Great Falls Family Fishing Day returns June 6 at Wadsworth Pond Park, featuring educational stations on fish identification, knot tying, and casting. The event, supported by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Walleyes Unlimited, Montana Trout Unlimited, and other partners, offers free fishing tackle to youth completing all stations.
Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources invites the public to the 14th annual Free Fun Weekend on June 6-7, 2026, with waived state park admissions, fishing licenses, and trail passes. The event offers opportunities to explore 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, and thousands of lakes and rivers, with free fishing clinics available for beginners.
MassWildlife instructors invite anglers ages 15+ to a hike and fish event at Wachusett Reservoir Gate 35. Participants will hike approximately 1.5 miles to fish from shore, with equipment available to borrow. Contact Astrid Huseby at astrid.huseby@mass.gov for questions.
The Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza hosts its annual Youth Day on July 25 at Port Harbor Marine in South Portland, Maine. The free event features hands-on activities led by University of Maine's Pelagic Fisheries Lab, fish printing demonstrations by Nate Garrett of Big Fish Gyotaku, green crab fishing tournaments, and free lunch provided by Cabela's.
The Kids Fishing Day Team celebrates its 33rd anniversary on June 13 at Michigan DNR Pocket Park in Escanaba. The free event for youth ages 16 and younger features bluegill fishing, archery, pellet gun ranges, and activities like minnow races and face painting, with support from Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen, Inc., Michigan DNR, and U.S. Forest Service's Hiawatha National Forest.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and First Baptist Church of Waldport will host the 27th annual family fishing event at Eckman Lake on May 16, featuring 1400 rainbow trout for youth ages 17 and younger. A carnival with games, food, and activities will run simultaneously across the street.
The Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) will host hands-on demo rides featuring Garmin's new Spy Pole and GT360UHD transducer during the ACA Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship at Pickwick Lake, May 19-20, 2026. Garmin Pros Beau Browning and Cody Huff will conduct 20-minute product demonstrations, with the first 50 anglers each day receiving $25 Bass Pro Shops gift cards.
Maryland's department is hosting an in-person Coastal Recreational Fisheries Forum on May 18, 2026, featuring open discussions and updates from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and NOAA at Worcester County Library in Berlin, Maryland.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a free youth fishing derby at MacArthur Park on May 2nd for children 15 and younger. The lake will be stocked with catfish, and all equipment and bait will be provided.
Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour anglers Edwin Evers, Jake Lawrence, and Wesley Strader visited WOLF School fifth-graders during REDCREST week, engaging students in hands-on learning about conservation, tournament operations, and fishing careers through interactive activities like building a mock fishery and running a simulated tournament.
The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) will take place October 6-8, 2026, at the Tampa Convention Center, featuring over 730 exhibitors and 8,000 industry professionals. The event's theme, "Embrace Innovation, Master Momentum," will include refreshed programming developed with ABYC, NMEA, NMMA, and Professional BoatBuilder magazine.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting a free Family Fishing Day on May 9 at the Boone County Nature School in Columbia. All fishing equipment will be provided, and MDC staff will assist participants with casting, baiting, and fish handling. The event is designed for Columbia Public Schools students and families.
Bass Pro Shops celebrates its third Arkansas location with a Grand Opening and Day of Conservation on April 29 in Fort Smith. The 70,000-square-foot Outpost will feature fishing legends Jimmy Houston and Roland Martin, a 19,000-gallon aquarium, and donate 15 percent of sales to local conservation organizations.
The Exceptional Anglers event "Gone Fishin', Not Just Wishin'" at Oak Mountain State Park will teach basic fishing skills to students with disabilities from Alabaster, Pelham, Shelby, and Jefferson county schools May 6-8, 2026. The event includes fishing, art projects, wildlife education, and water safety training, with media invited May 7.
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club's annual Marine Yard Sale on April 11th offers free admission and features used fishing equipment, marine hardware, and nautical items. Proceeds support the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation's youth education and marine conservation efforts.
The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) Conference & Expo will be held September 28 to October 2, 2026, at the Hilton Rockwall/Dallas Lakefront on Lake Ray Hubbard. The event features technical sessions, manufacturer demos, and a new contest awarding the best training seminar. NMEA members receive complimentary registration including meals.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department's 2026 Outdoor Expo will operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 28-29 due to forecasted record-high temperatures. Admission and parking remain free with all activities continuing as planned. Gold sponsor Sig Sauer and silver sponsor Kimber support the event.
The Angling Trades Association will host its first-ever UK Angling Summit on November 19th at The Arden Hotel in Birmingham. The event will bring together tackle trade professionals, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and fisheries to discuss industry trends and key issues affecting UK angling.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) will co-host the 2026 California Boating Congress with the Marine Recreation Association on April 28-29 in Sacramento. The event will feature policy discussions, legislative presentations, and advocacy sessions focused on aquatic invasive species and public water access. Robert Newsome, NMMA's Chief Administrative Officer, will present economic impact data on California's recreational boating industry.
Dubai World Trade Centre has postponed the Dubai International Boat Show from April to November 25-29, 2026, at Dubai Harbour. The show will now permanently take place in November annually, aligning with the Middle East's prime boating season and reinforcing Dubai's role as a regional marine leisure hub.