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Idaho Fish and Game

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No excuse to skip fishing on Free Fishing Day, June 9

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Fish and Game will host statewide events to help beginners get started

Idaho Fish and Game’s Free Fishing Day on June 9 is exactly as it sounds: a chance for anyone to grab a rod and go fishing with no license required. 

At many 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.

Here's a list of events. For details about an event, call the regional office during business hours, and for exact locations, visit our special Free Fishing Day map page

Browse statewide events map

Panhandle Region (208) 769-1414

  • Lucky Friday Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Ponderosa Springs Golf Course Pond (7 a.m. - 11 a.m. PDT)
  • Post Falls Park Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Priest Lake Golf Course (8 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Rathdrum City Park (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Round Lake (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Snow Creek Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Steamboat Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)

Clearwater Region (208) 799-5010

  • Deer Creek Reservoir (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Fenn Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Karolyns Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Kiwanis Park Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Mann Lake (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Spring Valley Reservoir (9 a.m. - noon PDT)
  • Wilkins Pond (9 a.m. - noon PDT)

Southwest Region (Nampa) (208) 465-8465, (McCall) (208) 634-8137

  • Atwood Pond (8 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT)
  • Caldwell Rotary Pond (9:30 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Fischer Pond (10 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT)
  • Idaho City Visitors Center Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Kleiner Pond (9 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT)
  • Legacy Park Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Lowman Ponds, Ten Mile Ponds (9 a.m. - 2 p.m. MDT)
  • McDevitt Pond (8 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Meadow Creek Pond, (aka Kimberland Meadows Pond) (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Northwest Passage Pond (9 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Sawyers Pond (9 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Wilson Springs Ponds (8 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Old McDonald Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)

Magic Valley Region (208) 324-4359

  • Freedom Park Pond (8 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Gavers Lagoon (9 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Hagerman WMA, Riley Creek Pond (9 a.m. - 3 p.m. MDT)

Southeast Region (208) 232-4703

  • Bannock Reservoir (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Grace Fish Hatchery (limited to anglers 14 and under, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Upper Kelly Park Pond (limited to anglers age 13 and under, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Edson Fichter Pond, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   

Upper Snake Region (208) 525-7290

  • Becker Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Mill Creek Pond, Mill Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Rexburg City Ponds (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)
  • Trail Creek Pond, Victor Kids Pond (9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT)

Salmon Region (208) 756-2271

  • Blue Mountain Meadow Pond (8 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Kids Creek Pond (8 a.m. - noon MDT)
  • Sawtooth Kids Pond (10 a.m. - 3 p.m. MDT)

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 events aren't the only way to learn how to fish. Fish and Game’s “Take me Fishing Trailers” are loaded with loaner rods and tackle, and Take Me Fishing Trailer events let you try fishing without having to first buy a license. Events are held throughout June, July and August. 

Idaho Fish and Game's "Take Me Fishing" Trailer

Free Fishing Day and Take Me Fishing trailers are great opportunities to learn firsthand why fishing is one of Idaho’s favorite activities, and a fun way to spend time with your family 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. 

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. To keep fishing, anyone age 14 and older needs to buy a daily license, or an annual license, both of which are available at vendors throughout the state, or an annual license can be bought through Fish and Game's online vendor

Fishing in Idaho is a convenient way to get outside, and many fishing spots are easily available near 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 "Fishing Planner," which provides maps and lots of details on nearly every body of water in Idaho. 

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. 

Rainbow trout

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 of 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 9 at one of our Free Fishing Day events. 

Here's a video from a past Free Fishing Day event