States offer free fishing days: no license required

FISHING – General fishing license requirements are being waived in the Inland Northwest on upcoming days as state fish and wildlife agencies offer the public a chance to check out the sport.

Free fishing days are scheduled:

• June 6-7 in Washington and Oregon.
• June 13 in Idaho.
• June 20-21 in Montana.

In Washington , no license will be required to fish or gather shellfish in any waters open to fishing.

Also, no vehicle access pass or Discover Pass will be required during Free Fishing Weekend to park at any of the nearly 700 water-access sites maintained by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

All other limits and rules still apply. Get state fishing rules pamphlets online or where licenses are sold.

• See Washington regulations here .

Events may be scheduled in some local area during the free fishing days.

In Washington, a fishing derby is set for 8 a.m.-noon next Sunday at Rainbow Lake 14 miles south of Pomeroy along the Tucannon River. Info: (509) 843-1891.

At Newman Lake, a pancake breakfast will be served on Saturday , 6 a.m.-11 a.m. at Tri-Community Grange , 25025 E Heather Lane.

Here’s more info about Washington’s Free Fishing Weekend from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Anglers will not need a Two Pole Endorsement to fish with two poles on selected waters where two pole fishing is permitted. Anglers will also not need a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement, otherwise required to fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries.

Anglers have been catching daily limits of trout at lakes for the past month, and many rivers will open to trout fishing June 6 throughout the state. Other options available on Free Fishing Weekend include:

• Hatchery chinook salmon in Washington’s ocean waters.
• Lingcod on the coast and Puget Sound.
• Bass, crappie, perch and other warmwater fish biting in lakes throughout eastern Washington.
• Shad on the Columbia River.
• Spring chinook salmon on the Columbia River.
• Hatchery steelhead on the mainstem Columbia River and on rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.

The Fish Washington video page provides “how to” fishing videos designed to introduce techniques to both new and seasoned anglers.

While no licenses are required on Free Fishing Weekend, other rules such as size limits, bag limits and closures will still be in effect. Anglers will also be required to complete a catch record card for any salmon or steelhead they catch.

Catch record cards are available free at hundreds of sporting goods stores and other license dealers throughout the state.