IRON MOUNTAIN — This is “Three Free” Weekend in Michigan. Residents and visitors can fish without a license, ride state-designated trails without an ORV license or trail permit, or get access to state parks and boat landings without a Recreation Passport.

“It’s that time of year when everyone gets to enjoy ‘Three Free’ Weekend and take part in some of Michigan’s best outdoor recreation opportunities,” Michigan Department of Natural Resources Acting Director Shannon Lott said.

During free ORV Weekend, all other ORV regulations apply. And while no fishing license is needed today and Sunday, all other rules still apply.

Walleye action has been good, said Fay Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis.

“Large minnows and plastics have been producing a good bite,” she said. “A lot of smaller catches are being reported but most anglers have been able to get their legal limit.”

Perch action has also been good, with a variety of live and artificial baits being used.

Bluegill are on their beds and crappie have been moving into deeper water, Whisler said. “Look for them near sunken trees and other cover.”

Trout anglers have been doing well over the past couple of weeks on rivers and streams, Whisler added.

On the lower Menominee River in Marinette, Wis., walleye fishing was reportedly best after dark and just before dark. A few were caught during the day in deeper areas towards the mouth on crawler harnesses behind bottom bouncers.

“Several boats were trying for muskies on the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers this week,” the Wisconsin DNR said. “Anglers were both trolling and casting, with a couple of fish reported caught around the 40-inch mark.”

Alewives were reported in both rivers.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers reported good fishing. Anglers reported contacting fish in shallow water and smallmouth moved off their beds. Use of soft plastics that resemble gobies or water baits were successful. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing. Those fishing the head of the bay were catching small fish, although a few keepers were caught. Anglers were having some success south of Gladstone and around the Escanaba River. Trolling cranks, crawler harnesses or pitching a jig and worm were methods anglers used to catch fish. Some anglers caught a few perch.

Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth anglers reported good fishing, less luck for walleye anglers. Yellow perch anglers were struggling and pike were common by-catches.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Lake trout, whitefish and salmon were caught in decent numbers all through the last week. Some anglers reported better fishing during the mornings. Fish were caught using both artificial and natural baits and lures and were reported closer to the bottom of the water column.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Canal: Anglers fishing around the mouth of the Portage Canal and along the east side of the Keweenaw Peninsula found good fishing for lake trout through all times of the day.

Munising Bay: Boat anglers reported good to fair catches of lake trout with anglers stating the bite was slow. Most anglers were trolling outside of Grand Island – White Rocks and Wood Island Reef. Water temperatures increased to 60 degrees and higher due to extremely hot weather. Boat anglers were trolling within Munising Bay for coho. Anglers reported fair to good catches with most fish suspended.

Ontonagon River: Earlier in the week, anglers were having great success finding good numbers of walleye. Most anglers used a combination of jigging and trolling and found the best results in early mornings. However, recent rains upstream left the river very muddy, and the bite had been significantly slower as a result.