Untangle your fishing line: Free fishing weekend ahead

Anglers are casting a line in Kempenfelt Bay at Heritage Park. (CTV News)

Looking for something to do with your dad this weekend?

It’s time to dust off your tackle boxes and untangle that fishing line since the province is offering free fishing over Father’s Day weekend.

You don’t need a licence or an Outdoors Card if you’re headed out to the water.

This weekend marks the third of four free fishing periods in Ontario. It’s also just ahead of Family Fishing Week which runs June 27 to July 5.

Popular spots to cast a line in Simcoe County include Kempenfelt Bay and Cook’s Bay, both known to be habitats for perch, lake trout and whitefish. Anglers can also expect to catch fish like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, and yellow perch.

Georgian Bay is a prime spot and good for walleye, pike and bass fishing.

On the shores of Lake Couchiching, you can expect to catch perch, bass and pike.

For those who are beginner fishers, a TackleShare program is available at the Barrie Public Library which allows patrons to borrow a fishing rod and tackle box kits for free with their library card.