IRON MOUNTAIN — Today and Sunday, residents and nonresidents can legally ride designated routes and trails in Michigan without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit.

All other ORV rules and laws still apply.

Ron Olson, chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division, said Free ORV Weekend offers a chance for riders to explore off-road trails and routes. The hope is that riders will have a great time and consider purchasing an ORV license or trail permit.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, U.P. Trappers District 3 will host a free workshop at the William Anderson Sportsman’s Club in Hermansville. Doors open at 8 a.m., with demonstrations starting at 9:30. Events and activities continue throughout the day, including a final presentation at 3:30 p.m.

“Many trappers I know — myself included — come from the generation where the older veteran trappers would not share a thing about their sets, locations, lures, or anything. We had to learn it on our own,” said Jim Fornetti, a longtime member of U.P. Trappers. “Things have sure changed as now the old-timers are more than willing to share information, especially for the beginning trappers. I guarantee that becoming a trapper makes one a better all-around outdoorsman, simply because a trapper must pay close attention to animal habits, weather, trails and tracks. This habit of ‘noticing things’ will pay off — as it will spill over into fishing, hunting and other outdoor pursuits.”

For more information on the workshop, contact Mike Lewis at 906-774-3592.

Anglers were having some success this week using nightcrawlers to land rainbow trout, said Fay Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis.

Otherwise, catches were a mixed bag of bluegills, bass and walleye.

At Midtown Bait & Tackle in Channing, strawberry jalapeno cheesecake was the newest temptation to bring anglers in from the Groveland Mind Ponds, Sawyer Lake and Witch Lake.

The DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Ontonagon: There were some limits of lake trout with other trout and salmon peppered in the bags.

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers were catching lake trout, coho, cisco, and Chinook while trolling. Trout were mostly caught in water below 80 feet while the salmon were caught higher in the water column. Try trolling with spoons for salmon in water less than 80 feet.

Union Bay: Anglers were fishing in 150 feet and primarily caught lake trout with a brown trout and coho mixed in. The majority of lake trout coming in were in the three to four pound range with a few 10+ pound fish being reported.

Big Traverse Bay/ South Portage Entry: Anglers were catching Chinook and some lake trout. Fish were caught while trolling as well as jigging. Fish caught jigging were in deeper water while fish caught trolling were in a bit shallower water. Try fishing very early morning or later at night.

Marquette: Decent limits of lake trout were brought in. A few coho were also caught.

Au Train: Limits of lake trout were coming in. Anglers were catching fish in 100 to 160 feet of water. A few coho were also caught.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers were reporting fair catch rates, with many trolling around the marker off Peninsula Point. Trolling crawler harnesses or crank baits were producing well.

Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth anglers had success around the islands and at the drop offs. Fair numbers persist of steelhead and Chinook.

St. Ignace/Les Cheneaux: Anglers out of the St. Ignace area were catching a few small walleye at the Carp River. In Hessel, the perch were still biting at the marina.