Rock Island Today

With Father’s Day around the corner, people across Illinois may be planning on spending quality one-on-one time with the dads in their lives by going fishing, and what a better weekend to do just that.

Illinois State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia) reminded his constituents of the state’s weekend of free fishing.

“Free Fishing for Father’s Day weekend,” Anderson wrote in a June 16 Facebook post.

Anderson also shared a post from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that explained the details of Free Fishing Weekend. “Illinois’ annual Free Filing Days celebration is this weekend, June 17-20,” the department wrote. “For four days, no fishing license, inland trout stamp or salmon stamp is required to fish in Illinois. It’s a great opportunity to discover the fun of fishing yourself or to introduce young people to the joy and adventure of fishing. Get out there this Fathers Day weekend and have a great time!”

The 97.9 XFM pointed out a few bodies of water in the region that would make good fishing spots over the weekend. The list included: Kinmundy Reservoir, Newton Lake, Ramsey Lake, Lake Sara, Vandalia City Lake, Forbes Lake, Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston Lower Channel and Side Channel, Coles County Airport, Lake Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville, Lake Mattoon, Lake Shelbyville, and Lake Toledo (reservoir).

Those who are new to the sport of fishing are encouraged to check out resources available and equipment suggestions through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’s fishing equipment website.