You won't need a fishing license to catch fish in Utah on June 4.

If you're looking for a fun activity that's close to home and doesn't cost much, mark June 4 on your calendar.

June 4 is Utah's annual Free Fishing Day.

Photo courtesy of Bill Fenimore

June 4 is Free Fishing Day in Utah. You won't need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.

"Make plans now to get out with your family and enjoy a free day of fishing," says Drew Cushing, warm water sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Cushing says Utah has plenty of water this year, and fishing should be great. "Fishing at many of our mid-elevation reservoirs is just starting to pick up," he says.

You won't need a license to fish on June 4, but Cushing reminds you that all other rules in the state's fishing guidebook will still be in effect.

You can learn those rules by reading the 2011 Utah Fishing Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.

Copies are also available at DWR offices and from fishing license agents across the state.

Some of the best places to fish

Before Free Fishing Day, the DWR will place extra fish in waters across Utah. Most of those fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs, so those might be good places to try on June 4.

Utah's community fishing ponds are another good place to consider. Depending on where you live, a community pond might be only a few minutes away.

You can learn more about Utah's community fishing ponds at wildlife.utah.gov/cf.

"We'll stock the community fishing ponds with channel catfish before Free Fishing Day," Cushing says. "We'll continue stocking the ponds with catfish until the temperatures cool in the fall. Then we'll start placing trout in the ponds."

Several free fishing events for children will be held on Free Fishing Day. The following are some of the events the DWR will be involved in:

NORTHERN UTAH

LOGAN

The Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Skylar's Pond.

The pond is in Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S.

People of all ages can enjoy free fishing at the pond. Fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. Volunteers will also be available to help first-time anglers fish.

Special interactive activity booths will also be available for those ages 4 to 18 years old. The first 250 youths who visit the booths and complete their "passport to fun" will receive a free t-shirt. The interactive booths will give young people a chance to discover the joys of fishing and learn the importance of good water quality. Youths can tie their own wooly bugger, experience how rivers and streams are formed, explore the life cycles of fish, go "buggy over bugs," make fish prints, learn how to cast a fishing lure and much more.

For more information, e-mail Marni Lee with the Division of Wildlife Resources at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

WELLSVILLE

A Free Fishing Day event will be held from 8 – 11 a.m. at Wellsville Pond.

The pond is at 100 E. 500 S.

The event includes a fishing contest and merit badge clinics. A prize will be awarded to the child who catches the biggest fish!

For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at 801-476-2740.

KAYSVILLE

A Free Fishing Day event will be held at Kaysville Ponds.

The ponds are at the Utah Botanical Gardens, 725 S. 50 W. (If you drive along Interstate 15, you'll see the ponds. The ponds are just east of the freeway.)

You and your kids can check out fishing poles from the DWR to use at the pond that day. Volunteers from Trout Unlimited will also be available to help anglers who want help fishing. Several booths will also be set up to teach kids about fish, fishing safety and how to tie fishing knots.

For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at 801-476-2740.

NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH

MURRAY

"Family Fishing Derby" at Willow Park Pond in Murray.

The pond is at 6059 S. Murray Parkway Ave., just north of the Murray Golf Course.

One-hour fishing sessions for families and kids will be held at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Space is limited. You can pick up a ticket to participate at the Murray Parks and Recreation office or the Sportsman's Warehouse store in Midvale.

The DWR will stock the pond with channel catfish before the event. Starting at 9 a.m., the children who participate will be taught about fish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR's Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fish and clean the fish they catch.

Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if they don't have their own equipment.

MIDWAY

"Kid's Fishing Event," Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, about two miles west of downtown Midway (1281 Warm Springs Road).

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. If your child would like to participate, please register in advance by calling 435-654-1791.

The DWR will stock the pond with rainbow trout before the event. At 9 a.m., the kids who participate will be taught about fish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR's Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fish and clean the fish they catch.

Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if they don't have their own equipment.

SPANISH FORK

Spanish Fork will host its 33rd Annual Huck Finn Day from 9 a.m. to noon at Canyon View Park Pond.

The pond is at 330 E. Powerhouse Road, next to the Spanish Oaks golf course.

Trout will be stocked into the pond before the event. Several prizes will be awarded between 9 a.m. and noon, including a bicycle to the person who catches the biggest fish. A bicycle will also be given to the person who catches the smallest fish!

Boys are encouraged to come to the event dressed like Huck Finn. Girls are encouraged to dress like Becky Thatcher. Prizes will be given for the best costume in each category.

For more information, visit www.spanishfork.org or call 801-804-4600.

PLEASANT GROVE

Manila Creek Park Pond, Utah's newest community fishery, will officially open as a community fishery on June 4.

The pond is at 3300 N. 900 W.

At noon, Pleasant Grove's mayor will cut a large fishing line. Cutting the line will officially open the pond as Utah's newest community fishery.

Festivities will be held throughout the day. Hot dogs and drinks will be provided.

NORTHEASTERN UTAH

Three Free Fishing Day events for kids of all ages will be held in northeastern Utah:

- Pelican Lake in Uintah County, 8 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management and the DWR.

- Moose Ponds in Daggett County, 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the DWR.

- Lower Stillwater Ponds on Rock Creek in Duchesne County, 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the DWR.

If you have your own fishing pole, you're encouraged to bring it to these events. A limited number of poles will be available at the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond sites for those who don't have a pole but would like to try fishing. Fishing demonstrations will also be provided at the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond events.

At the Pelican Lake event, prizes and other give-aways will be available for the younger children who drop by. (Prizes and give-aways might also be available at the other events too.)

Each event should be fun for the whole family!

For more information, contact any of the sponsors or the DWR's Vernal office at 435-781-9453.

SOUTHWESTERN UTAH

BEAVER

Little Reservoir

To reach Little Reservoir, travel east from Beaver on state Route 153 for about nine miles to Kents Lake Road. Then travel about one mile on Kents Lake Road to the reservoir.

A limited number of fishing rods and equipment will be available for children to borrow if they don't have their own. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be available to help kids fish. And those who participate might receive a prize!

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

CEDAR CITY

Leigh Hill Reservoir

Leigh Hill Reservoir is one of Utah's community fisheries. To reach the reservoir, follow Cedar City's Royal Hunt Drive to the top of Leigh Hill.

Prizes will be offered and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooks baited.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

HURRICANE

Grandpa's Pond

Grandpa's Pond is one of Utah's community fisheries. 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 at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooks baited.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Buck's Ace Hardware in Hurricane is cosponsoring the event.

For more information, call Lynn Chamberlain at 435-680-0059.