The pond at Highland Glen Park is pictured. Photo credit: The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced that June 11 would be Free Fishing Day in Utah. The day will allow anyone to fish in public Utah waterbodies, even if they don’t have a license.
The DWR said the day would be a good opportunity for those who are new to fishing but also for experienced fishers.
“Because you don’t need a license to fish that day, it’s the perfect time to take someone with you and introduce them to this fun sport,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coordinator Randy Oplinger said.
“Early June is one of the best times to fish in Utah. All of the fish in the state, both warm water and cold water species, are active and willing to bite this time of the year. And with the ongoing drought, it will be better to go fishing earlier in the summer when water temperatures aren’t quite as high and water levels in some areas aren’t too low,” Oplinger added.
The DWR offers information on where to fish through its interactive map.
Additionally, “local community ponds are a great option for a quick, close-to-home fishing spot,” according to the DWR. There are 57 in Utah.
For Free Fishing Day, the Ashley National Forest will offer a fishing competition for kids at the Lower Stillwater Ponds in Duchesne County. The competition will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pier Pond. The DWR said equipment will be provided, but encouraged participants to bring their own if they could.
Other than the waived license, all fishing rules will still be in place on Free Fishing Day. The DWR said that anyone going out to fish should know catch limits and additional rules outlined in the Utah Fishing Guidebook. Entrance fees to parks or other fishing areas will also still apply.
The DWR also added that fishing on any day other than June 11 will still require a license. Licenses can be purchased from the DWR and are valid for 365 days.