Avid anglers and those who haven’t been fishing before are encouraged to participate in the sport this weekend.

Greene County Conservation Director Dan Towers says during this weekend’s Free Fishing Weekend, sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, anyone can fish without having a valid fishing license. He encourages everyone to take advantage of the free fishing weekend as a way to get families and kids interested in fishing.

Towers notes the public fishing areas in the County include Pound Pits located between Grand Junction and Paton, and the boat accesses along the Raccoon River and Spring Lake Park. He points out Spring Lake is an easy location for those just starting out or who have never fished before.

“It’s not the greatest fishing lake in the world but it’s so easily accessible with the shoreline the way it is, mowed right up to it. And you can always catch little bluegills, an occasional keeper bass (and) channel catfish. So it’s a good, easy place to go fishing because it’s easily accessible.”

Towers says there are several private farm ponds across the County, but you need permission from the landowner before fishing at those areas. 

For the rest of the year, those 16 years and older are required to have a fishing license which costs $22 and can be obtained through the Greene County Recorder’s Office.