With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 36,000 miles of rivers and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing go hand in hand.

Michigan’s annual Summer Free Fishing Weekend offers an outstanding opportunity for Southwest Michigan families and out-of-state visitors alike to get together and enjoy some of the world’s best fishing on both inland and Great Lakes waters.

This year’s weekend is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14.

Since 1986, the free weekend has been celebrated as a way to promote awareness of the state’s vast aquatic resources and the sheer fun of fishing. The tradition is also a wonderful chance to introduce the joy of fishing to children and relax with family and friends — at no charge.

Anglers do not need a license for the annual event. All fishing license fees will be waived during the weekend, although all fishing regulations still apply.

To encourage involvement in the Free Fishing Weekend, organized activities are being scheduled in communities across the state. These activities are coordinated by a variety of organizations, including local and state parks, constituent groups, schools, businesses and others.

For more information on the Free Fishing Weekend, including a list of activities across the state, visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing.

The St. Joseph River is an example of an ideal, yet overlooked, Southwest Michigan fishing location. If you stake out a spot near the dam, you will have an excellent chance to catch a salmon or walleye.

I encourage all area anglers — and those who have never gone fishing — to get out and take part in one of our state’s premier outdoor activities during the free weekend.

It is an opportunity for families to get together to introduce the joy of fishing to children and also a time for anglers to get away from the stress of life and relax in the Michigan outdoors.

 

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents Southwest Michigan.