by ODFW and Christy Solo
On Free Fishing Weekends only, you do not need:
- License to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon.
- Combined angling tag
- Columbia Basin endorsement
- Ocean endorsement
- Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation
- Two-Rod Validation
Requirements: Area closures, bag limits and all other regulations still apply. Be sure to check both the permanent sportfishing regulations and for any in-season regulation updates, especially if you are fishing for salmon or steelhead as many regulations are set in-season.
The first weekend in June is Oregon’s traditional Free Fishing Weekend. And each year ODFW and its partners sponsor several free fishing events throughout the state. See below for this June’s events.
For more events and info visit ODFW’s Take the Family Fishing page.
At each event ODFW staff and volunteers will provide equipment, and teach new anglers how to rig their line, cast a rod, land a fish and identify their catch. This is a great opportunity for people to learn how to fish and spend time in the outdoors. ODFW partners with several groups to offer family fishing events in spring and early summer throughout the state.
Need gear? You can purchase rods, reels, bait, lures and all your other swag at Walmart in Eagle Point or at the Fishin’ Hole in Shady Cove (and many other places as well).
Don’t know what to buy? Check out this week’s ODFW Fishing Report for some pro tips.
Don’t know where to go? Check out this week’s All Things Oregon for a list of 50 fishin’ spots near Medford.
Pro tip: Back in 2013 the Upper Rogue Community Center Youth Program took the kids fishing at the Takelma Boat Ramp at Lost Creek Lake.
Several of the kids caught their limit, while a few got skunked; so a typical day fishing! While most of the catch consisted of rainbow trout, a few bass were lured in as well. PowerBait lived up to its name, and some of the kids took advantage of the salmon fly hatch, using the critters as livelier bait, with great success.
You just about can’t miss with hot pink PowerBait nuggets.
So get out and enjoy one or more of our area’s amazing fishin’ holes while it’s free! And remember whether you catch or just fish, “The worst day fishing is better than…” and all that.
