District 5 – Eveleth area

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes for angling activities. Fishing success remains poor, with very little observed being caught. Area forest roads were checked. Concerns continue about the lack of deer. Bears remain abundant, as do the deer flies. Blueberries appear sparse.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week monitoring ATV activity and checking area forest roads, checking public water accesses, and checking anglers and boaters out on the water. Some time was also spent working on equipment. 

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) spent time checking Lake Vermilion and Tower ATV trails. He spent time working illegal trail usage, and fielded complaints. He spent time looking into public access violations and other boating complaints.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent the week at Camp Ripley instructing trainees during the second week of watercraft operation. Administrative tasks and equipment maintenance were also worked on. 

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers continued to report limited success. Frequent rain appears to have limited boating and ATV activity. Broughten also fielded calls regarding nuisance bears, boater education, and youth ATV passengers.

District 6 – Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he and other district officers spent the end of the week patrolling areas of the BWCA. A wide range of weather was experienced, from days of occasional rain and cool weather and cold nights to hot cloudless days. Fishing success was found to be typically poor. Violation included operating an unregistered watercraft, angling without a license, and angling with an extra line.  

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused primarily on patrolling for fishing and boating activity this week. He also monitored personal watercraft use and AIS compliance near area lakes. Additional time was spent checking ATV and OHM riders.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports completing an extended wilderness patrol with a Lake County deputy. Many good contacts were made, and violations were encountered such as cans and glass in the BWCAW and PFD and canoe registration violations. Numerous household and garbage items were dumped along with a small trailer at the pull-off near the start of the Bear Island River Road. If anyone has any information as to who the owner might be, please contact Bermel. Additional time was spent investigating another litter complaint and patrolling area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for several folks fishing without licenses, no PFDs, extra line, and expired registration.