SALT LAKE CITY — For 364 days of the year, anyone 12 years old and over who wants to fish in Utah needs to purchase a fishing license. However, one day of the year — Free Fishing Day — anyone can fish for free. This year, Free Fishing Day is Saturday, and the Division of Wildlife Resources is helping with several free events across the state.
While anglers young and old can fish for free on Saturday, all of the other rules in the free 2016 Utah Fishing Guidebook will still apply.
Southwestern Utah
Hurricane
Grandpa’s Pond: To reach the pond, follow State Street in Hurricane to the west of town, and then turn north on 3700 West. Continue north on 3700 West until the pavement ends.
Prizes will be offered, and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. Anglers from Southern Utah Anglers — cosponsors of the event — and additional volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and help them keep their hooks baited.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call the DWR’s Cedar City office at 435-865-6100.
Cedar City
Leigh Hill Reservoir: To reach the reservoir, follow Royal Hunte Drive to the top of Leigh Hill.
Prizes will be offered, and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and help them keep their hooks baited.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife is cosponsoring the event.
For more information, call the DWR’s Cedar City office at 435-865‑6100.
Beaver
Little Reservoir: To reach the reservoir, travel east out of Beaver on 200 North, which becomes state Route 153. The reservoir is 6 miles up Beaver Canyon on the right hand side of the road.
Prizes will be offered, and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and help them keep their hooks baited.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the DWR’s Cedar City office at 435-865‑6100.
Northern Utah
Logan
Skylar’s Pond: The Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the pond, which is located in Willow Park at 450 W. 700 South.
People of all ages can enjoy fishing for free at the pond. And kids can fish with a cop! Fishing equipment will be available to check out and use, and law enforcement officers from the Cache Valley area will be available to help first-time anglers fish.
Special interactive activity booths will also be available for those 4-18 years of age. The first 200 youths who visit the booths and complete their “Bear River Adventure Passport” will receive a free gift.
The interactive booths will help young people discover the joys of fishing and learn the importance of good water quality and responsible recreation in the Bear River Watershed. Youths can tie their own fishing fly, experience how rivers and streams are formed, go “buggy over bugs,” stamp prints of fish, build miniature beaver dams and much more.
For more information, e-mail Nicaela Haig with the DWR at [email protected] or visit the Bear River Celebration webpage.
Bountiful
Bountiful Pond: “Fish with a Cop” from 9–11 a.m. at this pond located just west of Legacy Highway in Bountiful.
DWR conservation officers and officers with the Woods Cross Police Department will be available to teach fishing and help catch them.
The event is free. Bait will be provided. Anyone with their own fishing rod and reel is asked to bring it to the event. However, rods and reels will be available for use.
For more information, call James Abbott with the DWR at 801-698-9068 or Stephanie Gonzales with the Wood Cross Police Department at 801-292-4422 extension 3.
Northeastern Utah
Two Free Fishing Day events for anglers of all ages will be held in northeastern Utah:
- Moose Ponds in Daggett County, 9 a.m. to noon.
- Lower Stillwater Ponds on Rock Creek in Duchesne County, 9 a.m. to noon.
Anyone with their own fishing rod and reel is asked to bring it to the event. However, limited rods and reels will be available for use. Personnel from the sponsoring agencies will also be available to answer questions about fish and fishing and to help catch fish.
Each event should be a fun activity for anglers of all ages and the whole family.
The Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are sponsoring the events. For more information, contact any of the sponsors or the DWR’s Vernal office at 435-781-9453.
East-Central Utah
Wellington
Knight-Ideal Community Fishing Pond: A Free Fishing Day event will be held from 8–11 a.m. at the Knight-Ideal Community Fishing Pond, 850 E. 300 South in Wellington. The event is free.
The DWR will place additional fish in the pond before the event. Rods, reels and bait will be provided. DWR personnel will be available to teach fishing and help catch fish.
For more information, call the DWR’s Price office at 435-613-3700.
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