With the recent good weather, many people may want to spend their time outside.

One popular way to do that is to go fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer for Guthrie County Jeremy King says that fishing is a fun pastime that many people enjoy, but that there are a few things individuals need to do before casting their lines. He explains that having a valid fishing license is the first step after having the necessary gear, and that the DNR has made it extremely easy to get your license, so there’s no excuse for not having it.

King tells Raccoon Valley Radio that probably the easiest way to get your license is to use the Iowa DNR’s app.

“We have an app called ‘GoOutdoorsIA,’ and that app was free to download. It doesn’t cost you anything to put on your phone, buy all your hunting and fishing licenses that you want for the year. So if a friend calls you up, says ‘Hey, let’s go fishing in half an hour,’ you don’t have to think about, ‘Where do I have to go to get my license?’ To get that, you can literally just download it on your phone, buy it on your phone, and then if you get checked by an officer, that is a legal way to show it.”

King adds that the Lake Lumber Co in Panora and Sparky’s One Stop in Guthrie Center are both capable of printing off the familiar white and yellow slip that anglers are familiar with, along with the Recorder’s Office in the Guthrie County Courthouse. He adds that another less popular option is to go to the Iowa DNR’s website.

King explains that the least favorite part of his job is writing tickets and citations for those that don’t have a valid license. He adds that for Iowa residents, an annual license is only $22, a price he says he argues is probably the best deal to be found in the state. King advises that being caught without that license can come with a fine that can be over $100.