Free fishing weekend, no license needed!

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – There’s an opportunity for some family fun this weekend, in the form of an early morning a a tackle box.

News 40 spoke to Eric Cummins, a fishery biologist with the Department of Fish & Wildlife about some changes to the rules. In the Fishing & Boating guide, the department has changed some of the guidelines concerning smallmouth bass.

Cummins said for a while, the minimum size bass you could take home was 12 inches, but now it’s gone up to 15. Cummins said it’s a small rule change but it’s still one that needs to be followed, even on this free fishing weekend.

The U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife is allowing the public to go fishing the first weekend of June with no license or permit needed, just permission of the landowner if you happen to fish on private property.

Cummins told News 40 it’s an effort to get people out there and maybe experience something they’ve never had.