Free Fishing in Oregon This Weekend

Oregon’s traditional Free Fishing Weekend is coming up June 4 & 5 – two days when you don’t need a license, tag or endorsement to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon that’s open. Free Fishing Weekend is a great time to share your love of fishing, crabbing and/or clamming with family and friends. Why not make a point of taking someone out for a day of salmon fishing on your favorite river, bay clamming on the beach, chasing newly-stocked trout in a lake or pond, or heading out to sea for rockfish or halibut. This week, our local biologists have highlighted some of the best bets in their districts for Free Fishing Weekend. You can see all the details in the zone report but here’s a sneak peek: North and mid-coast anglers can target trout in recently stocked lakes and ponds, spring Chinook in Tillamook Bay, the Nestucca and the Trask, and summer steelhead in the Siletz. In the SW Zone, there’s Chinook and steelhead in the Rogue and Umpqua, bass in the Coquille and South Umpqua, shad in the Smith, striped bass on the Coquille, and stocked trout just about everywhere we can put ‘em. In the Willamette Valley, anglers can choose from Chinook in the Willamette or Clackamas, kokanee on Detroit Lake, summer steelhead on the Sandy, and stocked trout just about everywhere we can put ‘em, including the popular McKenzie River. The Central Zones offers some diverse choices, including kokanee in Odell and Paulina lakes, spring Chinook on the Hood River, native redbands on the lower Deschutes (it’s salmonfly time!) and stocked trout in several popular locations. It’s all about trout right now in the SE Zone, but in so many cool places. Suggestions include the Williamson, Klamath and Chewaucan rivers, Cottonwood Meadows Lake, and Lofton and Unity reservoirs. Crappie in Topsy and Gerber reservoirs. NE anglers can enjoy Chinook fishing in the Umatilla and Snake, bass and crappie fishing in Willow Creek Reservoir and trout fishing in Kinney and Wallowa (lake and river). Finally, if you’re spending the weekend at the beach you’ve got lots of choices. Go to the beach for bay clamming and surf perch fishing, or hire a charter for some rockfish, halibut or ocean salmon fishing. There are also two special fishing events this weekend: Saturday, June 4 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM – Cooper Creek Reservoir - ODFW STEP is partnering with the Umpqua Fisherman’s Association to provide a free fishing event at Cooper Creek Reservoir. We are providing rods, tackle, bait and fishing instruction to participants. Kids can participate in games and make a “fish-print” at the art station as well as prizes for fish caught during the event. A fish cleaning station is also provided for the public to use. June 5 9:30 to 2:00 PM – Lake Marie near Reedsport – ODFW STEP is partnering with Gardiner-Reedsport-Winchester Bay STEP volunteers, the Oregon Coast Anglers and U.Ss Forest Service to provide a free fishing event at Lake Marie near Reedsport. Rods, tackle, bait and fishing instruction are available to participants. Kids will also be able to participate in games, a “fish-print” art station as well as prizes for fish caught during the event. Oregon Coast Anglers are providing a fish cleaning station for the public to use, and a “kids only” area will be stocked with fish to provide an excellent opportunity for kids to catch their first fish! ODFW put together a list of 19 great places for families to fish in southwest Oregon https://myodfw.com/articles/easy-angling-southwest-zone Via ODFW