The Smokey Bear hot air balloon is coming to the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba beginning Thursday.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Smokey Bear hot air balloon will fly above the Pocket Park at the upcoming Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba.

Paul Rogers, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire prevention specialist, said the ballon is “going to be impossible not to notice” as it rises.

“It should be a lot of fun and bring attention to our fire prevention safety message,” he said.

The New Mexico-based balloon, made of nylon, is 97 feet tall, including the basket, and measures 72 feet across at Smokey’s hat brim.

Ascensions are planned Thursday morning, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, Aug. 21, weather permitting.

The DNR Pocket Park offers visitors the chance to try fishing, shooting, archery and fire-prevention games. All activities are free and there will be a Smokey Bear selfie station as well.

Local anglers are catching a fair number of bass, walleye, northern pike and bluegill as temperatures have fallen a bit, said Doug Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis.

“Smallmouth bass have been the most consistent,” he said. They’re biting on topwater lures as well as leeches and worms.

The prize catch of the week was a 41-inch northern pike, taken on a sucker, Whisler said.

The biggest walleye reported was a 24-incher, taken with a plastic jig. Anglers testing deeper waters have landed some good-sized bluegills.

Most activity in the lower Menominee River was happening around sunset and after dark, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Anglers were getting walleyes while trolling or casting crankbaits and stick baits.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Ontonagon: Fishing has been slow out of all ports this week due to low fishing pressure and bad weather. Some anglers were picking up lake trout toward the end of the week, fishing out around 100 feet of water while trolling spoons. The Ontonagon River fishery has been producing some keeper walleye and a lot of smaller fish. Trolling and jigging have been the most common techniques for catching fish.

Black River: The Black River Harbor is open again, and a few anglers have been returning to fish there. Fishing action has been a little slow, but they are picking up a few decent-sized lake trout and the occasional Coho salmon mixed in. Anglers have been going out 1-8 miles and have been catching fish at various depths.

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers have been bringing in fish on days when weather is cooperating. The catch has consisted of lake trout, Chinook salmon and Coho salmon. Reports coming off the water suggest that the Chinook and Coho fishing will continue to pick up in the coming weeks. Most fish were caught while trolling in shallower water, but not exclusively. Trolling in the early morning has been better than other times.

Marquette: Fishing has been good over the past week, with reports of limits of lake trout with a few Coho salmon in the mix. The Coho salmon fishing is expected to pick up.

Au Train: Fishing has been a little slow, with a few lake trout being reported.

Munising: Fishing pressure has been low for boat and shore anglers. Anglers were primarily targeting lake trout, with average catches of three to six lake trout per trip. The best areas for boating anglers have been near White Rocks, West Channel and toward Wood Island Reef. A few splake have been caught, but the bite has been slow over the past week. A few anglers have been targeting coho salmon with a little success.

Grand Marais: The fishing pressure has been slow, with a few boat anglers trolling within the harbor for northern pike and coho salmon with very slow action. A few boats have been out for lake trout and reporting limits from Five Mile Reef and Au Sable Light Station near the breaks. Most fish have been averaging 3 to 4 pounds.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye fishing has increased over the past week, with anglers having some success when trolling or jigging. Anglers trolling crank baits have been seeing more bites. Try locating baitfish if you can and focus on that area to increase your odds of catching fish. The yellow perch fishing has been slow.

Big Bay de Noc: The smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Most anglers have been targeting fish along the drop-offs. Some good catches have been reported out of Nahma and Garden. Anglers fishing in Fairport have been catching salmon and steelhead. Anglers launching out of Fairport in a northeasterly direction heading toward Manistique have had some positive reports. Anglers catching smallmouth bass have been doing well drifting crawlers or by casting soft plastics.

South Portage Entry/Big Traverse Bay: Coho salmon numbers coming off the water have increased, and anglers report more hits on lines as well. Chinook salmon and coho salmon have been caught more, and the lake trout catch has remained consistent. Most fish were caught by anglers trolling out away from shore.

St. Ignace/Les Cheneaux: Anglers were catching a few yellow perch and walleye at the Carp River. In the Les Cheneaux area, anglers have been doing well off the pier in Hessel fishing for yellow perch. Northern pike fishing has been steady throughout the area.