Fishing will be free on Saturday. Well, almost free. For the cost of a little bait and a couple of hooks, and even a rod and reel, if needed, a person can catch and keep fish — no license required. In some cases (see list of fishing events), rod, reels and bait, and even personal help from a professional, will be free.

Any species of game fish — trout, bass, catfish, wiper, walleye, crappie, bluegill — can be caught and kept. The only requirement is that fishermen stay within the limit requirements.

Utah has set aside one day a year where those people of all ages who wish to do so can fish without having to own a license.

Because of the spring runoff, the best fishing will be on calmer waters, such as lakes, reservoirs and community ponds. Many have received an extra dose of catchable fish for this special day.

The day of free fishing began in 1988. Oklahoma started the event, and now most states have followed.

Free Fishing Day was introduced as a means whereby people who could not afford or chose not to buy a fishing license could enjoy, on this one day, one of Utah's most popular outdoor activities.

More than 400,000 fishing licenses are sold each year. This number does not include the number of young anglers 12 and under who are not required to have a license, which would likely increase the number of resident and nonresident anglers to more than 600,000.

Utah does, in fact, offer a full range of fishing opportunities. There are more than a thousand lakes and streams holding fish, and most are fishable.

Jim Karpowitz, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said in a recap of various programs that more than 1.1 million pounds of fish will be raised in state hatcheries and released this year.

Roger Wilson, cold-water fisheries coordinator for the DWR, said many of Utah's more popular waters received an increased number of catchables in anticipation of increased fishing pressure on Saturday.

"One thing people might consider is looking at one of the (37) urban fishing sites around the state. Along with trout, we'll be planting channel catfish in some of those waters this week," he said.

The catfish will run between a pound to a pound and a half. Some catfish released earlier in places like Willow Pond in Murray have reached up to 5 pounds.

Because many of the community ponds are at lower elevations and located within urban areas, water temperatures tend to get too warm for trout to survive during the summer.

So, under the DWR urban program, trout are planted in early spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler, and channel catfish are planted during the summer days. Catfish are able to adapt to the warmer water.