Fish for Free on June 5

If you’re looking for a fun activity that’s close to home and doesn’t cost much, mark June 5 on your calendar.

June 5 is Free Fishing Day in Utah. You won’t need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.

“Make plans now to get out with your family and enjoy a free day of fishing,” says Drew Cushing, warm water sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Cushing says Utah has plenty of water this year, and fishing should be better than ever. “Fishing at many of our mid-elevation reservoirs is really good right now,” he says. “As the spring runoff recedes, fishing will pick up at the state’s rivers and streams too.”

You won’t need a license to fish on June 5, but Cushing reminds you that all other rules in the state’s fishing guidebook will still be in effect.

You can learn those rules by reading the 2010 Utah Fishing Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2010_fishing   on the Web.

Copies are also available at DWR offices and from fishing license agents across the state.

Some of the best places to fish
Before Free Fishing Day, the DWR will place extra fish in waters across Utah. Most of those fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs, so those might be good places to try on June 5.

Utah’s community fishing ponds are another good place to consider. Depending on where you live, a community pond might be only a few minutes away.

You can learn more about Utah’s community fishing ponds at www.wildlife.utah.gov/cf/cf_book_10.pdf  on the Web.

“We’ll stock the community fishing ponds with channel catfish before Free Fishing Day,” Cushing says. “We’ll continue stocking the ponds with catfish until the temperatures cool in the fall. Then we’ll start placing trout in the ponds.”

Several free fishing events for children will be held on Free Fishing Day. The following are some of the events the DWR will be involved in:


NORTHERN UTAH
LOGAN
The Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Skylar’s Pond.

The pond is in Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S.

People of all ages can enjoy free fishing at the pond. Fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. Volunteers will also be available to help first-time anglers fish.

Special interactive activity booths will also be available for those ages 4 to 18 years old. The first 250 youths who visit the booths and complete their “passport to fun” will receive a free t-shirt. The interactive booths will give young people a chance to discover the joys of fishing and learn the importance of good water quality. Youths can tie their own wooly bugger, experience how rivers and streams are formed, explore the life cycles of fish, go “buggy over bugs,” make fish prints, learn to cast a fishing lure and much more.

For more information, e-mail Marni Lee with the Division of Wildlife Resources at marnilee@utah.gov .



NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH
MURRAY
“Family Fishing Derby” at Willow Park Pond in Murray.

The pond is at 6059 S. Murray Parkway Ave., just north of the Murray Golf Course.

One-hour fishing sessions for families and kids will be held at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Space is limited. You can pick up a ticket to participate at the Murray Parks and Recreation office or the Sportsman’s Warehouse store in Midvale.

The DWR will stock the pond with channel catfish before the event. Starting at 9 a.m., the children who participate will be taught about fish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR’s Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fish and clean the fish they catch.

Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if they don’t have their own equipment.


MIDWAY
“Kid’s Fishing Event,” Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, about two miles west of Midway.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space is limited. If your child would like to participate, please register in advance by calling Wendy Wilson at (435) 654-1791.

The DWR will stock the pond with rainbow trout before the event. At 9 a.m., the kids who participate will be taught about fish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR’s Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fish and clean the fish they catch.

Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if they don’t have their own equipment.


UTAH LAKE
The Fifth Annual Utah Lake Festival will be held at Utah Lake State Park, 4400 W. Center St.

Fishing equipment will be available to use at no charge. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to fishing, activities at the festival include fighting fish on a fishing simulator; free boat rides; a sail-boat regatta; face painting and art activities for kids; and plenty of booths to visit. Free hot dogs, popcorn, apples and water will be provided by Provo, American Fork, Orem, Springville and Santaquin cities.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there is no fee to visit Utah Lake State Park and the festival. The festival provides a chance to get outside and enjoy Utah Lake, experience the recreational opportunities the lake offers and learn about its ecosystem and the native fish species that live in the lake.



SOUTHWESTERN UTAH
LITTLE RESERVOIR
The Division of Wildlife Resources will sponsor a fishing event at Little Reservoir from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A limited number of fishing rods and equipment will be available for children to borrow if they don’t have their own. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be available to help the kids fish. And those who participate might receive a prize!

Little Reservoir is east of Beaver. To reach the reservoir, travel east from Beaver on state Route 153 for about nine miles to Kents Lake Road. Then travel about one on Kents Lake Road to the reservoir.

For more information, call the DWR’s Cedar City office at (435) 865-6100.


SAND HOLLOW STATE PARK
The Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah State Parks and Recreation will co-sponsor a fishing event at Sand Hollow State Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The state park will waive the entrance fee for those 14 years of age or younger who come to the park to participate in the event. A limited number of fishing rods and equipment will be available for children to borrow if they don’t have their own. DWR personnel and volunteers from the DWR’s Dedicated Hunter program will also be available to help the kids fish.

To reach the reservoir from Interstate 15, exit at Exit 16 (the Hurricane exit), and travel east on state Route 9 for about four miles to Sand Hollow Road. Turn right on Sand Hollow Road, and travel south for about three miles. Then turn left at the park entrance.

For more information, call Lynn Chamberlain at (435) 680-0059.


TROPIC RESERVOIR
A free Kids Fishing Derby will be held at Tropic Reservoir from 9 a.m. to noon.

The DWR will stock the reservoir with fish before the event. Each child who attends the event will receive a prize. Refreshments will also be provided.

Tropic Reservoir is just west of Bryce Canyon National Park. To reach the reservoir, travel southeast from Panguitch on Route 12. Five miles before you reach the park, turn south on a gravel road and travel 10 miles to the reservoir.

For more information, call Jake Schoppe with the U.S. Forest Service at (435) 676-9300.