Free fishing weekend tomorrow and Sunday, June 8 and 9

OK, here is an opportunity which should not be neglected. Anyone can fish without a license this weekend. If Uncle Joe and Cousin Jill are visiting from Nebraska, they do not need a license to fish alongside you at Park Lake or Moses Lake or Deep Lake. You get the idea.

This is a special chance for families with children who received a rod and reel last weekend at the Kids Fishing Day to use those rods again. The entire family could fish without anyone needing a license.

Allow me to suggest heading to Park Lake, because there are tons of lawn for children to run and play, plus lots of areas for a picnic.

There are some restrictions, so pay attention. Read on.

As mentioned, on these two days, fishing licenses are not required.

Although Catch Record Cards are required to fish for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead, Puget Sound Dungeness crab, and halibut.

Free fishing days are valid for everyone. All other rules still apply, including seasons, area and lure or bait restrictions and size and catch limits.

A Vehicle Access Pass, Discover Pass, Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement and Two-Pole Endorsement are not required during this weekend.

This free fishing weekend will allow mom and dad to fish along with the children, who have their rod and reel from the Kids Fishing Day of the weekend before.

Goose banding News

From Fish and Wildlife Seasonal Waterfowl Banding Biologist Warren Becker:

I just wanted to let everybody know the plan for Tuesday. We will be meeting at the Sprague Lake Resort at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of the June 11.

We will be supplying all the banding equipment, however the Sprague lake round-up is reliant on motor boats and kayaks, so please bring along what you have. Note: PFD's must be worn by all volunteers and staff on motorized and non-motorized water craft.

If everybody can please make sure that they bring enough water to drink, that will be great. The weather is supposed to be around 72 degrees with no predicted rain. Remember to wear old clothes and be prepared to get a little dirty.

If there are any volunteers that have not signed up with WDFW yet, please make sure that you sign up online before the 11th as this will make the process run a lot smoother. Go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/ to complete this process.

If you have any questions feel free to contact either Erin (Erin.Wehland@dfw.wa.gov) or myself via email Warren.Becker@dfw.wa.gov.

The other dates and places are: Monday, June 10, Spokane; Thursday, June 13, Tri-cities; Friday, June 14, Yakima; Monday, June 17, Moses Lake/Coulee Corridor; Tuesday, June 18, Wenatchee. But I have no more details.

Additional information on meeting locations and times will be provided in follow-up notices. Volunteers are needed for all dates. There is no specific gear or skill required, just a willingness to get dirty. All volunteers must register with WDFW and the paperwork will be provided.

Also there is a need for motor boats, kayaks and canoes for most of the locations.

Erin would like to get a general count on how many volunteers to expect at each of the bandings, so please respond if you can make it and how many people you are bringing. Meeting times are typically quite early for Spokane and Wenatchee (5a.m.) because we work on golf courses. The other locations will start at 7 or 8 a.m. The operations are typically complete by noon or early afternoon.

Contact Erin at Office: 754-4624, ext. 237, cell: 509-237-4860 or Erin.Wehland@dfw.wa.gov.