CA
California
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Confirmed
Official sourceCDFW publishes a dedicated Free Fishing Days page with the 2026 dates and reminders that other regulations still apply.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
Source tracker
Official Free Fishing Days 2026 sources.
A practical source index for checking whether a 2026 free fishing date is confirmed and what the agency says about license coverage and remaining rules.
Verification method
Why source status matters.
Free fishing days are not national holidays. Each state creates its own dates, license waiver scope, and species or water exceptions.
Confirmed
A state source explicitly lists the 2026 date or schedule.
Annual rule
A state has a stable annual program rule but still deserves a final check before fishing.
Needs recheck
A state page exists, but final 2026 details should not be treated as confirmed yet.
Tracked source list
Fish and wildlife agency pages and source status.
Open the official source before relying on a license waiver for a specific person, species, water, or access point.
MI
Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Confirmed
Official sourceMichigan DNR maintains a Free Fishing page with the 2026 winter and summer weekend dates.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
IN
Indiana
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Confirmed
Official sourceIndiana DNR publishes a Free Fishing Days page with listed dates and program instructions.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
NY
New York
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Confirmed
Official sourceNYSDEC issued a 2026 announcement listing the free freshwater fishing dates and reminding anglers that regulations continue to apply.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
WA
Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Confirmed
Official sourceWDFW publishes a Free Fishing Weekend page with dates, waived documents, and species exclusions.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
PA
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Confirmed
Official sourcePFBC publishes regulations and Fish-for-Free Day information for residents and nonresidents.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
WV
West Virginia
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Confirmed
Official sourceWVDNR maintains a Free Fishing Days page for the June free fishing weekend.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
MS
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Confirmed
Official sourceMDWFP publishes Free Fishing Days information with dates and notes about permits at state fishing lakes and state parks.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
KS
Kansas
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Confirmed
Official sourceKansas publishes a Free Fishing Days page with the annual free fishing weekend and rule reminders.
Last checked: 2026-05-26
OR
Oregon
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Confirmed
Official sourceODFW publishes a dedicated 2026 Free Fishing Days and events article with date windows and rule reminders.
Last checked: 2026-05-26