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Ohioans Invited
to Enjoy a Weekend of Free Fishing
May 6-7 is Ohio's free fishing weekend
COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio is known for its world-class fishing, and on May
6-7, state residents are invited to take part in the annual free
fishing weekend, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
(ODNR). Ohio’s Free Fishing Days are open to all Ohio residents and
extend to all of Ohio’s public waters, including Lake Erie and the Ohio
River. This is the only weekend all year that does not require anyone
16-years-old or older to obtain a fishing license.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife’s six fish hatcheries stocked more than
54 million sport fish in public waters in 2016, including walleye,
saugeye, steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout, muskellunge, channel
catfish, blue catfish and hybrid striped bass, which will provide
opportunities for more than 1.3 million Ohio anglers.
Ohio State Parks is also offering a camping discount during Ohio’s Free
Fishing Days. Campers can receive a 20 percent off discount May 6-7 by
using the promotion code 17ANGLER.
The Free Fishing Days weekend offers Ohioans of all ages the chance to
experience the fun of catching a fish. Here are some helpful tips for
taking a youngster out fishing.
• Keep the trip simple by considering a child’s age
and skill level.
• Choose a pond, lake or stream where children will
be able to easily catch a few fish.
• A spin-cast reel is usually the easiest for kids to
use.
• Bring a camera and snacks.
• Be patient – plan on spending time untangling
lines, baiting hooks, landing fish and taking pictures.
• Most of all, keep the trip fun.
Anglers 16 years and older are required to have a valid fishing license
to take fish, frogs or turtles from Ohio waters when not fishing on
Ohio’s free fishing weekend. An Ohio resident fishing license is only
$19 a year for residents. Fishing licenses are available at
participating agents and wildohio.gov.
The sales of fishing licenses, along with the Sport Fish Restoration
(SFR) program, continue to fund the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s fish
management operations. No state tax dollars are used for these
activities. These are user-pay, user-benefit programs.
The SFR is a partnership between federal and state governments,
industry and anglers/boaters. When anglers purchase rods, reels,
fishing tackle, fish finder and motor boat fuel, they pay an excise
tax. The federal government collects these taxes, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service administers and disburses these funds to state fish
and wildlife agencies. These funds are used to acquire habitat, produce
and stock fish; conduct research and surveys; provide aquatic
education; and acquire and develop boat accesses.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural
resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
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