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.
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.
“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.
PROVO
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.
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