For those interested in picking up a rod and reel, there is an opportunity to get into the sport for free this weekend.
Saturday and Sunday have been designated as Ohio’s Free Fishing Weekend.
The event allows everyone across the state to fish in Ohio’s public waterways, including Lake Erie and the Ohio River, free of charge.
Outside of June 19-20, any person who is 16-years-old or older is required to purchase a license to fish in the state’s public waters.
Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker said the free fishing weekend is a chance to get outdoors and enjoy what the state has to offer.
“All Ohioans are invited to enjoy the fun and excitement of fishing during our free fishing weekend,” she noted in a press release. “Fishing is a great way to introduce someone to the outdoors and make some lasting memories.”
To help support fishing opportunities across the state, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has six hatcheries across the state.
Those hatcheries have stocked more than 46 million sport fish, walleye, saugeye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, brown trout, muskellunge, channel catfish, blue catfish and hybrid striped bass.
They were located in more than 200 locations across the state in 2020.
To help find the species and locations of where these fish have been stocked, Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced yesterday the addition of fish stocking information to the DataOhio Portal at www.data.ohio.gov.
Husted said the new information is a helpful tool to help anglers find the species of fish they are fishing for and where to find them.
“Ohio lakes, rivers and streams have been stocked with more than 1.5 billion fish since 1970 and most Ohioans who fish were unable to know what species and how many fish were stocked in their local lakes,” said Husted. “As someone who has fished Ohio lakes my entire life, I know how valuable this information can be to anglers who are deciding where they should take their grandchildren to fish or where they might catch that trophy they’ve always wanted.”
Some of those fishing opportunities are right at the Marysville Upground Reservoir. The reservoir, which is owned by the city, but managed by the ODNR, has been a part of the state’s stocking program since 2015.
There has been the addition of more than 397,000 yellow perch fingerlings and 7,600 yearling channel catfish.
Union County Wildlife Officer Brian Motsinger said the reservoir also has largemouth bass and panfish that anglers can try to catch.
“Every time I go out there people are out catching fish, especially in the evenings,” Motsinger said. “This weekend is a great opportunity to head out and enjoy catching something.”
The city also offers opportunities for fishing at several of its parks.
Aldersgate Park has a pair of fishing ponds.
McCarthy, Schwartzskopf and Mill Valley parks all offer fishing in Mill Creek.