a detail on the Iron Range, assisted Duluth PD with suspects fleeing on foot from a stolen vehicle, and attended a booth at the Douglas Sports show in Superior, Wisconsin.

Tags: two harbors, outdoors