Fishing · Free days
Days when anglers may fish without buying a license. Only dates we read on an official agency page are listed. A state missing here has not been verified yet, not necessarily lacking a free day.
Checked 2026-10-23Upcoming
| State | Event | Dates | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend | January 16–18, 2027 | Residents 16 and older may fish without a license when with children under 16. |
| Texas | Free Fishing Day | Saturday, June 5, 2027 | Everyone may fish recreationally without a license or endorsements. |
Already passed this year (2026 dates)
These dates have gone by as of 2026-10-23. We do not list 2027 dates for a state until its agency publishes them.
| State | Event | Dates | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Take a Mom Fishing Weekend | May 9–10, 2026 | Minnesota resident moms may fish without a license. |
| Indiana | Free Fishing Days | May 10, June 6–7 and Sept. 26, 2026 | Indiana residents do not need a fishing license or trout/salmon stamp.The agency page heading lists the 2026 dates above, but its body text still contains leftover 2023 dates, so confirm with the agency. |
| Minnesota | Take a Kid Fishing Weekend | June 5–7, 2026 | Residents 16 and older may fish without a license when with children under 16. |
| Ohio | Ohio Free Fishing Days | June 20–21, 2026 | Ohio residents fish without a license. Size and daily limits still apply. |
| Virginia | Inaugural Fall Free Fishing Days | September 25–27, 2026 | No fishing license required for recreational rod-and-reel fishing in fresh and salt water; facility use permits also waived.Designated stocked trout waters are open to everyone during these days. Size, season and catch limits still apply; fee fishing areas still charge. |
State notes and sources
- Indiana — Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife. Free Fishing Days — Indiana DNR (verified 2026-10-23). 2027 dates were not yet published at the time of checking.
- Minnesota — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (Free Fishing Weekends, p. 26) — Minnesota DNR (verified 2026-10-23). Other Minnesota license exemptions (state-park shore fishing for residents, helping a child fish, and others) are described in the booklet.
- Ohio — Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. 2026-27 Ohio Fishing Regulations (Free Fishing Days notice) — ODNR Division of Wildlife (verified 2026-10-23). 2027 dates were not yet published at the time of checking.
- Texas — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Free Fishing Opportunities — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (verified 2026-10-23). TPWD also lists free fishing all year inside most state parks (park entry fees still apply) and on waters fully enclosed in private property.
- Virginia — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Free Fishing Days — Virginia DWR (verified 2026-10-23). The agency’s page describes this as its first fall event; future dates were not published at the time of checking.
Verify with your state agency. Always verify with your state wildlife agency before you fish or hunt. Regulations change, and local or water-specific rules can override the statewide figures shown here. A free day usually waives the license only; size, bag limits and other rules still apply.