The Iowa Department of Natural Resources free fishing weekend will be held this weekend.

This weekend is an opportunity for Iowa residents to try out fishing without having to buy a license. Marion County DNR Officer Eric Hoffman says this is a great opportunity for those wanting to try fishing for the first time or for those who haven’t done it in awhile.

“If you’re kind of on the fence or you have gotten away from it for a couple years we really encourage you to go out. You do not need to buy a license to fish but you do need to follow all other fishing regulations that apply to daily bag limits, length limits, and then any other specific regulations that pertain to the body of water you are fishing in.”

Find a list of stocked lakes and ponds that are easily accessible in parks and along trails on the Iowa DNR’s interactive Iowa Community Fisheries Atlas at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fish-Local.