CO Reports: Panfish bite on (2024)

CO Matthew Brodin (Brainerd) spent time working the Gull Lake chain for a hot crappie bite. Brodin talked to a group of anglers that even before introducing himself recognized his name from the CO reports. Enforcement action was taken for failure to have an angling license, failure to have a license in possession, no fire extinguisher in boat and bowfishing from shore before season.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Pine River) spent time patrolling for angling and ATV activity. Anglers and boaters were checked on Gull Lake, with a few minor safety violations present. He followed up on a report of a sick/injured racoon at a residence. The panfish bite is picking up right now, with many livewells having decent amounts of crappies in them. Public water accesses are hit or miss currently if they have their docks into the water yet.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) worked sport fishing and in-service training at Camp Ripley this week. Anglers are starting to get out and boat. Verbal reminders about registrations, angling licenses, AIS laws, and boat and water safety equipment were given. Compliance was good. One ATV operator was contacted while operating an ATV that was last registered in 2010. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Calie Cook (Crosslake) spent time working trapping enforcement and attending annual training at Camp Ripely. Cook also assisted in teaching a firearms safety field day class.

CO Andrew Dirks (CCSRA) spent time checking spring panfish anglers and monitoring activity throughout the recreation area for the opening of the trails. Enforcement action included taking bass during the closed season.

CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) worked on a wetlands case as well as monitoring trapping activity throughout the station. Enforcement action was taken for various violations related to fish snagging activities.

CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) took calls regarding an injured eagle, stolen traps, littering, and targeting bass and pike out of season. He attended training at Camp Ripley. He started seeing many boats and docks being put in for the year.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) patrolled area lakes, checking panfish anglers and boaters. Success was still limited over the weekend, despite rising water temperatures. Goodman focused on ATV enforcement with a handful of off-highway motorcycles encountered on county roads. Enforcement action was taken for spearing in a river, registration violations and juvenile ATV passengers without helmets.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking anglers and working on cases from the deer season. Swedberg also assisted patrolling for fire activity in the area. Spring fishing closures are in effect in the Detroit Lakes area and anglers need to stay out of the spawning areas. Several anglers learned about the regulations, after walking past the closed-no fishing signs, when Swedberg checked their angling licenses. Enforcement action was taken for fishing in a closed area and fishing without a license.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) responded to several fire-related calls during the week. The stream trout season began over the weekend and several anglers were checked. Time was also spent on recreational vehicle enforcement.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time responding to grass fires. Enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials and burning without a permit. Due to the dry conditions the burning permit system was not allowing permit fires. Campfires are still allowed but discouraged. Saewert located two bow fishers who were bowfishing in the closed season. Enforcement action was taken for several violations. The local rivers are starting to show spawning activity.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked trapping, attended training, and monitored early season walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for boating and angling violations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. He also assisted with training at Camp Ripley for Division officers, and time was spent preparing open-water equipment.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) hosted a female-only firearm safety field day. She also received multiple trapping related reports and investigated a fishing TIP. Enforcement action was taken on operating an unregistered ATV.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking anglers and documenting any winter damage at local public accesses. He and K9 Jet spent an evening with local Boy Scouts conducting a K9 demonstration and educating them on invasive species like zebra mussels. Seifermann and K9 Jet also spent the week preparing for the annual K9 Game Detector trials held in Red Wing. On Saturday the entire K9 Unit successfully obtained their certificates.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Sura patrolled ATV activity in the Remer area, and spring beaver-trapping activities were monitored. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV with expired registration. Preparation for spring has begun with boat and other equipment maintenance.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) found the activity to be picking up in the area as the lakes are ice-free and the weather was good. Anglers and ATV riders were primarily worked. Mathy also investigated a litter and trapping complaint.

CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) patrolled area angling, trapping, and ATV riding activity. Many people were out enjoying the warm weekend weather. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations. Griffith also responded to litter complaints. A reminder that all ATV riders and passengers under 18 are required to wear a DOT-approved helmet.

CO Joseph Scholz (Malmo) saw a significant increase in recreational activity as the weather warmed. Anglers began getting out on area lakes and many ATVs and OHMs were out on the Soo Line trail. Scholz also worked on some land-use and trapping investigations. Enforcement action was taken for taking an overlimit of crappies, angling without a license, operating an ATV without lights, unlawful youth operation of an ATV, and burning without a permit. As the weather warms and more people get out and about, be sure to review regulations for the 2024 season.

CO Nate Benkofske (McGregor) checked anglers and ATV riders. Enforcement action was taken for failing to report a fire, expired ATV registration, and driving ATVs where prohibited. Investigations were started due to reports of illegal fires, a wanton waste case, and a complaint of an aggressive black bear.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked on trapping season items and prepared for upcoming safety classes. Annual in-service training was also attended. A complaint of walleye carcasses that were dumped in the Rum River, near a busy road, was also investigated. Starr found approximately 50 walleye carcasses and skins that had been freshly deposited in the river.

CO Ashley Whiteoak (Aitkin) spent time patrolling fishing, trapping, and ATVing activity. She also worked on equipment maintenance. Much of the week was spent at annual training at Camp Ripley.

CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) spent most of the week at Camp Ripley for in-service training. Several boats were checked over the weekend with the warm weather. Few fish were seen. Enforcement action for the week included no angling license, snagging violations, extra lines, spring turkey violations and other trapping violations.

CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) had a busy week with water activities really picking up with the warmer weather. He worked AIS, boating, fishing, trapping and bow fishing activities. He assisted the sheriff’s office with an investigation with illegally hunting of small game.

CO Brett Fox (St. Cloud) spent the week patrolling for angling activity. Fox also spent time at Camp Ripley doing annual in-service training. Fox was interviewed on KNSI radio concerning bear sightings near St. Cloud. Violations this week included no fishing license in possession while fishing.

CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) spent most of the week at training. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations. Bertram also