Everyone Fishes Free

Here’s the perfect gift for Dad and Grandpa: free fishing for all over Father’s Day weekend, June 15-16.

“It’s a great way to get outdoors with friends and family and it provides everyone in Montana with the opportunity to get hooked on fishing,” said Jeff Hagener, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena. “You can fish without a license on June 15 and 16, but you must follow all of Montana’s other fishing regulations.”

In total, each year more than 230,000 residents and 160,000 nonresidents purchase a Montana fishing license. Anglers spend about $240 million annually in Montana for things like transportation, food and guide fees. For every dollar spent by FWP’s fisheries program, anglers spend an additional $11 benefiting local communities and the state’s economy.

Montana’s most popular waters include the Madison, Bighorn, Missouri, Bitterroot and Gallatin rivers; and Canyon Ferry, Flathead, Georgetown, Hauser, and Fort Peck lakes.

“Montana’s ‘fish for free’ weekend is the state’s Father’s Day gift to dads everywhere,” Hagener said. “We want everyone to have a fun time, so we’re also encouraging folks to check conditions first and to always keep safety as their top concern.”

Those wishing to take advantage of this opportunity need to be aware that fishing for bull trout requires a catch card and fishing for paddlefish requires a paddlefish tag.

The free fishing promotion is set for Father’s Day weekend, this Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16.