District 5 - Eveleth area

Last updated: 2013-06-04

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports fishing and boating activity slower with the weather not cooperating. Youth ATV Safety Riding Component was held in the rain this past weekend. Several animal complaints and ATV issues were also handled.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) continued monitoring access sites and lakes in between rain showers, little activities observed. Phone calls were returned and administrative items worked on. Free time was spent working on equipment.

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports anglers were checked throughout the week and the fishing is quite slow. A few walleyes were observed caught and most were released due to the slot on Lake Vermilion. The number one question was when are the crappies going to start biting? A few were caught when the sun came out for a couple hours and the crappies were biting in the shallow bays. A couple fires were looked into and the investigations continue. A family of nuisance raccoons was dealt with.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, boaters, invasive species enforcement, ATV?s, the state park, two littering complaints, a trapping complaint, and a fish over limit TIP call on Vermilion Lake. The officer was working anglers on a fishing pier and checked an angler who had been observed fishing. The angler first said he wasn?t fishing, then said he was, but left his license at home. The angler was asked to walk to the officer?s squad to look his license status up, but fled on foot once near the truck. The officer captured the fleeing suspect and found drug paraphernalia in his possession. The unlicensed angler, turned arrestee also had a $2,000 warrant for his arrest. Had he stayed put, all he would have faced was a citation for no angling license and would have gone home that night. Enforcement action for the week consisted of angling without a license, no angling license in possession, angle with extra lines, no navigation lights, fleeing an officer on foot, possession of drug paraphernalia.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) patrolled the Virginia and Mt. Iron areas for ATV traffic. With school out numerous juveniles have been seen out and have been stopped on ATVs. Parents are reminded that they can be held responsible for what their kids do while on ATVs. Parents are also encouraged to have their kids take the required ATV safety classes. There are several ATV safety classes being offered in the Virginia area this summer.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing throughout the week. Anglers reported catching walleye, but the sizes aren?t as big as earlier catches. Fawns are being born with the reminder to leave them be, Mom?s not far away. Lake waters are high allowing easy navigation on area lakes and rivers.

Ray - vacant.

I. Falls # 2 - vacant.