*Fish for Free on June 10*
*Fishing license not required on Free Fishing Day*
If it’s been years since you’ve been fishing—or you’ve never fished before—mark June 10 on your calendar.
June 10 is Free Fishing Day in Utah. You don’t need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.
Randy Oplinger says even experienced anglers should mark June 10 on their calendars. He says early June is one of the best times of the year to fish in Utah, which makes Free Fishing Day the perfect time to take someone who doesn’t have a fishing license fishing.
“If you have a spouse, a teenager or a friend who you want to introduce to fishing,” says Oplinger, sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, “Free Fishing Day is a great day and way to do it.”
*Special events*
If you don’t have any fishing equipment—or you do, but you’d like some help fishing—special events are the place to be.
“Equipment you can borrow will be available at most of the events,” Oplinger says, “and so will volunteers who can help you and your kids fish. Before the events, many of these waters will be stocked with fish.”
You can learn more by visiting the Upcoming Events portion of the DWR’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/UtahDWR.
*Fishing basics*
If you’re going to pick up a rod and reel and fish on your own on June 10, several websites provide videos and other instruction that teach the basics of fishing. One of the best is www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish
*Community fishing ponds*
You’ll likely have company on June 10, but waters in communities across Utah—called community fishing ponds—are great places for beginning anglers to fish. The ponds are close to home, most have restrooms and other facilities, and many of them will be stocked with channel catfish—up to 18 inches in length—before June 10.
You can learn more about the ponds at www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing-in-utah/community-fisheries.html
*Fishing reports*
You can stay updated on fishing at these waters, and other waters in Utah, by reading the DWR’s fishing reports at www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots
Two additional websites—bigfishtackle.com and utahwildlife.net—also provide up-to-date fishing information.
*Learn the rules*
You won’t need a license to fish on June 10, but the remaining fishing rules in Utah will be in effect. The rules are available in the 2017 Utah Fishing Guidebook. You can get the free guidebook at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks
“If you have questions about a rule or about fishing in Utah,” Oplinger says, “please give our offices a call. We’d be happy to help you.”
A list of DWR offices is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/about-us/contact-us.html