6-23-2025

District 5

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes for boating and angling activity, fishing remains overall poor. Area forest roads and public sites access continue to be checked. CO Fondie addressed numerous bear sightings over the week. Other time was spent working on equipment and completing administrative tasks.

Sean Cannon (Cook) spent most of the week checking anglers and monitoring boating activity. The bite continues to be slow, but activity on Vermilion was way up over the weekend, with the extreme heat warming up the water quickly, and bringing many people out to enjoy the lake. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity, along with attending training. A call of a disabled boat on Vermilion was responded to, and tow was given back to the landing for the individuals who were stranded. Enforcement action taken this week included: No angling license, ORV on roadway, PWC operating within 150’ of shore and motorboat exhaust noise violations.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and ATV enforcement. He spent time checking anglers on several smaller lakes. Violations were related to registration, life jackets, and also state park related violations.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) time was spent teaching the academy as an EVOC instructor at Camp Ripley over the week. Additional time was spent working ATV traffic.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers reported limited success. ATV and boating activity was unusually low this week. CO Broughten also fielded calls regarding injured animals, minnow harvesting, and boating safety.

District 6

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports: angling and ATV activity seemed lower over the weekend as very warm temperatures reached the Ely area. A large children’s fishing derby was attended, where he and CO Ihnen taught water safety topics to 6-11 year old’s. Violations included: fail to display current ATV registration, failure to transfer ATV registration, and angling with no license in possession.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) focused his time this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Officer Ihnen also patrolled for ATV and ORV activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance at area public accesses.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports patrolling ATV trails, monitoring water accesses, and checking anglers.  Enforcement action was taken for youth ATV passenger under 18 without a helmet.  Lake and river water levels are full again after several rainstorms came through the area.  Surprisingly, the bugs are not bad at this point.