It's all in black and white
CO Randy Hanzal (Brookston) reports one routine inspection of a couple of anglers led to what immediately appeared to be an over limit. The anglers were asked how many sunfish they had. The reply was, "We don't know." As Officer Hanzal was counting the fish one of the anglers asked if there was a limit on sunfish. After a long count it was discover the two anglers had a total of 110 sunfish between them, 70 sunfish over the combined legal limit. Adding to their irresponsible actions is the fact that just three days earlier the same two anglers asked for and received a copy of the 2006 fishing laws from the officer. Maybe the anglers should have taken the time to read it. Appropriate charges were filed.
Photo finish
CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) investigated a trespass complaint where the trespasser had his picture taken by a trail camera. Later it was learned that the photo happened to be a subject that had fled Houston County deputies earlier in the evening.
Officer all wet in grebe rescue
CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) responded to a call in Duluth where a grebe was entangled in fishing line near the shore of Lake Superior. He performed a bold rescue by donning borrowed chest waders and forged into the frigid waters. The fishing line holding the grebe was caught on a rock in waist deep water. CO Johnson retrieved the grebe and discovered the hook was lodged in the bird's neck and upper bill. Only after he returned to shore did he realize there was a large hole in his waders. The grebe was brought to a nearby vet and the hook was successfully removed. After a day of rehabilitation in his bath tub with plenty of fresh minnows, the grebe was released back into Lake Superior.
Fish line tale
CO Sam Hunter (Grand Rapids) and CO Keith Bertram (Sauk Centre) checked an unattended line left on a dock and then spoke with a woman who stated that it was her husband's line and he was out fishing. When the COs spoke with the husband about the line, he admitted to leaving the line on the dock and then fishing from a boat. When the officers showed him the bass that was attached to his unattended line he stated, "I've never caught a fish that nice when I was actually trying."
Six-year-old shows dad
CO Brent Speldrich (McGregor) received a TIP complaint regarding an angler attempting to catch walleye. Upon investigation, the officer found the angler's 6-year-old son had caught and kept a 12" walleye, "to show dad." The anglers were warned against fishing for walleye prior to the season. Dad explained the law to the son and the fish was allowed to swim away.
Wrong on all accounts
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) encountered a person leaving Ceniakio Lake drive through a stop sign right in front of him. The vehicle was stopped and the occupant stated he just finished fishing Ceniakio Lake (a closed designated trout lake). When asked what he was fishing for he stated he was fishing for small mouth bass (that season was closed). The subject was cited for the fishing violations and taken to Anoka County Jail for outstanding arrest warrants.
Game hogs
CO Tim Jenniges (Windom) received a report of deer parts wrapped in a blue tarp. Upon investigation the remains of two butchered hogs were found in the tarp.
Sure
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) issued a citation for angling with extra lines after the individual told the officer that he was just trying to see which lure would work best and then he was going to reel up the others.
Waiting at the door
During a surveillance detail CO Dan Starr (Tower) reports a group of fishermen were caught taking walleyes just hours before the midnight opener. Individuals were observed literally running walleyes back to their cabin as they caught them! After observing an individual catch a walleye and run towards the cabin CO Starr was waiting at the door to greet the speedy fishermen. Enforcement action was taken for taking walleyes before the open season.
Opening day blues
CO Randy Hanzal (Brookston) reports despite the cold wet weather most anglers had at least some luck getting walleyes to bite. One angler, however, had no luck at all. Not only did he not catch a single fish, but he was also caught fishing in a closed area and cited for the offense. Then it was discovered he had an outstanding warrant and was taken to jail where he spent the rest of the opening day.
Got that out of the way
CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) reports a fellow CO using a spotting scope from shore observed an angler using two lines off a dock. When CO Block approached in a boat the angler set the second pole down. Once the angler was advised he had been observed by another CO, the angler stated, "Well, at least I got my ticket out of the way for the summer."
After hearing barking he saw the light
CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) reports while checking two shore fishermen along a remote part of the Mississippi River he found one male without a license. The second male gave a false name and ran into a wooded area. The man was ordered to stop, however, he continued out of sight. Kanieski retrieved his K9 partner from his squad and gave another loud warning to surrender or his police dog would be used to locate him. After hearing the barking of the K9, the suspect saw the light. He yelled he was giving up, quickly came out of the woods, and was now very cooperative. A search revealed he was carrying a large knife on him. The suspect was taken to jail for several warrants, false info to police, and no fishing license.
The trifecta plus one
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) reports a juvenile had an unlucky Memorial Day weekend on Lake Minnetonka. Earlier during the week he was operating an OHM illegally on the roadway around the lake. He was found a second time a few days later operating a boat without a safety certificate, no wearable life jacket, expired registration, and no throwable PFD. A third contact was made with this juvenile on a PWC the following day. He was operating again without a safety certificate and expired registration. Later that day, his older sister was found operating a different PWC without a safety certificate and no fire extinguisher. Parents were contacted and citations were issued.
Armed for fishing
While patrolling on Spitzer Lake, CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) observed two subjects fishing. As he approached to make contact with the subjects he observed a semi-automatic handgun lying in the boat. Upon further inspection Osborne observed the operator of the boat had a loaded semi-automatic handgun in a holster on his waist. The other fisherman had a loaded revolver in a holster on his belt that was concealed by a sweatshirt and jacket. The subject's were also in possession of marijuana. The two fishermen did not have permits to possess the firearms in public/motor vehicles. The fishermen were arrested.
Don't warm up the engine
CO Brent Speldrich (McGregor) came upon a motorist in need of help at Savanna State Park. When asked what the problem was, the driver replied, "I've got a woodchuck in my motor!" After looking into the motor compartment of the RV they were driving, indeed there was a woodchuck keeping warm there.
A pleasant surprise
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) found a pleasant surprise while checking a group of four local anglers doing some shore fishing at the Lindbergh DNR access on the Mississippi River. The surprise wasn't the huge catch of fish they had (they actually only had one fish), but the large bag of trash they had. The four guys had picked up all the unsightly trash around the access and shoreline!
He bathes with the fishes
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) reports a fishermen on the Mississippi River called TIP after watching a shore fisherman keep two rather large small mouth bass. The tipster went to shore to get a vehicle license number, but found the shore fisherman had rode a bicycle to the river. He then followed the bucket of bass and the bicyclist home and relayed the address to the TIP line. CO Kuske went to the residence and found two bass, a couple of perch, and walleye swimming in the person’s bathtub!
A pretty fowl deed
CO Jason Jensen (Forest Lake) assisted local police departments with reports of someone intentionally running over and killing a goose. Unfortunately for the goose killer, their license plate fell off their vehicle when they hit the goose in front of a group of distraught witnesses.
We're all in agreement
Upon landing at his "home" lake at the end of a flight day, CO Pilot Al Buchert (Grand Rapids) taxied the float-plane to a boat and discovered the two anglers on board were fishing without licenses. One angler commented it probably wasn't a good idea to fish without a license on a lake where the "game warden" lived. The other angler, agreed.