(Des Moines) — Plenty of Iowans are hooked on fishing during the pandemic as a record of nearly 200-thousand fishing licenses have been sold statewide this spring, which is up 30- to 40-percent from a year ago. Joe Larscheid, Fisheries Chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says this is a free fishing weekend, today through Sunday.
The popularity of some outdoor activities is booming with so many people working from home due to COVID-19 concerns. Larscheid says to use common sense and keep a good six feet of distance between yourselves and others while fishing.
Sales of fishing licenses in Iowa have been the best this spring since 2002, the year they became available electronically.
Iowa fishing licenses are available in several types, including yearly, seven-day, or even just 24-hour licenses. Find a list of stocked lakes and ponds that are easily accessible in parks and along trails on the DNR’s interactive Iowa Community Fisheries Atlas at iowadnr.gov.
