Wisconsin's muskellunge season opens Saturday, May 2, on all inland waters of the state. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — As of Friday afternoon, Menominee County was showing the highest turkey harvest in the Upper Peninsula’s spring season with a total of 99 birds. Dickinson County ranked second, with 41, while Iron County was third at 39.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ online summary showed these totals for other U.P. counties: Delta, 32; Baraga, 25; Chippewa, 23; Marquette, 21; Gogebic, 20; Ontonagon, 18; Mackinac, 8; Keweenaw, 2; and Alger, 1.

The statewide harvest total to date was 7,236, with Allegan County leading the way at 274 toms.

Starting this year, successful Michigan turkey hunters were required to report their harvest within 72 hours of harvest or before transferring possession of the bird, whichever comes first.

Along with the U.P.’s quota-limited regular spring hunt that started April 18, there is a hunt with no drawing for licenses that opens May 2. Turkey hunting runs through May 31.

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Wisconsin turkey hunters are reminded they can can search for and discover new public hunting areas using the DNR’s online Public Access Lands mapping tools. The interactive tools provide detailed information on federal, county and state-owned properties, as well as private lands that are part of Managed Forest Law, Forest Crop Law and Voluntary Public Access programs as well as the Turkey Hunter Access Program.

Public Access Lands maps are also available as a printed atlas for those looking for paper versions of a specific county.

For more, go to https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fl/RealEstate/PAL.

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Wisconsin’s general inland fishing season will open statewide Saturday, May 2. The muskellunge season opens that same day on all inland waters of the state. There is no longer a separate season for the Northern Zone.

Wisconsin’s statewide inland trout season opened on April 4 this year, and goes through Oct. 15.

The fishing regulations web page is at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/regulations.

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Melting snow and rain have caused rivers to breach their banks. Anglers are advised to use caution near waterbodies or areas with flooding risk.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported this U.P. activity:

Marquette: Steelhead were reported going back up the rivers. There were a few more coho salmon caught along the break wall and near the Shiras Power plant. A few brown trout and steelhead were also caught on the break wall this week, and more were expected as it warmed up.

The Carp River produced a few more steelheads. If fishing near the mouth was not productive, anglers moved farther up the river, where a few fish were reported past the prison and near the Marquette Mountain area.

The Chocolay River was slow due to high water levels and flooding. In the bay, the coho salmon bite improved significantly, with the average catch per boat increasing from three the previous week to six per boat. There was also an increase in fish size, including a 25-inch coho salmon caught while trolling. Most fish were small earlier in the season, but larger fish appeared to move in from deeper water as the bay warmed. Many brown trout were caught while trolling around the mouth of the Chocolay River as well.

Little Bay de Noc: Angling pressure was very low. Docks had been put in at the Escanaba River. Other docks will be put in as the remaining ice melts.

Manistique: The river this week was extremely high and fast. Most anglers elected to delay their efforts for when the river is lower. The fishing was not successful and the river was dangerous.

Munising: Low fishing activity this past week, a lot of ice was still in the bay as anglers waited for it to push out for open water season. Anglers reported little success at the Anna River mouth with only a few coho salmon being caught.

Keweenaw Bay: The docks remained out of the water. Shore anglers reported the occasional catch of coho salmon and steelhead, although fishing was slow.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: The docks remained out of the water at the Traverse Bay and South Portage Entry boat launches. However, anglers were able to launch. Shore anglers reported a slow bite.

Ontonagon River: Docks remained out of the water at the Ontonagon Marina boat launch. Angling efforts on the river were very low. River conditions slightly improved over the past week, but low temperatures seemed to be keeping anglers off the water.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Access to Union Bay was open as the gate into the Porcupine Mountains boat launch was opened for the season.

Black River Harbor: Some anglers reported catching coho salmon in low numbers from the harbor breakwalls.

Grand Marais: The boat launch was opened, and the bay still had some ice around in West Bay and near the Sucker River Mouth. Anglers reported catching a few coho salmon off the breakwall with spawn working the best.

Au Train: The Brownstone boat launch was accessible. Coho salmon and steelhead started staging in the river, and the Au Train River mouth had reopened and was fishable again. Many coho salmon were caught there this past week by surf anglers. The fish seen since March were all caught near the mouth of the river along the ice cliffs. Most were caught using jigs with wax worms, floating spawn eggs, or casting spoons.