Wet a line for summer fishing fun

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Recreation agencies, park districts, youth groups, civic organizations and fishing clubs throughout Illinois will host a wide variety of fishing derbies, how-to clinics and other special activities as part of the 2007 celebration of Illinois Free Fishing Days, June 8-11.  Free Fishing Days allows anyone to fish without a fishing license, inland trout stamp or salmon stamp during the four-day event each June.

"Free Fishing Days is a great way to introduce people to fishing," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Acting Director Sam Flood.  "Fishing is a great family activity and there are so many opportunities to cast a line here in Illinois.  We appreciate the support of all of the groups that host special events promoting fishing during our Free Fishing Days celebration."

Organizations throughout the state plan special events during Free Fishing Days weekend and at other times during the spring and summer to focus on fishing.  While anyone can fish without a license during the four days of Free Fishing Days, anglers fishing in fishing derbies, tournaments and other special events held prior to or after Free Fishing Days are required to have a fishing license, unless they are otherwise exempted. 

For more information on Free Fishing Days events in Illinois, contact the IDNR at 217/782-9990.

A list of some of the 2007 Illinois Free Fishing Days events is below (note that special group fishing permits may be issued for events held on dates other than June 8-11).

City Sponsoring Org Location Date(s) Contact
Altamont Altamont Lions Club Mathias Lake June 9 Lynn Kull
618-483-6323
Antioch C.J. Smith Resort C.J. Smith Resort June 8-11 Melonnie Hartl
847-395-2753
 Bath Redneck Fishing Tournament Bath August 4 Betty Deford
309-546-2545
Beardstown Beardstown Park District Hard Road Ditch June 9 Steve Megginson
217-323-2555
Carbon Cliff Carbon Cliff Bait & Tackle Inc. Fish Contest June 8-11 Margaret Pankey
309-792-3460
Carlinville Carlinville Park District and Lions Club American Legion Pond Sept 8 Bernhard Dzafic Jr.
217-854-9231
Carlyle U.S. Army Corps Engineers Dam West June 9 Jody Harris
618-594-2484
Carlyle U.S. Army Corps Engineers Dam West Campground June 8-9
 Kim Hammel
618-594-2484
Centralia BCMW Head Start Moose Lodge May 24 Larice Stalls
618-533-4498
Champaign Champaign-Urbana Optimists Club Kaufman Park June 2 Gene Morgan
217-352-0936
Chicago IDNR William Powers SFWA William Powers SFWA June 9 Saki Villalobos
773-646-3270
Chicago Daily Southtown Lake Sedwick June 2 Duke O'Malley
773-586-8206
Chicago Fishin' Buddies Chicago River June 21-22 John Kidd, Jr.
773-233-3250
Colchester Argyle Lake State Park Argyle Lake State Park June 9 Bridget Napolitano
309-776-3422
Crab Orchard U.S. FWS Images Marina Area June 9 Mardean Roach
618-998-5933
Dallas City Dallas City Jr Fishing Association Recreation Park May 19 Mark Stevens
309-337-0543
Du Quoin Du Quoin Jaycees Du Quoin State Fairgrounds June 9 William Koonce
618-790-5061
Edwardsville Edwardsville Gun Club Edwardsville June 16 Dewayne Connolly
618-604-5842
Effingham Girl Scouts-River Bluffs Camp Wassatoga June 9 Emily Stanley
1-800-345-6858
Galesburg Galesburg Youth Fishing Derby Lincoln Park May 20 Susan Dutell
309-368-1507
Geneseo Geneseo Izaak
Walton League Hennepin Canal June 9 Charlie Palmgren
309-944-1394
Glendale U.S. Forest Service Lake Glendale June 10 Roy Street
618-559-7914
Grafton IDNR Pere Marquette State Park June 2 Scott Isringhaussen
618-786-3323
Granite City Tri City AMVETS Granite City June 9 Pete Marlin
618-791-6913
Greenville Kingsbury Park District Patriot's Park Lake June 9 Jerry Saverwein
618-664-4969

 Harrisburg
Harrisburg Park District Park Lagoon June 9-11 Connie Moorman
618-252-2111
Highland Marine Stars and
Junior 4-H Silver Lake Park June 6 Connie Grapperhaus
618-654-2341
Hodgkins Santa Fe Prairie Volunteers Des Plaines River June 9 Greg Starr
708-598-6139
Hoffman Estates Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce South Ridge&
Westbury Lakes June 9 Jill Blodgett
847-781-9100
Lombard Boy Scout Pack 242 Churchill Woods June 9
 Len Sklaney
630-627-5967
Loves Park Flatlanders Muskies Inc Rock Cut State Park June 16 Amy Shackleton
815-389-8486
Mapleton Hollis Park District Reed City Lake June 9 George Weers
309-697-2944
Mattoon Douglas-Hart Nature Center Center Pond June 13 Kristin Giglietti
217-235-4644
McHenry McHenry Recreation Whispering Oaks Park June 9 Cynthia Witt
815-363-2160
Mt. Carmel Beall Woods State Park Beall Woods June 9 Jacque Hallam
618-298-2441
Neoga Grace United Methodist Church Neoga June 10 Glenn Buskirk
217-895-9907
Ottawa Better Fishing Assn Buffalo Rock State Park June 9 Tom Wall
815-223-3671
Plainfield Plainfield Park District  June 2 Mary Beth Flagg
815-436-8812
Riverton Village of Riverton Riverton Pond June 8-9 Max Shekelton
217-629-9122
Roscoe Boy Scouts Troop 622 Rock River June 9 Louise Glon
815-988-9515
Springfield Bob's Bait and Tackle
Springfield Jaycees DNR Pond - Fairgrounds June 9 Bob Baker
217-544-4148
Springfield Ansar Shrine DNR Pond -
Fairgrounds June 16 Ron Turasky
217-632-7819
Thomson Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Frog Pond June 16 Frank Brobender
815-441-5511
Vandalia Vandalia Sport Fishing & Conservation Vandalia Lake June 9 John Blythe
618-283-2475
Villa Park Villa Park Sportsmen Club North Terrace Park Pond June 9 Marty Kapolozynski
630-932-1923
Waukegan Waukegan Park District Bevier Park June 9 Laura Pendergrass
847-782-3621
Wayne
 St. Domitilla Church Pratt Wayne Woods June 9 Alan Gilbert
708-547-0970
Wayne Cicero Youth Assn Pratt Wayne Woods June 9 Alan Gilbert
708-547-0970
Woodstock McHenry County Conservation District Broomdale/
Hollows June 9-10 Sgt. Abraham Martinez
815-338-6223