Go fishing for free June 2-3

Oklahoma anglers can fish for free during Free Fishing Days June 2-3 - good timing considering the weekly fishing report from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation indicates fishing season is in full swing.

During free fishing days, a state fishing license will not be required for anglers to go fishing in Oklahoma, whereas in most other cases a license is required.

The Wildlife Department's free weekly state fishing report is a great starting point to find just the right place to go. Every week the fishing report provides a listing of lakes and the current state of angling success at that location. The reports are compiled by Wildlife Department employees and volunteers and cover lakes and other waters throughout every region in the state.

This week's report says channel catfish fishing is excellent in the mornings and crappie fishing is fair to good at four to 10 feet at Lake Arcadia. At Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, the elevation is normal and fishing good for fish like largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, walleye, sunfish and channel and blue catfish. Full details on lakes across the state are available in the report, including which baits are being used to catch fish successfully. Anglers can log on to http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/weekly_news.htm and sign up to receive the weekly fishing report by e-mail.

Oklahoma offers fishing in lakes and rivers, but also in urban waters designated by the Wildlife Department as "Close to Home Fishing" locations. Although state fishing licenses are not required during Free Fishing Days, anglers should note that certain city permits may still apply to specific fishing areas.

Additionally, anglers fishing Lake Texoma should be aware that Free Fishing Days applies for all of the lake on June 2 but only on Oklahoma portions of the lake on June 3.

Oklahoma was the first state in the nation to offer free fishing days about 30 years ago and has since been followed by dozens of other states that have established similar days.

The Wildlife Department is encouraging anglers to take a short video clip of someone catching their first fish and send it to Department through Facebook. The Wildlife Department's Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/wildlifedepartment.

For more information about fishing in Oklahoma, log on to the Wildlife Department's website at wildlifedepartment.com.