Iowans can go fishing for free today through Sunday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is waiving the requirement that anglers possess a valid fishing license for three days.
Joe Larscheid, chief of the D.N.R. fisheries bureau, says there are 17 free clinics taking place around the state to teach people how to fish. He says the clinics are designed to teach individual all they need to know to start fishing.
A list of the free clinics is posted on the D.N.R.’s website . The D.N.R. has hosted the annual free fishing weekend for more than 10 years. Larscheid hopes it gets more people "hooked" on the activity so they’ll purchase a license.
"Right now, an annual resident fishing license is $17.50 and you can fish all year with that license," Larscheid said. The first weekend in June is typically a good time for fishing in Iowa.
"The primary fish people are catching now are hand fish – crappies and bluegills. They’re in the act of doing things close to shore, so they’re readily available and easy to catch," Larscheid said.