IRON MOUNTAIN — Free Fishing Weekend in Michigan is a three-day event this year.

Today, Sunday and Monday residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy fishing for all species during their respective open seasons. While no license is required, all regulations still apply.

The weekend coincides with the Department of Natural Resources’ move to a new license sales system. Due to the changeover, which runs from today through noon Tuesday, no licenses can be purchased online or in stores.

The DNR is allowing free fishing on Monday to make things easier for customers during the license sales system changeover.

Bitter wind chills kept fishing pressure light this week, but a weekend warm-up will bring more people out, said John Grier at Whispering Pines Outpost in Breitung Township. Anglers are landing some big northern pike, along with bluegills and crappies, he said.

Doug Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis., reported pike catches of 36 and 40 inches, along with some bluegills and crappies. The best luck for crappies has come near nightfall, he said.

Leff’s Annual All Lake Fishing Derby takes place today until 4:30 p.m.. You can fish any Florence County, Wis., water. Registration is $5 at Leff’s Bar, 5050 Keyes Lake Drive, three miles west of Florence.

Good panfish action, along with pike and walleye catches on tip-ups, was reported on Lake Noquebay in Marinette County, Wis.

“Take caution around the lake outlet in the southwest corner and inlet near the northwest area,” the DNR advised.

The Michigan DNR reported the following Upper Peninsula conditions:

Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates were hit or miss. Those lucky enough to catch fish found splake, brown trout, coho, lake trout, whitefish or herring when using tip-ups or when jigging. Some were trying for smelt and burbot at night, but no reports came in. Those still-fishing from shore in the mornings had the same luck as those fishing on the ice.

Little Bay De Noc: Very cold temperatures helped improve ice conditions and access throughout the bay, and anglers could be found across the entire area and as far south as Portage Point. It was pretty much ATV’s and snowmobiles at Gladstone and south. A few walleye were caught between Gladstone and just south of the Escanaba River when using tip-ups with minnows or jigging small rapalas in 30 to 40 feet. While there were still a lot of undersize fish, a better number of keepers were also reported. Perch anglers reported good catches off the ship docks in Escanaba in 35 feet or so and near Gladstone off the east bank in 25 to 35 feet when using minnows. Whitefish were caught near Gladstone when jigging the channel with minnows in 35 feet. Good pike action near the lighthouse in Escanaba when using tip-ups with minnows in 28 to 33 feet.

Munising: Ice conditions did improve with the cold nights; however, there was unsafe ice at the Grand Island ferry access to Grand Island. Anglers broke through the ice with their sleds, and it will not be safe for those wanting to ski over to Grand Island during the ice fest. Anglers should still avoid Sand Point and the area around Christmas due to pack ice that has skimmed over or open water. Anglers reported that the ice conditions off Brown’s boat launch, the city docks, Powell Point, Anna River access and the Sunset Motel improved. Most are targeting whitefish, splake and coho. Catch rates varied. Whitefish were deeper in 60 to 70 feet and hitting on spawn or single eggs with a combination of natural or artificial bait. The average fish was 12-13 inches.