DNR officers report good fishing during opening weekend on Lake of the Woods

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota and adjacent areas of northern Minnesota for Monday, May 12, 2025.

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked turkey hunters during the week and anglers on Lake of the Woods for the opening weekend of fishing season. Fishing on Lake of the Woods was good for the first two days, with lots of large fish being reported and some limits being seen. Violations for the week included angling with extra lines, angling without a license and possessing an overlimit of walleyes.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Despite the wind, it was a busy fishing opener with anglers reporting success and many slot walleyes being caught. Violations encountered were no license in possession, no throwable PFD, expired boat registration and angling without a license.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week preparing for the Minnesota fishing opener and following up on several illegal-burning complaints. Fontes investigated two separate and unrelated reports of tires being burned, one of which involved several dozen tires that were torched. Fishing opener brought a lot of anglers to Lake of the Woods, and a lot of success for them as well. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line and fishing without a license. Fontes also assisted with the apprehension of an individual who had taken off on foot from a drunk boating investigation.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports a busy fishing opener. Prachar worked with CO Kennedy in the area of Lake of the Woods and Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, numerous safety equipment violations, possession of illegal length fish, and over-limit of walleye. Prachar was investigating a boating while intoxicated case when the suspect fled on foot through the Wheelers Point Resort Area. The suspect was later arrested and booked on numerous counts including 2nd Degree BWI.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) checked sturgeon anglers along the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods before the weekend walleye opener. Anglers were reporting more success as the week went on. He responded to grass fires as weather conditions resulted in red flag warnings in most of the area. Most anglers contacted over the weekend had great fishing reports. Enforcement action for the week included watercraft safety violations, angling with extra lines, and an overlimit of walleye.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports monitoring ATV traffic throughout the week. CO Bruesewitz reports spending fishing opener on Lake the Woods, where multiple anglers were seen having success. Assistance was given to local law enforcement agencies this week.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) worked a busy walleye opener weekend. Anglers enjoyed the warm weather, and success varied, depending on areas fished. Anglers are reminded to check for boating safety equipment before venturing out onto the lake.

CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for small game and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was utilized checking for permit compliance. Shaw had a busy opener weekend working Upper Red Lake with CO Vollbrecht.

Thief River Falls West – vacant.

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports taking various moose- and bear-related complaints this week. Time was also spent teaching at the DNR Enforcement Academy. Anglers and watercraft operators were also contacted throughout the week.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time checking numerous anglers during the fishing opener. He assisted in a fire detection flight. Enforcement action was taken for anglers taking walleye before the season opened and various watercraft violations. He saw lots of live wells full of fish this weekend.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked a busy week consisting of many calls for service and fishing related activity leading up to the opener. A variety of factors pushed many anglers to try the evening and twilight bites on area lakes and rivers, with moderate success found. Those who braved the wind and heat during the day found pike to be hungry, although the bite dwindled substantially as the weekend progressed. Overall compliance with fishing and boat and water safety rules was very high.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week training with K9 Axel. CO Swedberg also checked a lot of fishermen over the weekend. Many anglers were having success, whether they were after walleye or panfish. He also assisted with several burning complaints in the area, as the warm temperatures and high winds made for dangerous burning conditions.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) patrolled area lakes on the fishing opener. Anglers saw mixed success on the lakes checked during the weekend. Several fires were investigated, and enforcement action taken. High winds and temps over the weekend brought extreme fire conditions. Enforcement action also included a variety of watercraft and ATV violations.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers and responding to a variety of wildlife calls. Warm weather over the opening weekend had many anglers out on the water. Walleye fishing was slow, but those seeking panfish did well. Time was also spent investigating wolf depredation complaints and a fire. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and no PFDs onboard a watercraft.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ATV and off-road vehicle activity. The station was patrolled for fire activity, as high winds and dry conditions continue throughout the area. Fishing opener was worked, with angling and boating safety checks performed. Anglers checked had mixed results. Leeching activity was monitored, as well.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked area lakes for the fishing opener, along with boat registration and safety checks. ATV trails and roads were patrolled for activity and questions about wildlife and game laws were answered. Violations found included insufficient lifejackets on board watercraft and no type IV throwable. ATV violations encountered consisted of operating with no lights on and no helmets on juveniles.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the early part of the week monitoring angling/ATV activity and preparing equipment for fishing opener. Time was spent working a detail on Lake Bemidji, with other conservation officers. Fishing opener was busy, with many anglers having success. Enforcement action was taken for take walleye in closed season, ATV registration violations, no angling license in possession, and other boating equipment violations.

CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) focused on angling, boating, and ATV enforcement activities. The fishing opener had a good number of boats on the area lakes. The most common violations were boating safety equipment violations, including no class IV throwables or fire extinguishers on board watercraft. Jepson also responded to a wildland fire call. High winds and temps with low humidity have produced many fires in the district.

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) focused enforcement efforts on angling, and recreational vehicle enforcement. Time was also spent on follow up for turkey and public waters/ wetland violation cases. She also assisted DNR Fisheries one night with Muskie tagging.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked a busy fishing opener weekend, with several enjoying the nice weather. Violations encountered were no license in possession, expired boat registration, fishing without a license, ATV violations, and keeping illegal-length fish.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking boating, ATV and angling activity during the week and into the fishing opener. Northerns were the primary fish that were found within angler bag limits. Enforcement action this week included insufficient amount of life jackets on board, northern within the slot, and failure to renew watercraft registration.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, boats, ATVs and minnow dealers. Life jacket and license violations were prominent over the fishing opener weekend. A complaint about a dam backing up water was received and investigated.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week preparing for the upcoming fishing opener. Time was spent checking area lakes for angling activity. With warmth the panfish bite is starting to pick up. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of angling and ATV violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the busy fishing opener patrolling lakes in Todd and Douglas counties. Numerous anglers were out on Saturday, with a few less on Sunday due to the high winds. Anglers keeping slot northerns and boating safety violations were the most encountered issue. Officer Znajda also served on Honor Guard earlier in the week posting the colors for a police conference.

CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports a successful fishing opener, with no accidents noted and plenty of fish in live wells. Despite windy conditions, watercraft operators-maintained distance from neighboring vessels and instilled a neighborly approach at lake access points. Stringer wants to remind operators to review the boating guide and pay particular attention to PFD requirements. Enforcement action for the week included trespassing on agricultural lands, failure to correctly display watercraft registration, gunwale/transom riding, no type IV throwable and burning prohibited material.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and boating activities. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish in a closed season, fishing without a license, and registration issues.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement effort for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen, boaters, and ATV operators. Additional time was spent checking turkey hunters and following up on complaints of people keeping bass out of season.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked ATV patrol, responded to calls for service, and a busy fishing opener. Cross patrolled Hubbard, Cass and Beltrami County lakes over the weekend and witnessed almost everyone having some success on the waters and enjoying the unusually nice fishing opener weather. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, watercraft and angling violations.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for angling and ATV activity. CO Baum found varying success on area lakes with this fishing opener. With the nice weather many people were enjoying the area on ATVs and boats. CO Baum took enforcement action of various angling, boating and ATV violations.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) worked a busy week of angling and ATV enforcement. Assistance was given with the governor fishing opener on Cross Lake. Several people had success on local lakes during the opening weekend. The public is reminded to use caution with the dry windy conditions, CO Saewert responded to several fires throughout the week.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked a busy Leech Lake over the opening weekend. Anglers reported varied success. CO McGowan also assisted with wildfire arson investigations. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) checked anglers targeting most variety of fish species over the opener weekend. Panfish bites have been picking up in the area, while those targeting walleye were finding a slightly tougher bite. Violations encountered include fishing without a license, keeping bass during catch-and-release only season and miscellaneous boating safety equipment violations.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling activity. She responded to multiple fires, and shoreline concerns. Enforcement action taken on various boating and angling violations.

Cass Lake – vacant.

ATV rec officer – vacant.