Utah's Free Fishing Day is June 4 — Here's a list of events

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The annual Free Fishing Day is upon us. You won't need a license on June 4, but you will be expected to follow all other regulations. Here's a release of special events from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Most events are in the family friendly category. Given the crazy water situation this year, it might be a good idea, and a safe one, to hit one of the local ponds.Free Fishing EventsJune 4 is Free Fishing DayFree fishing events will be held across Utah on June 4.The free events are part of Free Fishing Day in Utah. You don't needa license to fish in the state on June 4.Special fishing eventsSeveral free fishing events will be held on Free Fishing Day. Amongthose the DWR will be involved with are the following:NORTHERN UTAHLOGANThe Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day will be held from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. at Skylar's Pond.The pond is in Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S.People of all ages can enjoy free fishing at the pond. Fishingequipment will be available to check out and use. Volunteers will alsobe available to help first-time anglers fish.Special interactive activity booths will also be available for thoseages 4 to 18 years old. The first 250 youths who visit the booths andcomplete their "passport to fun" will receive a free t-shirt. Theinteractive booths will give young people a chance to discover the joysof fishing and learn the importance of good water quality. Youths cantie their own wooly bugger, experience how rivers and streams areformed, explore the life cycles of fish, go "buggy over bugs," makefish prints, learn how to cast a fishing lure and much more.For more information, e-mail Marni Lee with the Division of WildlifeResources at marnilee@utah.gov.WELLSVILLEA Free Fishing Day event will be held from 8 - 11 a.m. at WellsvillePond.The pond is at 100 E. 500 S.The event includes a fishing contest and merit badge clinics. A prizewill be awarded to the child who catches the biggest fish!For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at (801) 476-2740.KAYSVILLEA Free Fishing Day event will be held at Kaysville Ponds.The ponds are at the Utah Botanical Gardens, 725 S. 50 W. (If youdrive along Interstate 15, you'll see the ponds. The ponds are justeast of the freeway.)You and your kids can check out fishing poles from the DWR to use atthe pond that day. Volunteers from Trout Unlimited will also beavailable to help anglers who want help fishing. Several booths willalso be set up to teach kids about fish, fishing safety and how to tiefishing knots.For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at (801) 476-2740.NORTH-CENTRAL UTAHMURRAY"Family Fishing Derby" at Willow Park Pond in Murray.The pond is at 6059 S. Murray Parkway Ave., just north of the MurrayGolf Course.One-hour fishing sessions for families and kids will be held at 9 a.m.,10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Space is limited. You can pick up a ticketto participate at the Murray Parks and Recreation office or theSportsman's Warehouse store in Midvale.The DWR will stock the pond with channel catfish before the event. Starting at 9 a.m., the children who participate will be taught aboutfish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are freeto fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from theDWR's Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fishand clean the fish they catch.Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if theydon't have their own equipment.MIDWAY"Kid's Fishing Event," Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, abouttwo miles west of downtown Midway (1281 Warm Springs Road).The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. If yourchild would like to participate, please register in advance by calling(435) 654-1791. The DWR will stock the pond with rainbow trout before the event. At 9a.m., the kids who participate will be taught about fish and how tocatch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at thepond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR's DedicatedHunter program will be available to help them fish and clean the fishthey catch.Fishing poles and bait will be available for children to borrow if theydon't have their own equipment.SPANISH FORKSpanish Fork will host its 33rd Annual Huck Finn Day from 9 a.m. tonoon at Canyon View Park Pond.The pond is at 330 E. Powerhouse Road, next to the Spanish Oaks golfcourse. Trout will be stocked into the pond before the event. Several prizeswill be awarded between 9 a.m. and noon, including a bicycle to theperson who catches the biggest fish. A bicycle will also be given tothe person who catches the smallest fish!Boys are encouraged to come to the event dressed like Huck Finn. Girlsare encouraged to dress like Becky Thatcher. Prizes will be given forthe best costume in each category.For more information, visit http://www.spanishfork.org or call (801)804-4600.PLEASANT GROVEManila Creek Park Pond, Utah's newest community fishery, willofficially open as a community fishery on June 4.The pond is at 3300 N. 900 W.At noon, Pleasant Grove's mayor will cut a large fishing line. Cutting the line will officially open the pond as Utah's newestcommunity fishery.Festivities will be held throughout the day. Hot dogs and drinks willbe provided.NORTHEASTERN UTAHThree Free Fishing Day events for kids of all ages will be held innortheastern Utah:- Pelican Lake in Uintah County, 8 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by theBureau of Land Management and the DWR.- Moose Ponds in Daggett County, 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the U.S.Forest Service and the DWR.- Lower Stillwater Ponds on Rock Creek in Duchesne County, 9 a.m. tonoon. Sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the DWR.If you have your own fishing pole, you're encouraged to bring it tothese events. A limited number of poles will be available at thePelican Lake and Moose Pond sites for those who don't have a pole butwould like to try fishing. Fishing demonstrations will also be providedat the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond events.At the Pelican Lake event, prizes and other give-aways will beavailable for the younger children who drop by. (Prizes and give-awaysmight also be available at the other events too.)Each event should be fun for the whole family!For more information, contact any of the sponsors or the DWR's Vernaloffice at (435) 781-9453.SOUTHWESTERN UTAHBEAVERLittle ReservoirTo reach Little Reservoir, travel east from Beaver on state Route 153for about nine miles to Kents Lake Road. Then travel about one mile onKents Lake Road to the reservoir.A limited number of fishing rods and equipment will be available forchildren to borrow if they don't have their own. DWR personnel andvolunteers will also be available to help kids fish. And those whoparticipate might receive a prize!The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.For more information, call the DWR's Cedar City office at (435) 8656100.CEDAR CITYLeigh Hill ReservoirLeigh Hill Reservoir is one of Utah's community fisheries. To reachthe reservoir, follow Cedar City's Royal Hunt Drive to the top of LeighHill.Prizes will be offered and some fishing equipment will be available tocheck out and use at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will alsobe on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooksbaited.The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.For more information, call the DWR's Cedar City office at (435) 8656100.HURRICANEGrandpa's PondGrandpa's Pond is one of Utah's community fisheries. To reach thepond, follow State Street in Hurricane to the west of town, and thenturn north on 3700 West. Continue north on 3700 West until the pavementends. Prizes will be offered and some fishing equipment will be available tocheck out and use at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will alsobe on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooksbaited. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Buck's Ace Hardware in Hurricane is cosponsoring the event. For more information, call Lynn Chamberlain at (435) 680 0059.###