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Free fishing weekend set for June 19, 20

T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Lee Adkins of Morristown heads out in his kayak Friday morning to fish the lake at Barkcamp State Park in Belmont. Although Adkins already has an Ohio fishing license, he plans to bring his son to the lake for Father’s Day next weekend during the state’s free fishing days.

DEERSVILLE — Local state park officials are expecting a good turnout as residents get the opportunity to cast a line in any of Ohio’s public waterways during the annual free fishing weekend.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that any resident age 16 or older can fish June 19-20 without obtaining a fishing license.

Typically a license is required for older teens and adults to fish throughout the year and costs $25. The dates this year happen to coincide with Father’s Day, making it the perfect opportunity for families to spend some quality time together outdoors.

Adria Bergeron, marketing and communications director for the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, said residents are invited to enjoy any of the district’s 10 “beautiful” lakes during the free fishing weekend.

These include:

∫ Tappan and Clendening lakes in Harrison County;

∫ Piedmont in Belmont County;

∫ Sencaville in Guernsey and Noble counties;

∫ Atwood in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties;

∫ Beach City Lake in Tuscarawas and Stark counties;

∫ Leesville in Carroll County;

∫ Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill lakes in Ashland and Richland counties; and

∫ Wills Creek Lake in Coshocton and Muskingum counties.

Bergeron said the free weekend gives people the chance to fish who haven’t had time yet to get their fishing license. The biggest benefit to the free weekend is that it encourages youth to venture outdoors and experience fishing, she said.

“It creates a new population of anglers,” she added. “It’s really an opportunity to allow someone to give it a test if they’re on the fence of whether or not they like to fish.”

Bergeron said she expects a large turnout next weekend, as the event is always a popular time for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the local lakes.

“Assuming the weather cooperates, we expect to see a good number of people out fishing,” she said.

She added that over the past year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has seen an increase in people taking advantage of outdoor recreation in various local communities.

Bergeron encourages anyone fishing from a boat to wear a life jacket and to use caution around the shoreline. She recommends those fishing from the shoreline avoid fishing from docks due to safety concerns.

“We encourage people to fish from the designated fishing piers,” she said.

Bergeron encourages residents to follow the regulations set by ODNR to have a safe, fun weekend.

Lee Adkins of Morristown, an avid fisherman, said he plans to spend Father’s Day weekend with his son fishing at Barkcamp State Park near Belmont. Although Adkins already has an Ohio fishing license, he said he will still enjoy the free fishing weekend alongside his son. This time of year, Adkins said he spends most of his free time in his kayak casting his pole into the lake water. He said he has been catching a lot of fish over the past couple of weeks and plans to continue enjoying the outdoors.

The free fishing event includes lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers — even the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Bergeron said the state’s fishing regulations will continue to apply along with the size and daily limits, which vary per species of fish.

For more information on the free fishing weekend, visit ODNR’s website at Ohiodnr.gov.

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