DWR News Release
SALT LAKE CITY — If you’d like to introduce someone to fishing — or you’d like to give fishing a try, but don’t have a fishing license — Free Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity.
Free Fishing Day will be held on Saturday, June 8, and allows anyone to fish at any public waterbody in Utah without a license. It makes for a great family activity and is the perfect time to introduce your kids to fishing and get them outdoors. It’s a great day not only for beginning anglers to give fishing a try, but is also a fun time for experienced anglers too.
“Because you don’t need a license to fish that day, it’s the perfect time to take someone fishing with you and introduce them to the sport,” Randy Oplinger, sport fisheries coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said. “And, early June is one of the best times to fish in Utah. All of the fish in the state, both warmwater and coldwater fish, are active and willing to bite this time of the year.”
If you don’t have any fishing equipment or you would like some fishing tips, you can check out of one of the DWR fishing events that will be held at waterbodies around Utah that day.
“At most of the events, equipment will be available for people to use,” Oplinger said. “Volunteers will also be on hand to help you and your kids fish. Also, many of these waters will be stocked with fish before the event so there should be plenty of fish to catch.”
Here are the six events DWR is hosting or helping with on June 8:
Northern Utah
Smith Park Pond in Farr West, Weber County
This event will be held at the Smith Park Pond at 2500 W. 4000 North St. from 8 a.m. to noon and will be hosted by DWR and Smith and Edwards. Fishing poles and tackle will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own gear. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
While the event is free, please register in advance if you plan to attend. You can register at this Eventbrite link.
For more information about the event, contact DWR wildlife recreation technician, Erica Savage at ericasavage@utah.gov and at 385-515-6447.
Bountiful Pond in Woods Cross
This event will be held at the Bountiful Pond at 1275 W. 1600 North in Woods Cross from 10 a.m. to noon. DWR conservation officers and Wood Cross police officers will be available to help beginning anglers bait their hooks and catch some fish. Free pizza and prizes will also be available. If you have your own fishing rod and reel, please bring it. However, if you don’t have one, DWR will have a few on hand for people to borrow.
For more information about the event, contact DWR Cpl. Krystal Tucker at 801-391-9846 and krystaltucker@utah.gov.
Northeastern Utah
Lower Stillwater Pond in Hanna, Duchesne County
This event will be hosted by the DWR and the U.S. Forest Service and will be held at the Lower Stillwater Pond on Forest Road 134 near Duchesne from 9 a.m. to noon. This is a Blue Ribbon Fishery and includes a complex of several ponds that have a variety of fish species, including some decent sized fish, making this a great fishing area for both beginners and experienced anglers. A kid’s fishing derby will take place at the event, complete with snacks and prizes. Several educational mini-clinics and a visit from Smokey Bear will also be offered.
An aquatics biologist from the Whiterocks State Fish Hatchery will be bringing a fish-stocking truck to the pond and will be giving a demonstration on how fish are stocked into ponds around the region.
To get to Lower Stillwater Pond, drive north on Utah State Route 87 from Duchesne and turn left onto 21000 West and then continue on that road into Mountain Home. Then, turn left onto 6750 North/Rock Creek Road, which turns into Forest Road 134, and then follow that until you get to Lower Stillwater Pond.
For more information about the event, contact DWR wildlife recreation program specialist Valarie Fiorelli at vfiorelli@utah.gov and 435-828-0008.
While the event is free, please register in advance if you plan to attend. You can register here.Moose Pond in Manila, Daggett County
This event will also be hosted by the DWR and the U.S. Forest Service and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Like the event at Lower Stillwater Pond, this one will also include a kid’s fishing derby, snack, prize, education clinics and a visit from Smokey Bear.
Moose Pond is located at about mile 8 off of the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway (Highway 44) about 19 miles south of Manila.
For more information about the event, contact DWR wildlife recreation program specialist Valarie Fiorelli at vfiorelli@utah.gov and 435-828-0008.
While the event is free, please register in advance if you plan to attend. You can register at this Eventbrite link.
Southern Utah
Bristlecone Pond in Brian Head, Iron County
This DWR event is geared toward beginning anglers and will be held at the Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond at 535 Brian Head Blvd. from 9 a.m. to noon. Experts will describe the different fish species found in the community fishery and will give information about fishing rules and regulations. Fishing rods, tackle and bait will be provided for participants to practice their skills. DWR employees will also be available to help with knot tying, casting and unhooking fish that are caught.
Free lunch will be provided, and a drawing will be held with prizes, courtesy of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. You must be present to win.
For more information, contact DWR wildlife recreation program specialist Heather Talley at 435-868-8756 and heathertalley@utah.gov.
While the event is free, please register in advance if you plan to attend. You can register at this Eventbrite link.
Little Reservoir in Beaver
This event is also geared toward teaching beginners to fish and will be held at Little Reservoir from 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop will include information about fishing rules and regulations and the different fish species found in the area. Fishing equipment will also be available at this event.
Free lunch will also be provided at this event and participants will be entered into a drawing with prizes. You must be present to win.
To get to Little Reservoir from Beaver, travel east on paved Utah State Route 153 for 10 miles. Then turn right on Kents Lake Road (Front Road 137) for 0.8 miles.
For more information, contact DWR volunteer services coordinator Blaine Cox at 435-559-0798 and blainecox@utah.gov.
Participants are also asked to register for this event. You can register here.
Community fishing ponds
If you can’t attend one of the free DWR events, another good option is to fish at one of the community ponds across Utah. You’ll likely have company on Free Fishing Day, but these waterbodies 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 — averaging 14 inches long — before June 8.
You can find all the community ponds on a map on the DWR website here.
Learn the rules
You don’t need a license to fish on June 8, but the other fishing rules in Utah will still be in effect. The rules are available in the 2019 Utah Fishing Guidebook.
Buy a license
Although you don’t need a fishing license on June 8, a fishing license is required to fish any other day of the year. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days and can be purchased online or from a DWR license agent.