Free Fishing Days May 3 and 4

COLUMBUS, Ohio - "Free Fishing Days" offer chance to experience Ohio's great angling opportunities.
Ohioans are encouraged to take advantage of "Free Fishing Days" on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 to experience the great angling opportunities Ohio has to offer. For these two days only, anglers may fish any of the state's public waters without a license.


"Fishing is a great opportunity for the family to get outdoors together," said David M.Graham, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. "Ohio's many lakes and rivers offer some of the best fishing anywhere."


During the rest of the year, anglers age 16 and older are required to have a valid fishing license to take fish, frogs or turtles from Ohio waters. Fishing licenses are available at bait and tackle stores, outdoor outfitters, major department stores, and on-line at the ODNR website through the link provided below.


An Ohio fishing license is one of the best recreational bargains available, costing state residents only $19 a year. Ohio residents born on or before December 31, 1937 can obtain a free fishing license at any license vendor. Residents age 66 and older born on or after January 1, 1938 are eligible to obtain a reduced-cost senior fishing license for $10. A one-day fishing license is also available for $11, an amount that can be applied toward the cost of an annual license.


Ohio's "Free Fishing Days" were established in 1993 to promote fishing by allowing Ohioans to experience the sport before buying a license. The offer is open to Ohio residents, and extends to all public waters, including Lake Erie and the Ohio River. An estimated 1.5 million people fish each year in Ohio.


Great fishing exists around the state and throughout the year. In late winter and early spring, anglers can reel in steelhead trout and walleye from northern Ohio streams. Spring also means great saugeye and crappie fishing. During the summer, the fishing heats up on Lake Erie for yellow perch, walleye and smallmouth bass, while anglers on the Ohio River enjoy excellent striped bass fishing.