ILLINOIS (WCIA) — It’s time to mark your calendars and prepare your fishing equipment because the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has revealed the upcoming dates for the state’s free fishing days.

The IDNR has scheduled the free fishing days for June 13-16. On these particular days, all individuals are allowed to fish in lakes and waterways across Illinois without needing a license, salmon stamp, or inland trout stamp.

“This event is a fantastic chance to introduce young individuals to the enjoyment of fishing and spending quality time around the water,” the IDNR shared in a Facebook post.

Illinois fishing licenses cost $15 a year, and the fees help support the Illinois Department of Natural Resources division of fisheries through activities like fish production, fish stocking, and habitat restoration. The number of fishing licenses sold, combined with land size also contributes to the amount of funding a state receives by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

You can read more about fishing licenses in Illinois here. For more information about fishing in Illinois, visit the IDNR’s website.