National Fishing & Boating Week: June 4-12

If you haven't already, plan to go fishing and boating this year and enjoy the water, starting with Arizona's free fishing day on June 4.

Boating and fishing are fun, stress-relieving activities that you can enjoy with your family and friends anytime. Here are just a few reasons why you should get out on the water and start enjoying these activities:

Connect with your family: Family fishing is a great way for family members of all ages to connect and have fun.

Connect with nature: 90 percent of Americans live within an hour of navigable water. Fishing and boating are great opportunities to connect more with nature.

De-stress: Boating is ranked as one of the top three of all stress-relieving activities.

Help conserve: The funds from your fishing licenses and boat registrations go towards the conservation of our natural aquatic areas.

Take Advantage Of Free Fishing Days

During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days. These are days where anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license. Check out the upcoming free fishing days in your state: Arizona's 2016 spring free fishing day is June 4.

During the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June, any person may fish state waters without an MDC fishing permit, trout permit, and prescribed area daily tag. However, user fees and permits may still be required at county, city, or private fishing areas.  Normal regulations, such as size and daily limits, still apply, too.

Many conservation areas that offer Free Fishing Days programs also have gear you can use at no charge. Area Free Fishing Days programs appear on this page from April until the opportunity ends in June.

Free fishing days are a perfect opportunity for beginners to try out fishing for the first time. If you already have a fishing license, consider taking a friend or family member who has never been fishing, out on the water for the day.

Please note that the individual states may place certain restrictions and other regulations may apply, so be sure to contact your state fish and wildlife agency for specific state regulations.

Some Ways To Celebrate National Fishing & Boating Week

The best way to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week is to get out on the water! These are some of our ideas in how you can celebrate during this week and the site to visit for more on each

http://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/national-fishing-and-boating-week/

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Find places to boat and fish near you: Check our "Places to Boat and Fish Map" for boating and fishing spots that are near you and fits your family's needs.

Visit one of the "Top 100 Family Friendly Places to Fish and Boat in the U.S" .: Take a look at the "Top 100" list to find a spot close to you.

Learn to fish: Watch instructional videos and read tips from pros on how to cast, tie knots and make fishing rigs in our "How to Fish" section.

Share your #FirstCatch photos: First of the day, first of the season or first of a lifetime. Follow @Take_Me_Fishing and share your #FirstCatch photos with us.

Attend an Event: Many states hold events such as how-to clinics, fishing derbies, boat parades, family festivals and more during National Fishing and Boating Week. Check out our State section to find an event near you.

Mentor or teach someone new to fishing: During National Fishing and Boating Week, or the next time you go fishing, take someone new with you: a child, a relative, a friend.

Share this National Celebration on Social Media: Join others in sharing the joys of boating and fishing by spreading the word through your social media channels.

Click on the images for the full size and share them as badges on your social pages (all are on the URL noted above).

Celebrating Conservation

You may not know it, but participation in fishing and boating actually helps fund efforts to conserve our natural waterways. A portion of all fishing tackle and license sales, as well as boat supply and registration sales, fund the conservation and preservation of our nation's waterways through a program called the Sport Fish Restoration Program. This means that every time you purchase a fishing license or register a boat, you are helping improve the natural places you love.

Fishing and Boating in Arizona

Arizona fishing and boating trips can range from a day of casting for trophy largemouth bass to fly-fishing for brown trout on Woods Canyon Lake. In order to experience the best fishing in Arizona, check for updates to fishing regulations, read local fishing reports, and find the best spot.

For more information, visit http://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/national-fishing-and-boating-week/