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‘Free’ weekends June 7-8 in Michigan and Wisconsin

Outdoors report

Next weekend is the annual Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin.

It’s also Three Free Weekend in Michigan.

On June 7 and 8, Michigan will offer free fishing, off-road vehicle riding and state park entry. Fishing licenses, ORV permits and Recreation Passport fees are waived.

In Wisconsin, state park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all visitors.

“Free Fun Weekend is a great opportunity to join us to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System,” said Steve Schmelzer, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bureau director of Parks and Recreation Management.

Before heading to a state park, trail or waterbody in Michigan or Wisconsin next weekend, there are a few helpful things to know:

— Vehicle admission stickers will not be required.

— ORVs are exempt from registration requirements. Resident and nonresident all-terrain vehicle operators do not need a trail pass to ride state-designated trails.

— Residents and nonresidents will not be required to have a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.

— All 2025-2026 fishing regulations apply, including bag and length limits and species restrictions.

To stop the spread of invasive species, keep these tips in mind:

— Clean all recreational equipment and gear after every use.

— Never move live fish away from any waterbody.

— Stay on designated trails, roads and other developed areas to avoid tracking invasives to new areas.

— Follow firewood rules to avoid moving harmful invasive pests and pathogens.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Yellow perch fishing was reported as good. Anglers saw schools of perch in shallows, as well as on the deep side of the drop off. Anglers fishing in the shallows used bobbers with live bait, while those in deeper water used jigs. Walleye anglers reported catches with varying degrees of success, with the most success near dusk and dawn. Fish were also caught drifting and trolling, using crawler harnesses and crank baits. Popular spots were near the head of the bay, the mouth of the Escanaba River, and south of the Ford River. Smallmouth bass fishing was also good; anglers used drop shots, tubes, jerk baits, and other minnow-like soft plastics. Anglers reported that most of the large lake bass have moved out of the rivers but are still reporting good numbers in the rivers. Anglers bass fishing in the lake targeted reeds and shallow rock structures with good success. Anglers also reported catching a few large pike.

Big Bay de Noc: Anglers reported good smallmouth bass fishing. Anglers caught fish in bays and near islands with good fishing near reeds and rock structures. Anglers targeting walleye reported fair fishing, although a low number of catches per angler.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching coho salmon and occasionally chinook salmon while trolling crankbaits, spoons, and flies in the upper portion of the water column. Anglers jigging for lake trout and whitefish saw limited success.

Marquette: Weather in Marquette finally settled, providing favorable conditions for anglers to return to the water. Water temperatures continued to rise, reaching approximately 45 degrees. The coho salmon bite around Marquette showed notable improvement in both size and quantity. The area east of the Chocolay River appeared to remain the most productive for anglers. Chinook salmon, sizable brown trout, and coho salmon were successfully caught between Sand River and Shot Point in depths ranging from 20 to 50 feet of water. Although lake trout were present in shallower waters, most anglers targeting them appeared to be fishing in deeper areas, around 150 feet of water. In Upper Harbor, there were a limited number of days when weather conditions were favorable, anglers reported moderate success catching lake trout while trolling or jigging near White Rock, or while trolling out toward the sand hole in depths of approximately 225 feet of water.

Au Train: The coho salmon and brown trout fishing was favorable. Chinook salmon and lake trout anglers were also doing very well, when anglers made it out. Several boats reported trolling around the river mouths or near the shoreline points, still at depths of around 30 to 50 feet, having success with both chinook salmon and coho salmon. Lake trout slowly made their way in from deep water with warmer weather, a few were caught in shallower waters around 40 to 50 feet.

Alger County: Whitefish and coho salmon were reported caught at the break wall in Grand Marais. Walleye fishing was reportedly slow on Munuscong Bay. Walleye and northern pike fishing was reported good in the bays of Drummond Island.

Grand Marais: Due to unfavorable weather, boat angling efforts were low. Anglers reported catching coho salmon trolling east of the break wall. Anglers targeting lake trout found success while trolling. Anglers fishing the break wall reported good numbers of whitefish and round whitefish.

Munising: Saw reduced fishing efforts due to inclement weather. During the weekend, boat anglers did well trolling the bay around Grand Island, catching good numbers of coho salmon and chinook salmon. Anglers fishing off the Anna River dock reported catching coho salmon and splake casting spoons and using spawn.

Ontonagon River: Angling efforts on the river were strong. Reports suggest that walleye were caught in good numbers. Trolling was the preferred method of fishing for most anglers with an occasional incidental reported catch of lake sturgeon.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Over the past week, these locations saw a good amount of angling effort. Reported catches consisted of coho salmon, chinook salmon, lake trout, and brown trout. These fish were caught in fair numbers by those trolling shallow waters.

Black River Harbor: Angling efforts from the harbor were fair over the past week. Boats trolling shallow waters reported mixed catches consisting of coho salmon, chinook salmon, brown trout, and lake trout in low numbers. Shore and dock anglers also reported catches of northern pike within the harbor.

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