Free fishing Saturday at pond

Grab a fishing pole with some bait and head down to the pond in Veterans’ Memorial Park on Saturday for the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Free Fishing Day.

The event, which goes from 7:30 to 11 a.m., will feature more than 80 prizes, including new rods, reels and tackle boxes.

“We really want everyone to come out and fish,” Department of Wildlife Angler Education Coordinator Ivy Santee said. “The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, so we hope to have a really big turnout.”

The prizes will be raffled off throughout the day with everyone getting a raffle number for participating in the event. Prizes can only be won through a raffle number, so new anglers have the same odds of winning as experienced ones.

Free Fishing Day is an annual event for the Department of Wildlife that occurs every second Saturday in June. The one-day-only event allows anyone to fish in any public waters without a fishing license.

Additional fish are being added to the pond to increases everyone’s chances of getting a catch.

Santee also said she encourages residents to take advantage of free fishing in Lake Mead; however, regular entrance rates into the national park still apply.

Veterans Memorial Park is at 1650 Buchanan Blvd. Fishing at the pond officially ends at 11 a.m., but residents are allowed to keep fishing at the pond throughout the day.

Kids are encouraged to arrive early because the first 300 children to sign up get a free tackle box.

Contact reporter Max Lancaster at mlancaster@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @MLancasterBCR.