Learn to Fish For Free with Angler Education Program

[Smallie_Stalker]

Excerpted from the Masswildlife May Newsletter

Learn to Fish this Spring For Free!

Celebrate the arrival of warm weather by attending one of the many MassWildlife Angler Education Program events being held across the state this spring. There are events for adults and for kids and families looking to learn how to fish in a non-competitive environment.

Fishing equipment and bait are available to use at most events, and no fishing license is required to participate in the event. Most events are also free to attend.

Find an event near you:

May 6: Snows Pond Family Fishing Festival, Charlton

May 6: Needham Recreation Family Fishing Festival, Needham

May 6: Westborough Civic Club Family Fishing Festival, Westborough

May 6: US FWS Family Fishing Festival, Hadley

May 7: Brookline Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, Brookline

May 10: Adult Learn to Fish Clinic, Belchertown

May 13: Coes Pond Family Fishing Derby, Worcester

May 20: Family Fishing Festival, Burlington

May 20: Disabled American Veterans Fishing Festival, Marlborough

May 20: Spec Pond Family Fishing Derby, Wilbraham

May 21: Whitman's Pond Family Fishing Festival, Weymouth

May 23: Adult Learn to Fish Clinic, Harwich

June 3: Great Falls Discovery Center Family Fishing Festival, Turners Falls

June 4: Endicott Park Family Fishing Festival, Danvers

June 10: Family Fishing Festival, Westborough

For more information and a full list of events, visit the Angler Education Calendar on our website. Don't forget to share your angling photos with us on Facebook and see what other Massachusetts anglers are catching!

And don't forget to mark your calendars for this year's Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend on June 3rd and 4th. This weekend provides the perfect opportunity to introduce a friend or family member to fishing!

No license is required to fish any public freshwater lake, pond, reservoir, river, or stream statewide from 12:00 A.M. Saturday June 3rd until 11:59 P.M. Sunday June 4th.

While you can fish for free on June 3rd and 4th, a license is required at all other times for those 15 years of age or older. For residents 15-17 years of age, and those 70 and over there is no fee for that license (other than any associated convenience fees while purchasing). Those under 15 may fish without a license.

Funds from fishing license sales support MassWildlife's fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. Fishing licenses may be purchased online at MassFishHunt or in person at a license vendor around the state.