A Minnesota angler faces a large fine and may be required to pay restitution for taking 26 northern pike over the limit on Sanborn Lake near Backus.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, Minnesota Conservation Officer Tim Collette of Longville received information from Turn In Poachers (TIP) of an individual staying at a local resort keeping many northern pike over the legal limit. The information from TIP included a detailed description of the anglerís truck, boat and camper.

ìThanks to a concerned citizen, this illegal activity was identified and stopped,î Collette said. ìIt really shows the value of a phone call.î

Henry W. Cram, 61, of Wyoming, Minn., is charged with being in possession of 26 northerns over the limit. The legal northern possession/daily limit is three per angler and not more than one over 30 inches may be taken each day. Crams faces a possible fine and restitution of $1,400. His fishing license was seized.

Based on the information supplied by TIP, Collette began to monitor Cramís fishing activities. On Aug. 18, Collette observed Cram on Sandborn Lake catch a northern pike and put it in the boat livewell.

Cram left the lake, but returned later catching eight more northern pike. Collette said Cramís fishing habits confirmed that his activities were consistent with ìdouble-trippingî and over limit activities.

Cram returned to his campsite, where Collette identified himself and asked him how the fishing had been. Cram admitted to fishing and catching fish, but told the officer that all of the fish he had caught were released and he had not kept any.

Cramís story further raised suspicion when he said he might have caught a limit earlier, gave them away, and could not identify the person to whom he gave them. After checking Cramís fishing license, Collette again asked if Cram had kept any fish and asked to inspect the boatís livewell. With consent Collette found the eight northern pike that Cram had taken.

With an over-limit detected, Collette realized that more fish were likely in storage in Cramís camper mentioned in the TIP information.

Collette asked for consent to search the camper, but Cram refused. This led to a request for a search warrant through the Cass County Attorneyís Office. While other conservation officers watched the site, Collette secured a search warrant, which was served at 4 a.m. on Aug. 19.

During the search, 17 packages of fish fillets were found in the camper. Cram said some of the fish belonged to his wife and son, who had left the campsite to return home.

The packages of fish, and the eight northerns from the boat were seized.

ìWith the eight he had in the boat and the 27 in the camper, it came to 35 northerns,î Collette said. ìI ended up allowing him a limit for his wife and son and writing him for 26 fish over the limit. Iím glad we were able to follow up and catch him.î

DNR Chief Conservation Officer, Col. Mike Hamm said, ìover the years, the DNR has received valuable information through the Turn In Poachers hotline, assisting us in ending a variety of poaching activities. Hamm said ìthis case is another example of how the concern of Minnesota sportsmen and women can be used to protect our natural resources.î

Established in 1981, the TIP program allows Minnesotans to call a toll-free number from anywhere in the state to report natural resources violations. Calls regarding violations can be placed anonymously at 1-800-652-9093.