DNR: Angler Caught Nearly 250 Fish Illegally

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, Minn. (WCCO) -- A DNR conservation officer recently caught an angler with nearly 250 more fish than the legal limit.

Conservation officer Shane Osborne of Evansville, Minn., caught Ronald Wayne Johnson, 69, of Carlos, Minn., as Johnson was pulling his portable fish house off West Spitzer Lake in Otter Tail County.

When Osborne visited Johnson's home, along with conservation officer Mitch Lawler of Alexandria, they found 22 frozen half-gallon cardboard containers, six plastic bags and several loose fish and fish filets.

The cache totaled 228 sunfish, seven bass and six northern pike more than the legal limit. The fish restitution value is $1,560.

Due to an overlimit law that took effect in March 2003, the suspect, if convicted, forfeits his or her fishing license for three years. The person also faces up to $3,000 in fines and one year in jail.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in Douglas County Court in February.