Conservation Officer David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area fishing activity this past week. Cold weather slowed fishing greatly along Lake Superior’s tributaries. State parks remained very busy with several vehicle pass and illegal-camping violations noted. A reminder that state park and state forest campgrounds are closed. Fire conditions near Lake Superior are getting worse and will continue as the snow slowly melts up the hill away from the lake.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked Lake Superior stream-fishing activity and monitored state parks. He encountered large numbers of travelers from far and wide along the North Shore over the weekend. Spring beaver-trapping activity increased and fire restrictions have begun in many areas along with state forest road closures.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Cook County with a structure fire in downtown Grand Marais. Manning also worked a busy week checking anglers on Lake Superior’s shore and tributaries and checking areas closed to fishing. State park use was very high again over the weekend and compliance with permit purchase improved. The majority of visitors to the North Shore are still from well outside the area.
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports ATV activity was again high over the week and weekend. The majority of snow is now gone from the roads and woods, making it much easier to navigate on some of the forest roads. Williams asks that ATV riders pay close attention to all road and trail markers and not operate on trails closed to ATV use.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking state parks, DNR campgrounds and buildings. A large influx of people from the Twin Cities and surrounding area flooded the state parks over the weekend. Very few people decided to buy a park pass. Wahlstrom assisted the county with crowd control during a structure fire in Grand Marais. He spent time checking anglers along the North Shore tributaries. He took enforcement action for angling, ATV and state park violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the Rainy River during the catch-and-release walleye season. He saw few boats on the river. He spent time on equipment maintenance and monitored ATV use.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reported contacting multiple trout anglers during the past week. Most behaved, but a few were found to be in possession of marijuana. Fish were also finicky with temperatures still a little cold. State park vehicle passes were again hard to come by as people continue to enter the park without a permit. A few people were also contacted for camping violations. Even though they saw the signs stating the campgrounds were closed, they took the risk and ultimately received citations.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) reported a busy week along the North Shore, with visitors enjoying area rivers, parks, trails and Lake Superior. He spent time working Gooseberry and Jay Cooke state parks. Parking areas in both parks were at full capacity over the weekends. Violations included park permit issues and minor fishing violations on Lake Superior. Bears are awake and are out and about. Remember to take care on garbage nights.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked river and shore anglers. Trollers are having issues with strong winds. Rising water temperatures have steelhead and a few smelt coming into the rivers. He took enforcement action for angling violations.
This content was originally published here.
