(Utah's DWR provided this news release:)

If you're looking for a fun activity that's outdoors and close to home, mark June 2 on your calendar. June 2 is Free Fishing Day in Utah. You won't need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.

"Make plans now to get out with your family and enjoy a free day of fishing," says Drew Cushing, warm water sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Cushing says most of Utah's reservoirs will have plenty of water this year. He says fishing should be great. "Fishing at many of our mid-elevation reservoirs is just starting to pick up," he says.

You won't need a license to fish on June 2, but Cushing reminds you that all of the other rules in the state's fishing guidebook will still be in effect.

You can learn those rules by reading the 2012 Utah Fishing Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.

Copies are also available at DWR offices and from fishing license agents across Utah.

Some of the best places to fish

Before Free Fishing Day, the DWR will place extra fish in waters across the state. Most of those fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs, so lakes and reservoirs might be good places to fish on June 2.

Utah's community fishing ponds are another good place to try. Depending on where you live, a community pond might be only a few minutes away. And they provide anglers with a variety of fish.

You can learn more about Utah's community fishing ponds at wildlife.utah.gov/cf.

"We'll stock the community fishing ponds with channel catfish before Free Fishing Day," Cushing says. "We'll keep stocking the ponds with catfish until the temperatures cool in the fall. Then we'll place trout in the ponds."

Several free fishing events for children will be held on Free Fishing Day. The following are some of the events the DWR will be involved in:

NORTHERN UTAH

LOGAN

The Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Skylar's Pond.

The pond is in Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S.

People of all ages can enjoy free fishing at the pond. Fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. Volunteers will also be available to help first-time anglers fish.

Special interactive activity booths will also be available for those ages 4 to 18 years old. The first 250 youths who visit the booths and complete their "passport to fun" will receive a free t-shirt. The interactive booths will give young people a chance to discover the joys of fishing and learn the importance of good water quality. Youths can tie their own wooly bugger, experience how rivers and streams are formed, explore the life cycles of fish, go "buggy over bugs," stamp ink prints of fish on pieces of paper, learn to cast a fishing lure and much more.

For more information, e-mail Marni Lee with the Division of Wildlife Resources atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WELLSVILLE

A Free Fishing Day event will be held from 8–11 a.m. at Wellsville Pond.

The pond is at 100 E. 500 S.

The event includes a fishing contest and merit badge clinics. A prize will be awarded to the child who catches the biggest fish!

For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at 801-476-2740.

LAYTON

One of Utah's newest community fishing waters—Adams Pond—will open to fishing during a Free Fishing Day event that runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Adams Pond is at the top of Gordon Avenue (1000 N.) and 1725 E.

The DWR will have its "Take Me Fishing" trailer at the event. DWR personnel will loan fishing poles to those who don't have their own pole. DWR personnel and staff from the Layton City Parks and Recreation Department will also be available to answer your questions about fishing and about Adams Pond.

For more information, call the DWR's Ogden office at 801-476-2740.

NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH

MIDWAY

"Kid's Fishing Event," Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, about two miles west of downtown Midway (1281 Warm Springs Road).

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. If your child would like to participate, please register in advance by calling 435-654-1791.

The DWR will stock the pond with rainbow trout before the event. At 9 a.m., the kids who participate will be taught about fish and how to catch them. Once the training is done, the kids are free to fish at the pond. If your child needs help, volunteers from the DWR's Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help them fish and to clean the fish they catch.

If children don' t have their own fishing poles and bait, they can borrow poles and bait from DWR staff at the event.

SPANISH FORK

Spanish Fork will host its 34rd Annual Huck Finn Day from 9 a.m. to noon at Canyon View Park Pond.

The pond is at 3300 E. Powerhouse Road, next to the Spanish Oaks golf course.

Trout will be stocked into the pond before the event. Several prizes will be awarded between 9 a.m. and noon.

Boys are encouraged to come to the event dressed like Huck Finn. Girls are encouraged to dress like Becky Thatcher. Prizes will be given for the best costume in each category.

For more information, visit www.spanishfork.org or call 801-804-4600.

PROVO

The annual Utah Lake Festival will feature fishing activities for anglers both young and old.

The festival, which is held at Utah Lake State Park, is free of charge.

The park is at 4400 W. Center St.

As part of the festival, volunteers from the Salt Lake County Fish and Game Association (SLCFGA) will be on hand to help anglers catch some of the fish in the lake, including bluegill, catfish, crappie and bass. If you don't have your own fishing equipment and bait, the DWR and the SLCFGA will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to loan this equipment to you.

NORTHEASTERN UTAH

Three Free Fishing Day events for anglers of all ages will be held in northeastern Utah:

• Pelican Lake in Uintah County, 8 a.m. to noon.
• Moose Ponds in Daggett County, 9 a.m. to noon.
• Lower Stillwater Ponds on Rock Creek in Duchesne County, 9 a.m. to noon.

If you have your own fishing pole, you're encouraged to bring it to these events. A limited number of poles will be available at the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond sites for those who don't have a pole but would like to try fishing. At all three events, personnel from the sponsoring agencies will be on-site to answer questions about fish and fishing, and to help anglers catch fish.

Each event should be a fun activity for anglers of all ages and the whole family!

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are sponsoring the events. For more information, contact any of the sponsors or the UDWR's Vernal office at 435-781-9453.

SOUTHWESTERN UTAH

CEDAR CITY

Leigh Hill Reservoir

Leigh Hill Reservoir is one of Utah's community fisheries. To reach the reservoir, follow Cedar City's Royal Hunt Drive to the top of Leigh Hill.

Prizes will be offered and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooks baited.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife is cosponsoring the event.

For more information, call the DWR's Cedar City office at 435-865-6100.

HURRICANE

Grandpa's Pond

Grandpa's Pond is one of Utah's community fisheries. To reach the pond, follow State Street in Hurricane to the west of town, and then turn north on 3700 West. Continue north on 3700 West until the pavement ends.

Prizes will be offered and some fishing equipment will be available to check out and use at the pond. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be on hand to help youngsters fish and to help them keep their hooks baited.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Buck's Ace Hardware in Hurricane is cosponsoring the event.

For more information, call Lynn Chamberlain at 435-680-0059.