Arizonans across the state, including a couple hundred at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, enjoyed a day of free fishing as part of National Fishing and Boating Week on Saturday, June 2.
Beginning at 8 a.m., fishers both novice and experienced cast their lines without the need for a license.
Representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Forest Service were on hand to educate the newer anglers and loan out rods for those who did not have their own.
“Especially at the beginning of summer with kids out of school wondering what they’re going to be doing and their parents looking for options for them, it’s a good time of the year that nobody needs a fishing license anywhere in the state today to fish,” said Tom Bagley, wildlife manager with AZGFD. “People who want to give it a try but don’t want to make the investment of buying a license, they can come out and fish today and see how to do it.”
The park’s three lagoons were stocked with 1,000 pounds of catfish, with 500 going into the middle, most popular one. Individuals, families and groups of friends lined the shoreline on the sunny, clear and hot day well into the afternoon.
Nancy Reynolds, a Cornville resident who visits the park multiple times weekly to fish, wrangled a catfish she estimated at about three pounds.
Reynolds helped the grandchildren of another visitor learn how to fish. Soren Davison, of Prescott, was out fishing for just the third time with his family. Davison and his mother, Andrea Peak, said they while they are still new at fishing, they enjoyed themselves.
“It’s fun for the kids to practice their hand-eye coordination and get them outside; [it’s] something fun to do for the summer,” Peak said. “Burn of some of the energy, we have three boys. They’re healthier and happier when they’re outside.”
The day served as an opportunity to get the younger generations to abandon their screens, soak up some vitamin D and get a feel for the outdoors.
“I think it’s really important. The kids spend so much time doing the electronics. It’s amazing talking to a lot of the parents how a day like today brings back a lot of memories of when they were kids and their grandpa or someone would take them out fishing and learn to fish,” Bagley said. “That’s what they do and learn today lasts a lifetime, so it’s pretty important to get that foundation and what it’s about and a lot of these kids will be taking their grandkids fishing in a couple of decades.”
There were models of the various fish species found in the Verde River and Oak Creek. The park was stocked with catfish for Saturday’s event, but in the winter it and other popular fishing areas are stocked with trout as well.
Trying to catch any of them is made easier with the right combination of line and bait. Bagley suggested visiting takemefishing.org to learn more. Some suggestions from anglers present at Dead Horse Ranch were:
- 10 pound-test [line] and plastic worm [bait] for trout
- Bacon
- Shrimp
- Rooster tails
- A small bobber and hook [for children]
- Sliding sinker
Depending on the time of year, AZGFD stocks other popular fishing areas around the Verde Valley and Sedona with trout and bass:
- Oak Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Verde River
- West Clear Creek
- Mingus Lake
Fishing is not free on Saturday, June 9.
