Head to your nearest water hole this weekend because fishing in Ohio is free!
On May 5-6, anglers are invited to take part in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' annual free fishing weekend. 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 $19 fishing license.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife’s six fish hatcheries stocked more than 66 million sport fish in public waters in 2017, 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 from May 4 to 6 by using the promotion code 18ANGLER on new reservations only.
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, have fun.
Check out the website here for more details.
