Idaho Fish and Game’s Free Fishing Day on June 10 is exactly as it sounds: a chance for anyone to grab a rod and go fishing with no license required.
At some locations, you don’t even need a rod, tackle or bait. Just show up and Fish and Game employees and volunteers will loan you gear and show you how to catch a fish. The department will stock trout in select locations before the event to increase your chances of landing a fish. Check our fish stocking page to find out where the fish trucks have been lately.
Free Fishing Day is all about helping new anglers learn how to fish. That’s why Fish and Game’s “Take me Fishing Trailers” are loaded with loaner rods and tackle and available at locations throughout the state.
Free Fishing Day and the trailers are a great opportunity find out why fishing is one of Idaho’s favorite activities, and a fun day to spend time with your family, make new friends, and learn how to catch your own dinner.
While Free Fishing Day temporarily waives the requirement for a fishing license, all other rules, such as bag limits and other restrictions, still apply. To make that simple, we’ve added the locations of our “Family Fishing Waters,” which have simplified and standardized rules.
While the day is intended to give folks an opportunity to try fishing without having to spend money up front, fishing remains a very affordable, year-round activity. A resident adult single-day license costs only $11.50, and an annual resident adult fishing license is $25.75, which you can buy online here.
Fishing in Idaho is a convenient way to get outside, since fishing spots are commonly near both urban and rural areas. Community ponds make for easy fishing trips close to home, while rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs make excellent weekend trips or vacation destinations. To find places to fish and what you can catch there, check out the "Fish Planner."
Idaho also has a large variety of game fish, from palm-sized bluegill that are a great way to teach kids fishing, up to sturgeon that are decades old and measured in feet rather than inches or pounds.
Fishing can be as simple as putting a worm on a hook and waiting for a fish to come by, or as complex as trolling for trophy fish with an array tackle, down riggers and electronic fish finders. To learn more, check out our Learn to Fish webpage.
Whatever your fishing style is, and if you’re interested in learning more, join us June 10 at one of our Free Fishing Day events.
Here's a video from a past Free Fishing Day event