LOGAN – The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources want to remind the public of Free Fishing Day to be held on June 7, 2025. It is just around the corner for those itching for an excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather.
Free Fishing Day is a time to spend time together as a family on one of Utah’s many community ponds.
There are several great fishing destinations in Cache Valley and other areas around the state that are worth checking out this time of year.
Free Fishing Day is typically a great time to try fishing. Many locations are freshly stocked with fish and they are hungry and biting.
The day allows anyone to fish at any public waterbody in Utah without a license. This is a great family activity and a way to introduce kids, neighbors and friends to go fishing in Utah.
It’s generally an ideal day not only for beginning anglers to try fishing but it is also a fun time for experienced anglers who have been too busy to fish in recent years, too.
DWR Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said because people don’t need a license to fish on Free Fishing Day, it’s the perfect time to take someone with you and introduce them to this incredible activity.
“All of the fish in the state, both warmwater and coldwater species, are active and willing to bite this time of year, making early June one of the best times to fish in Utah,” she said. “If you’ve ever wanted to give fishing a try or if you haven’t been in a while, Free Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity!”
For those taking someone fishing for their first time, they can commemorate their first catch with a fun DWR certificate. It can be printed out at home and fill in the details to document the occasion. There are also a variety of great resources for new anglers on the DWR website.
Local community ponds are a great option for beginners and for many they offer a quick, close-to-home fishing spot. These ponds are an ideal place to take kids and other less experienced anglers.
Of the 57 community fishing ponds located in Utah, several of them are in Northern Utah:
Brigham City
200 S. 1060 East
Brigham City, UT 84302
800 W. Forest St.
Brigham City, UT 84302
Garden City
579 Buttercup Blvd.
Garden City, UT 84028
Laketown
200 East, 2 miles south of Laketown, UT
Logan
Skylars Pond (West Willow Pond)
647 S. 500 West
Logan, UT 84321
Wellsville
500 S. 100 East
Wellsville, UT 84339
For more advanced anglers who want to visit a larger waterbody with additional fishing opportunities, there are a variety of options across the state with Bear Lake in Rich County being the closest. The lake stretches between Idaho and Utah; this large waterbody provides a lot of different areas to fish.
Well-known for its iconic Caribbean blue water, this scenic lake is also home to some species of fish that are found nowhere else in the world. Anglers should target cutthroat trout this time of year, and will have the best success from a boat.
This Lake Trout was the product of research on the Bear Lake and shows the kind of trout that be caught on the Rich County lake.
Outside of Free Fishing Day, anyone 12 years old or older needs a fishing license to fish anywhere in Utah. Other fishing rules will still be in effect for 365 days from the date of purchase. Fishing license fees go toward fish and wildlife conservation in Utah.
DWR wants everyone to know the daily fish limits and other rules for the waterbody they are fishing. The rules can be found in the 2025 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which is available in both English and Spanish. They also want fisherman wherever they go fishing, be responsible, pack out what is pack in and keeping the area free of trash.