This is the 15th year the state has offered a weekend where residents can fish without a license. The fee for fishing on other weekends has gone up a little this year. Marion Conover oversees the D-N-R’s Fisheries Bureau.The fee went up three dollars this year to 14 dollars. Conover says the increase hasn’t seemed to dampen the enthusiasm of Iowa anglers.He says the number of licenses sold this year is on par with last year. He says weather has a lot to do with that too, as it has been good fishing weather. Conover says even with the increase, the cost of a yearly fishing license is still reasonable.He says going to the movies or golfing repeatedly during the year will cost you a lot more than the cost of the fishing license. Plus, Conover says the extra dollars are required to go toward improving fish habitat.Conover says there are over 400-thousand licensed fishermen in Iowa, and more than 400-thousand more that aren’t old enough to require a license.
