Iowa Residents Enjoy Free Fishing Days June 1 - 3
Posted: May 29, 2007
DES MOINES - Iowa residents may fish for free on June 1, 2 and 3, when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources waives the requirement that residents possess a valid fishing license while fishing. The free fishing weekend is for Iowa residents only and all other fishing laws are in effect.
"This weekend should be great time to fish. Usually, during the first week on June fish are in close to shore and are willing to bite. It's a great time to take children fishing or to introduce someone new to fishing," said Marion Conover, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries bureau.
Fishing is an activity that can be done during any stage in life and is a great way to spend time together as a family.
"We want people to fish and because it is a good, wholesome activity," Conover said. "If someone needs a little instruction, there are fun, hands-on fishing clinics available to teach parents or kids the basics of fishing."
A list of fishing clinics, derbies, and other fun events co-sponsored by the DNR is available at www.iowadnr.gov/
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Anglers Trashing Shoreline is Major Problem
Posted: May 22, 2007
DES MOINES - Littering is not only an eyesore, it shows a lack of respect someone demonstrates by leaving their trash behind for others to clean up. And there may be no worst group of litterbugs than those among the fishing community.
"Anglers are the worst of the worst of the outdoor groups for cleaning up after ourselves," said Marion Conover, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "I can only guess that those who purposefully leave their trash behind are lazy, disrespectful lawbreakers and I'm sorry to call them anglers."
A number of groups and conservation organizations spend countless hours volunteering their time to clean the shorelines of the empty bait containers, old fishing line, pop and beer cans, chips and candy wrappers and so on.
"Just about anything you can carry with you fishing, we've probably cleaned it up," Conover said. "It is very frustrating from my perspective because it seems our constituency is infected with more than our fare share of litterbugs and that is unfortunate. We are using a lot of energy and resources to get people fishing and when they come out to a lake they see all this trash on shore. That's pretty disappointing."
Anglers should tuck a few plastic grocery sacks in their tackle bag and use it for trash.
"When you're done fishing, carry the sack out with you. Pretty simple," Conover said. "It's our resource and we need to do a better job keeping it clean."
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Fishing Check Finds 30 Percent are not Licensed
Posted: May 23, 2007
CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was at the 5 and 1 Dam in Cedar Rapids over the weekend checking anglers for a current fishing license. DNR conservation officers checked 30 anglers, of which nine were caught fishing without a license.
“This is excellent work by our officers. The individuals who were fishing without a license are stealing from the resource provided by our licensed anglers,” said Marion Conover, chief of the fisheries bureau for the Iowa DNR. “In my opinion, these no-license cases are the most important cases we have because without compliance by the public, there is no way we could accomplish all the good things we are doing across our state for the public and the resource.”
License fees go back to supporting and improving the resource as lake improvements, stream accesses and stocking fish. In Cedar Rapids, license fees are responsible for trout fishing at Mcloud Run.
A resident season fishing license costs $17.50. The fine and court costs for fishing without a license totals $89.60. The license check was prompted by calls of to the DNR of illegal fishing activity.
“Our officers are actively working to enforce all fish and game laws, but we cannot be in all places at all time, so we appreciate all the help we get from the public, as in this case,” said Lowell Joslin, chief of law enforcement with the DNR.
Purchase your license online
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