IRON MOUNTAIN — Next weekend is free fishing weekend in Wisconsin and free snowmobiling weekend in Michigan.

Locally, about 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected over the next few days — less than what would be needed to open trails.

Wisconsin’s free fishing weekend allows residents and non-residents to wet a line without a license. While early-season catch-and-release trout streams are included, only artificial lures are allowed, and anglers must release the fish.

Free fishing coincides with the annual Pete “Toad” Church Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, Jan. 18. The event is hosted by the Homestead-Aurora Conservation Club and C & R Bar in Aurora, Wis., and allows participants to fish anywhere.

Registration can be done in advance at Bob’s Midland Service in Aurora. Entry fee is $10 or free for children ages 12 and younger. Fish must be registered at the C & R by 7 p.m. on derby day.

There are numerous door prizes along with cash prizes for perch, walleye, northern pike, crappie and bluegill/pumpkinseed.

For more, go to https://www.exploreflorencecounty.com/events/.

Michigan’s free snowmobiling weekend is Jan. 17-19. You can legally ride without the requirement of a snowmobile registration or trail permit.

A weekly Upper Peninsula trail report is available at https://www.uptravel.com/outdoors-recreation/winter-activities-sports/snowmobiling/snowmobile-trail-report/.

When it meets Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Western Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council is scheduled to hear updates on a moose population research project, snowmobile trail closures and current snowmobile noise regulations.

The meeting will take place virtually in a web conference from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. For details, contact Kristi Dahlstrom at DahlstromK@Michigan.gov or 906-226-1331, or go to https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/boards/up-citizens/upwest.

Upper Peninsula Power Company will soon lower water levels at its hydroelectric reservoirs. The Silver Lake, Hoist, Bond Falls and Lake Gogebic reservoirs will be lowered starting this month. The Prickett Dam reservoir levels are lowered starting in February.

These changing reservoir levels may affect unsafe ice conditions, UPPCO advised.