IRON MOUNTAIN - Fishing pressure continues to wane, but those still dropping lines are having success.

"This cooler weather should help the walleye fishermen," said Tom Bean at Crystal Bait. "Guys were finding some in about 17-22 feet of water using red tail chubs and suckers. There also is a little muskie action."

Pattie Teske at Florence Sport and Bait reported that muskie anglers were having some success.

"Suckers are working," she said. "Not too much other fishing going on. The Wisconsin youth hunt went well. We saw a few kids with bucks."

Don Ciochetto at the Sport Shop in Iron River mentioned decent trout action on Golden Lake but little else on the fishing front.

"Bird hunting seems to be picking up," he added. "Looks like this could end up to be a pretty good year."

John Grier at Whispering Pines Outpost also mentioned increased reports of birds.

"I'm starting to hear good reports on partridge, and guys are starting to see woodcock too," he said.

Dean Lindblom at Country Bait and Tackle also relayed bird success.

"Not too much fishing to report," he said. "But the guys going out are catching. We're mostly selling pike and walleye suckers now."

The bear count is up to 49 at Grier's shop. Bean said he also heard of some bear success, mentioning a few in the 250-pound range taken most recently.

Reports from archery deer hunters have been limited, with many of them waiting for larger bucks.

Trapping season opened Thursday in much of the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan for raccoons and badgers. In addition, foxes and coyotes can be hunted or trapped statewide.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported the following fishing conditions across the Upper Peninsula:

Paint Pond - In Iron County is producing some nice muskie.

Emily Lake - Near Crystal Falls is also producing muskie. This is a good time of year to catch them as they go on their fall feeding frenzy.

Menominee - Walleye were still being caught up near the Cedar River when fishing at night. Most are trolling north to Deadman's Point and beyond in 20 to 30 feet of water or south down to Hayward Bay. Anglers are using rapalas, different colored stick baits or crawler harnesses.

Menominee River - Those fishing from shore and wading near Stephenson Island caught chinook at night. Those drifting yarn on #8 and #10 hooks have picked up brown trout on the Michigan side near the Hattie Street Dam. The steelhead were picky about the color of yarn, but gave a nice fight before spitting the hook back out.

Cedar River - Those fishing between the mouth and the first rapids have caught smallmouth bass when casting crank baits in the deep holes.

Little Bay De Noc - Colder weather is lowering water temperatures and bringing walleye into the bay. More fish are starting to show up as far north as the Center Reef but the better catches were coming from the Narrows and south to the Black Bottom. Anglers are trolling stick baits or crawlers in 15 to 35 feet of water where the fish were suspended. Some nice perch were caught off the mouth of the Day's River when using minnows in 10 to 19 feet of water.

Ford River - Fair salmon action just off the mouth when casting spoons or spawn.

Escanaba River - Had fair walleye fishing at the mouth for those drifting crawlers in 10 to 18 feet of water. Shore anglers casting Cleo's at the dam have caught salmon.

Big Bay De Noc - Has excellent smallmouth bass fishing between Fayette and Snake Island. Big fish were reported by those trolling or drifting minnows 15 to 35 feet down along the break.

Marquette - Salmon action was spotty however lake trout action is fair to good for those trolling in 70 to 100 feet of water.

Chocolay River - Had reports of salmon and steelhead in the upper river.

Munising - Those going out reported hit-or-miss salmon fishing. Boat anglers are doing better than the pier anglers as it seems the salmon are still staging in deeper water away from the mouth of the Anna River.