Weekly CO report

District 11 - St. Cloud area

CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) patrolled area lakes and rivers for boating and angling activity. Beautiful weather over the weekend brought out many people for the fishing opener. Many people were able to locate fish and several people were able to find several different species of fish. Time was spent in Cross Lake for the Governor's Fishing Opener. Make sure you check your boats before heading out as several boats were seen with 2024 registration and forgot to update the sticker.

CO Andrew Struffert (Pierz) worked angling and watercraft enforcement. Violations for the week included angling with more than one line, no fishing license in possession, deck riding on watercraft, and failure to display current registration. Officer Struffert also assisted area officers at the Governor?s Fishing Opener event held in Cross Lake.

CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) spent time during the week checking anglers. The busy opener weekend was worked and with the nice temps many anglers were out trying their luck. An aquatic plant complaint was followed up on Big Birch Lake and a late night bow fishing complaint was handled in a neighboring station.

CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked angling activity and worked carp shooting activity. A stranded boater was assisted and towed back to the access. Administrative tasks and vehicle maintenance was completed.

CO Chad Ziegler (Albany) reports a busy fishing opener. Many people were out enjoying the lakes and rivers. Walleye bite was slow but some had success. An ATV safety class was attended with the CO presentation given. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing license, fishing with extra lines, illegal length northern pike, fish during closed season and various boating violations. Ziegler wants to remind people to not trust Google AI as a source for fishing regulations, check the fishing regulation booklet for accurate regulations.

CO Brett Fox (St. Cloud) spent the week patrolling for ATV, angling, and watercraft activity. Fox also conducted equipment maintenance. Violations this week include no license in possession, ATV passengers under 18 without helmets, and ATV light violations.

CO Adam Stennett (Annandale) prepped for the upcoming fishing opener. An angler was cited for being in possession of 24 sunfish. Miscellaneous complaints regarding carp dumping, minnow trapping and littering were fielded. Enforcement action was taken on an angler for operating his motorboat without a required ignition interlock device. A firearms safety class was also presented at. Other enforcement action for the week included: fishing without a license, fishing without a license in possession, operating an ATV on a highway.

CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) had a busy fishing opener due to the nice weather. A few mothers were found participating in the free fishing weekend. Enforcement action was taken for expired boat registration, insufficient boating safety equipment, illegal length fish, and keeping bass during the catch and release season. Multiple crappie over limit cases were also made, including one group of three anglers with 22 crappies over the limit.

Back to top