Fish without a license in Utah on this year’s Free Fishing Day.

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

“Fishing is an activity that’s fun for people of all ages — everyone in your family can enjoy it,” says Roger Wilson, cold water sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “We offer Free Fishing Day to attract people to an outdoor activity they can enjoy for the rest of their life.”

Before Free Fishing Day, DWR personnel will stock extra fish into waters across Utah. Wilson says most of the fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs.

Utah’s community fishing ponds are another good place to consider fishing on June 7. Depending on where you live, a community pond might be just a few minutes away. To learn more about Utah’s community fishing ponds, please visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/cf/.

Know the rules

You don’t need a license to fish on June 7, but all of the other regulations in the 2008 Utah Fishing Guidebook will still be in effect. All anglers, especially those who might be fishing for the first time, are encouraged to obtain a copy of the guidebook and learn the rules.

The guidebook is available at the DWR Web site and from fishing license agents and DWR offices.

Several free fishing events for kids will be held on Free Fishing Day. Among those the DWR will be involved with are the following:

NORTHERN UTAH

LOGAN

Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S.

People of all ages can enjoy free fishing at Skylar’s Pond. Volunteers will check out fishing equipment. They’ll also be available to help first-time anglers.

Activity booths, for those ages 4 to 18, also will be available. The first 300 youths who visit the booths and complete their “passport to fun” will receive a free t-shirt. At the interactive booths, youths can discover the joys of fishing and learn the importance of good water quality. They can tie their own wooly bugger, experience how rivers and streams are formed, explore the life cycles of fish, go buggy over bugs, color for conservation, learn to cast a fishing lure and learn more about Leave No Trace fishing and camping!

A variety of local, state and federal agencies are sponsoring the activity. The activity promotes both water quality and fishing.

For more information, e-mail Marni Lee with the Division of Wildlife Resources at MarniLee [at] utah [dot] gov.

NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH

MIDWAY

“Kid’s Fishing Event,” Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, about 2 miles west of Midway.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space is limited. Children who want to participate must register in advance by calling Wendy Wilson at (435) 654-1791.

The DWR will stock the park’s pond with rainbow trout before the event. The kids who participate will be given a presentation at 9 a.m. that teaches them about fish and fishing. After they complete the presentation, the kids can fish at the pond.

Volunteers from the DWR’s Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help the kids fish and to help them clean their fish.

Fishing poles and bait will be available for kids who don’t have their own equipment.

SOUTHWESTERN UTAH

CEDAR CITY

The Division of Wildlife Resources will sponsor a fishing event at Kid’s Pond on the Wood’s Ranch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kids 12 years of age and younger are invited to come to the pond and fish for free. A fishing license is not required, and fishing equipment will be available for kids who don’t have their own equipment. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be available to help kids fish.

Kids Pond is 12 miles outside of Cedar City, up Cedar Canyon (SR-14) above the Wood’s Ranch pavilion.

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