Free Fishing Day takes place Saturday
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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Family Fun in the Sun event was held at Fireman’s Park Saturday, April 23. The event had free life jackets and activities for children and their families. Alongside the event was the inaugural Young Anglers Fishing Tournament held in conjunction with the city of Graham.
The Annual Texas Parks & Wildlife Free Fishing Day taking place Saturday on lakes across Texas. The annual event is held the first Saturday in June where Texans can fish on any public waterbody in the state without a fishing license.
Free Fishing Days take place at various times of the year throughout the country. Free fishing provides an opportunity for beginners to try out fishing for the first time without requiring a fishing license.
“Free Fishing Day is a wonderful opportunity for anglers to share their knowledge, skills, equipment, and love for fishing with a new participant, yet it’s also more than that,” said Craig Bonds, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries Director. “We hope those trying fishing on this special day will also learn that purchasing a license is an act of conservation. A fishing license purchase is one of the simplest and most effective way people can support fisheries science and management.”
Although the first Saturday in June is designated as Free Fishing Day in Texas, TPWD says fishing is free year-round at every Texas State Park. Park entry fees apply. Texas offers numerous lakes and rivers with access to fishing throughout the state. Visit tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/wheretofish/ to view lake and river fishing finders for fishing locations across Texas. Access to information and fishing tips on more than 150 lakes are available on the Lake Finder page.
Anglers help the conservation effort with their license purchase with 100 percent of fishing license fees going to TPWD. The fees fund on-the-ground conservation efforts such as fish stocking that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to fish. For more information on licensing, visit the license page under the fishing tab at tpwd.texas.gov
For those without fishing equipment, some Texas state parks offer equipment via the Tackle Loaner Program. Anglers needing equipment can borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes with hooks, sinkers and bobbers for up to 7 days. Participating state parks near Graham are Lake Arrowhead State Park in Wichita Falls, Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailways in Mineral Wells and Fort Richardson State Park in Jacksboro. For other state parks across Texas participating in the loaner program, visit tpwd.texas.gov/education/angler-education/tackle-loaner-program.
