Free Fishing Weekend in Price County: June 6-7, 2026

By Price County Fun Editorial Team | Price County, Wisconsin

Last updated: June 2026

Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend is back June 6-7, 2026, and if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get on the water without buying a license, this is it. For two days, the Wisconsin DNR waives the fishing license requirement on all inland waters across the state. That includes every lake, river, and flowage in Price County After a day on the water, Ripsaw Saloon serves one of the best fish frys in the county.

No license. No trout stamp. No salmon stamp. Just a rod, some bait, and the kind of quiet morning that makes the Northwoods what it is.

What the DNR Says

The rules are straightforward. On Free Fishing Weekend, residents and nonresidents alike can fish without a license on any water open to public fishing. Every other regulation stays in effect — bag limits, size limits, season dates, and gear restrictions all apply.

This isn’t a free-for-all. It’s a window. The DNR runs Free Fishing Weekend twice a year: the first full weekend in June and the third full weekend in January. The idea is to lower the barrier for people who haven’t fished before or haven’t bought a license in years. If you try it and like it, Wisconsin now has a first-time buyer resident license for five dollars.

A few things to keep in mind:

Trout waters — Check the trout regulations before you go. Some streams have special restrictions including artificial-only and catch-and-release designations. The full trout regulations booklet has the maps.
Bag limits — Standard limits apply. Walleye is 3 daily (15-inch minimum on most waters). Northern pike is 5 daily. Panfish is 25 daily. Know before you cast.
Boats still need registration — The license waiver covers fishing, not boating. If you’re taking a boat out, make sure it’s registered.
State parks still need a vehicle sticker — If you’re fishing from a state park, you need a park admission sticker on your vehicle.

Where to Go in Price County

Price County has more than 80 named lakes and 300 miles of trout streams. You don’t need to drive far.

For families with kids: Solberg Lake outside Phillips has a public boat landing and plenty of shoreline access. The county park on the south shore has picnic tables and a swimming beach, ideal if someone in the group gets bored with fishing.

For serious walleye: Butternut Lake is the go-to. The DNR stocks it regularly and the structure around the islands holds fish all summer. Try a jig and leech in 12 to 18 feet of water.

For panfish and easy access: Long Lake (also called Long Lake of Phillips) has multiple public access points and dependable bluegill and crappie populations. Good for shore fishing around the bridge on the north end.

For a remote experience: The Flambeau River flows through the eastern edge of the county. The stretch below the Crowley Dam has smallmouth bass and some walleye. You’re trading cell service for solitude.

For musky hunters: The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage sits just north of the county line. It’s one of Wisconsin’s premier musky waters. Even on Free Fishing Weekend, bring your A-game, these fish have seen every lure in the catalog.

See our complete guide to Price County fishing spots for more details on each location, including seasonal patterns and what to throw.

No Gear? No Problem

Wisconsin manages nearly 60 tackle loaner sites across the state, including several at state parks. You can borrow rods, reels, and basic tackle at no cost. Hours vary by site, so call ahead. The DNR’s tackle loaner directory lists every location.

If you’re providing your own gear, here’s what you actually need, not the full catalog:

A medium-light spinning rod (6 to 7 feet is fine for most Price County fishing)
6- to 8-pound monofilament line
A handful of jigs (1/16 to 1/8 ounce), some split shot, and Aberdeen hooks for panfish
Nightcrawlers or leeches from a local bait shop
Needle-nose pliers for hook removal
Sunscreen and bug spray. June in the Northwoods means mosquitoes and UV

That’s it. You don’t need a $300 combo or a tackle box the size of a carry-on.

Bring Someone Who’s Never Fished

Free Fishing Weekend exists for a reason, and it’s not so the regulars can save money. Wisconsin has seen fishing license sales decline over the past decade. The DNR designed these weekends specifically as recruitment tools, give people a taste, lower the risk, and hope they come back.

If you already fish, take someone who doesn’t. A kid, a neighbor, someone who moved up and doesn’t know what a jig is. The regulations still apply, which means it’s a teaching opportunity too, show them how to measure a fish, how to release properly, why the rules exist.

After the Weekend

If you fish Free Fishing Weekend and decide you want to keep going, Wisconsin has one of the cheapest entry points in the country. The first-time buyer and welcome-back resident license is $5 for a full year. A regular annual resident fishing license is $20. Licenses can be purchased online through GoWild.Wi.Gov, at any DNR service center, or at licensed retailers including most bait shops and Walmart.

Quick Facts

Dates: June 6-7, 2026 (Saturday and Sunday)
Cost: Free, no fishing license, trout stamp, or salmon stamp required
Who: Residents and nonresidents
Where: All Wisconsin inland waters open to public fishing
What still applies: Bag limits, size limits, season dates, gear restrictions, boat registration, state park vehicle stickers
Next free weekend: January 16-17, 2027

Get up early, beat the mosquitoes, and catch something. Or don’t. Standing on a dock at sunrise with coffee in one hand and a rod in the other isn’t a bad way to spend a Saturday even if nothing bites.

Sources: Wisconsin DNR Free Fishing Weekend (dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/anglereducation/freeFishingWeekend), Wisconsin DNR Fishing Regulations 2026-2027, GoWild.Wi.Gov

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Free Fishing Weekend in Wisconsin 2026?

June 7-8, 2026 (Saturday and Sunday). No fishing license or trout stamp is required to fish any Wisconsin waters during this weekend.

Do I need a trout stamp during Free Fishing Weekend?

No. Both the fishing license and trout stamp requirements are waived during Free Fishing Weekend in Wisconsin.

Can non-residents fish free too?

Yes. Free Fishing Weekend applies to both residents and non-residents of Wisconsin. No license of any kind is needed.

Are there any fishing regulations that still apply?

Yes. All daily bag limits, size limits, season dates, and species restrictions still apply. You just do not need a license or stamp.