Free Fishing Weekend is June 9-10
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School's out -- fishing is in
Load up the car with friends, family and fishing poles this June 9-10 and enjoy a free weekend of fishing.
Hoosiers do not need a license to fish Indiana's public waters during Free Fishing Weekend. Children under age 17 do not need a fishing license at any time.
Although no fishing license is needed to fish public waters on Free Fishing Weekend, all other fishing regulations are still in effect.
To help anglers celebrate Free Fishing Weekend, recreation areas located across Indiana are planning fun fishing derbies, casting clinics and fish cleaning and cooking classes.
Check out a new lake or river, or introduce friends and family to a favorite fishing spot. Some properties require pre-registration. Call your favorite property for details.
Free Fishing Weekend event locations:
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- Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, Edinburgh, 812-526-2051
- Brown County State Park, Nashville, 812-988-5240
- Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA), Cloverdale, 765-795-3552
- Cecil M. Harden Lake (Raccoon SRA), Rockville, 765-344-1412
- Cedar Lake, Lake County, 219-374-6157
- Chain O'Lakes State Park, Albion, 260-636-2654
- Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, 317-327-7110
- Falls of the Ohio State Park, Clarksville, 812-280-9970
- Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, 317-591-0904
- Hardy Lake, Scottsburg, 812-794-3800
- Hot Pond Park, Lebanon, 765-482-8860
- J. Edward Roush Lake, Huntington, 260-468-2127
- Mississinewa Lake, Peru, 260-468-2127
- Monroe Lake, Bloomington, 812-837-9546
- O'Bannon Woods State Park, Corydon, 812-738-8234
- Oxbow County Park, Goshen, 574-535-6458
- Patoka Lake, Birdseye, 812-685-2447
- Salamonie Lake, Andrews, 260-468-2127
- Shakamak State Park, Jasonville, 812-665-2158
- Starve Hollow State Recreation Area, Vallonia, 812-358-3464
- Summit Lake State Park, New Castle, 765-766-5873
- Versailles State Park, Versailles, 812-689-6424
- Whitewater Memorial State Park, Liberty, 765-458-5565
- Williams Dam Public Fishing Area, Williams, 812-388-5562
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge will host Take a Kid Fishing Day on June 2, 812-522-4352. Hoosiers over the age of 16 need a fishing license to fish outside of Free Fishing Weekend. For license exemptions, see the Indiana Recreation and Fishing Guide:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishng/fishgide.htm ---------------------------------------------------------
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has some tips for getting a kid safely hooked on fishing, and the DNR throws in Free Fishing Weekend (June 9-10) so that anglers have an excuse to find fun new fishing holes.
Beginner fishing tips
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- Every angler needs a fishing hat. Besides protection from glare and sun, the bill of the hat over sunglasses shields eyes and head from first casts with hook and line.
- Check your back. Ask an apprentice caster to look back before casting to make sure people, animals or obstructions are not in the way.
- Fish handling. Teach kids the appropriate way to handle fish to prevent small bites and fin pricks, as well as injury to the fish.
- Be safe and comfortable. Take along sunscreen, kid-safe insect repellent, a small first aid kit, life vest and, of course, some snacks and plenty to drink. And don't pull back hard on a snagged line. It could spring back and hurt someone.
- Quick Success. Kids love to catch fish, any size fish. So your best bet for kid fishing success is to look for bluegill or their panfish cousins -- they are usually plentiful and scrappy. The basic hook, worm and bobber rig is still the best way to catch these fish. Panfish have small mouths, so use a size 10 or smaller hook. The bait should just barely cover the hook.
- Love our natural resources. If the fish aren't biting, looking for bait can be just as fun as fishing. Look for bugs under rocks. Take along a net to catch grasshoppers. Or, skip some stones. Talk about the weather. Poke stuff with sticks. Climb a tree. Teach the kids what poison ivy looks like. And use some of the leftover lunch crumbs to surface-feed the fish. The ones that aren't biting always seem to find the bread and cracker crumbs.
More panfish fishing basics:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishing/bobber.htm DNR property information:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/destinations/list.html Indiana fishing regulations:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishng/fishgide.htm Individuals who need reasonable modifications for effective participation in Free Fishing Weekend events at DNR properties should contact the property at least 72 hours before the event.
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Media Contact:
John Maxwell,
317-232-5648
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