The annual Free Fishing Day in the state will take place on Saturday, June 6. All anglers of all ages are able to enjoy a free day of fishing without worrying about obtaining a license on this day. Conservation Outreach Manager, Aaron Bott took time from his busy schedule to speak over the telephone with Castle Country Radio about the annual event.
“Don’t need a license right now for Saturday only. You can take your kids out. If you haven’t had a chance to renew your fishing license, you can get out and enjoy the day. It’s really just a time for us to enjoy summer,” said Bott. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a day of fishing at any public waterbody in Utah without a license. Although a fishing license is not needed on this day you can still purchase a fishing license at any sporting goods location or on the DWR website at https://wildlife.utah.gov/.
Even though you can fish for free on this day you still must obey the state’s fishing laws and rules. “Just because its Free Fishing Day doesn’t mean you can catch and keep as many fish as you want, you still have to adhere to limits, you still have to adhere to different regulations according to each body of water, and also if its free fishing and you’re going to a state park, you’re still going to have to pay to get into the state park,” stated Bott. Anglers should know the catch limits and rules for the waterbody they are fishing. The rules are available in the 2020 Utah Fishing Guidebook at https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2020_fishing_guidebook.pdf
There are some great waters to fish in the Carbon and Emery areas. “Most of the bodies of water that we have in both Emery and Carbon County will have been stocked by Saturday. Scofield is doing really well; Huntington is also doing really well. Our community ponds have been stocked whether that be Gigliotti, Knight-Ideal, the pond out at the fairgrounds. Fishing is great to take your kids there just in the morning before it gets hot, if that’s what your interested in. You can also head up to Joe’s or down into Ferron, you can hit up any of the bodies of water down there. We’ve been getting a lot of good reports coming out of Emery,” explained Bott. Free Fishing Day is a great opportunity for families to out an enjoy the great outdoors.
Any questions about Free Fishing Day contact the DWR Office at (435) 613-3707.