Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced that Gov. Sanders proclaimed that anyone without a fishing license could enjoy a free fishing weekend in June.

According to the release sent by AGFC, the free fishing weekend will start at noon on Friday, June 9, and will end at midnight Sunday, June 11.

"It would be tempting to look at the Spring River Hatchery just as a project we completed. It was an opportunity for us, not just as an agency, but as a community, to face a decision about a legacy project head-on and make things better," AGFC Director Austin Booth said. "We can learn a ton from this community and this project as we take on many other challenges facing this Commission. I am confident that we can and will rise to the occasion."

The free fishing weekend offers a way for individuals who have never been fishing before to experience it, try a new form of fishing, or not have to invest in an Arkansas fishing license or trout stamp.

"We have changed the focus of these derbies to include the family members of those youth in the last few years and the response has been incredible," J.J. Gladden, assistant chief of education for the AGFC, said. "The best fishing trips are those where people can share the experience with family and friends, and we want to foster that tradition from the first cast of a young angler’s experience."

Here are the restructured and raised nonresident hunting license fees if you are interested:

• Nonresident Annual Fishing License – $60.
• Nonresident 3-Day Trip Fishing License – $30.
• Nonresident Guide License/Fishing – $500.
• Nonresident Trout Permit — $20 (no change).
• Nonresident Annual Hunting License – $410.
• Nonresident 5-Day Hunting License – $225.
• Nonresident 3-Day Deer Hunting License – $175.
• Nonresident 1-Day Deer Hunting License – $100.
• Nonresident Annual Small Game Hunting License – $110 (no change).
• Nonresident 5-Day Small Game Hunting License – $80.
• Nonresident Trappers Permit – $125 (no change).
• Nonresident Bear Permit (must accompany valid big game license) – $300.
• Nonresident Turkey Permit (must accompany valid big game license) – $100.
• Nonresident Elk Permit (must accompany valid big game license) – $300.
• Nonresident Alligator Permit (must accompany valid big game license) – $300.
• Arkansas Nonresident Waterfowl Stamp (must accompany valid small game or big game license) – $50.
• Nonresident 5-Day WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit (Must accompany valid small game or big game license and Arkansas Nonresident Waterfowl Stamp) – $40.

For more information or to register for hatchery derbies, visit here.