Conservation Officers’ Reports – March 8

District 5

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and checking angling activities. Ice conditions have rapidly deteriorated as rapid melting has begun. Area forest roads were checked. Equipment was worked on along with various administrative tasks completed.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking ice anglers, with some finding good numbers of panfish and crappies. Some area lakes have become impassable with poor ice conditions, while others remain good for ATV travel. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity and area forest roads. Cannon also assisted St. Louis County on a medical call, and spent time on an ongoing investigation.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling, ATV, and trail enforcement. Larson spent time checking for anglers focusing on trout lakes and other small lakes. Ice conditions are degrading quickly with warm weather and rain. Larson also patrolled for spring trapping activity.

District 6

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports ice conditions were found to be varied and unpredictable on many of the lakes patrolled over the week. One ATV ended up in Birch Lake when the driver was surprised by open water at an ice ridge. More complaints were taken of ATV use on grant-in-aid snowmobile trails. Again, ATV riders are reminded that the absence of snow on snowmobile trails does not necessarily mean it is open to ATV use. Violations included angling without a license in possession, no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger and operating an ATV on a grant-in-aid snowmobile trail.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily angling enforcement throughout the week. Anglers are doing fair on trout and panfish in the area. Foot travel is good yet difficult with no snow to pull a sled, and swamps and areas of current are thawing quickly. Enforcement action for the week included angling with more than one line on a designated trout lake and no trout stamp. Remember to pick up your 2024 licenses if you haven’t already.