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Weekly CO report

District 13 - West Metro area

Last updated: 2025-05-12

CO Mike Lerchen (Bloomington) spent time checking anglers and boaters during the fishing opener. Lerchen also assisted another agency. Enforcement action was taken for PFD issues, taking an over limit of fish, and angling without a license.

CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) reports a relatively uneventful fishing opener for the area. The greatest surprise from the day was the aggressive musky bite. Multiple anglers were observed catching the elusive fish on tackle designed to attract bass and northern pike. Walleyes seemed to evade most anglers for the weekend.

CO Kylan Hill (Mound) reports a busy week of fishing and boating enforcement around Lake Minnetonka. A few boats found limits of walleye but most were targeting bass. Multiple license and boating safety violations were detected. A law and ethics talk was provided to a local firearm safety class.

CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) spent the majority of the week checking anglers and monitoring boaters. CO Grewe spent several hours on the water over the busy opening weekend and was happy to report several anglers having success. Violations this week included no fishing license, take bass of season, and no PFD.

CO Thephong Le (ELCOP/Fort Snelling SP) patrolled for angling and boating activities. He encountered boaters and anglers who were fishing without a valid Minnesota fishing license, no fishing license in possession, taking/possessing fish in closed water, taking fish in closed season, failed to affix valid watercraft registration, no PFD, and inadequate fire extinguisher on watercraft.

CO Ben Ulrich (Osseo) spent the week working angling, boating, and ATV enforcement. Nice weather for the opener saw a lot of people out on the lakes fishing and recreating. Some violations encountered included no license in possession, fishing without a license, extra lines, over limits on fish, and more.

CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) worked angling activity all week. With good weather and longer days many anglers were wetting a line. CO Fogarty located anglers that were targeting game fish before the season. Bass were found in possession before the opener of catch and release. Enforcement action was taken on overlimit crappie, bass out of season, no fishing license, and expired boat registration.

Ft. Snelling vacant.