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Firearm deer hunt today, Sunday in Michigan

Outdoors Report

Small game hunting season opens today in northern Wisconsin and on Sunday in the Upper Peninsula.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Local temperatures will be near 70 this weekend for Michigan’s Liberty Hunt, a two-day firearm deer hunt for youths and hunters with disabilities.

Winds may gust as high as 20 mph today but should be calm Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Anyone participating must wear hunter orange.

At Whispering Pines Outpost in Breitung Township, John Grier said turkey permits are sold out for the Upper Peninsula hunt that opens Sunday, along with the small game season.

Wisconsin’s archery deer season opens today, as do the fall turkey and small game seasons. The youth gun deer hunt is Oct. 5 and 6.

Doug Whisler of Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis., said musky anglers have reported some catch-and-release success using both live bait and bucktails. Walleye and perch were also biting, mainly on live bait, he said.

Grier said he continues to get good reports on bluegills.

The Michigan DNR reported the following Upper Peninsula activity:

Copper Harbor: A few anglers got out and had some success catching splake.

Keweenaw Bay: A few salmon, and some splake and lake trout were caught. Those fishing Huron Bay had some success for lakers in deeper water.

Marquette: It was another windy week! Quite a few lake trout were caught, including a 60-pounder. Steelhead and brown trout were also showing up, and salmon seemed to be just starting to make their way back to the area. Anglers were just starting to target the mouths of the Dead, Carp and Chocolay rivers.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches were spotty throughout the bay between Garth Point and “Black Bottom”. Anglers reported fair catches off Second Reef using crawlers or stick baits in 8 to 14 feet. From the Narrows over to Squaw Point, anglers reported catches using the same bait in 10 to 20 feet. Perch action was slow. The best places for smallmouth bass were Hunters Point and Squaw Point using tubes or other plastics in 8 to 15 feet.

Manistique River: Salmon were in the river, but numbers were low. Fair catches of brown trout were reported when trolling or casting by the spill-over wall.

Munising Bay: No boat anglers were reported. For those who do want to try and head out, they could troll for coho by targeting the west channel and Trout Bay. A few anglers were on the Anna River but not much action was seen.

Grand Marais: Still had low angler pressure. A few shore anglers were starting to check out the Sucker River, but no catches were reported.

Two Hearted River: Coho salmon runs during the past week were light. Water temperatures were in the mid-50s in the river and upper 50s on Lake Superior. Anglers saw a few fish trickling in the river, but with cold northerly winds and cold nights, fish should begin their push.

Detour: Anglers reported catches of Chinook and lake trout around the Detour Reef and lighthouse. Fish were found within 200 yards upstream of the lighthouse. Flashers were used with a 30-inch leader and squid. Salmon were also caught on the east side of Fry Pan Island, while trolling within 15 feet of the concrete wall. Baits were set at 45 feet over 80 feet. Pink salmon were reported while trolling from the green buoy northwest of the lighthouse. Good colors were orange and gold 4-inch spoons, or 3-inch pink and white colored spoons. Good lake trout catches were reported by fishing the 90-foot flat 2 miles south of the lighthouse. The best baits were flashers tied with white and blue spin-glo’s.

Cedarville and Hessel: Northern pike were caught at the Middle Entrance to the Les Cheneaux Islands. Fish around 28 to 30-inches were caught while still fishing with creek chubs in 18 to 20 feet of water. A few yellow perch were reported by anglers fishing on both sides of the Island No. 8 Bridge. The best times were from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while using shiners and worms. At Hessel, some yellow perch were reported from the finger docks at the marina.

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