Oregon’s Free Fishing Weekend Set For June 6-7
Oregon’s Free Fishing Weekend returns June 6-7, allowing residents and visitors to fish, crab and clam without a license. Rules, limits and closures still apply, and shellfish harvesters should check safety updates before heading out.
Oregonians and visitors will have a chance to fish, crab and clam without a license during Oregon’s Free Fishing Weekend on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026.
During the two-day event, fishing and shellfish licenses are not required anywhere in Oregon. Anglers will also not need a Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement, Ocean Endorsement or two-rod validation in areas where two rods are allowed. The free fishing opportunity is open to both Oregon residents and nonresidents.
Oregon State Parks will also offer free parking on Saturday, June 6, giving families another reason to head outdoors for the weekend.
While licenses and tags are waived for the weekend, all other fishing rules remain in effect. That includes seasonal closures, gear restrictions, bag limits and size limits. Anyone planning to fish is encouraged to review the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations before heading out and check MyODFW.com for any in-season changes, especially for salmon and steelhead.
This year, drought conditions may affect some fishing locations. Smaller lakes and ponds may already be warming, which can make fishing more difficult and place stress on fish. ODFW suggests fishing earlier in the day or targeting warm-water species such as bass, bluegill and crappie.
The agency’s weekly Recreation Report can help anglers find productive fishing spots across the state. ODFW also expects many ponds and lakes to be stocked with rainbow trout ahead of Free Fishing Weekend. Anglers can check the trout stocking schedule for more details on stocking locations.
Crabbing And Clamming Also Included
Free Fishing Weekend also applies to crabbing and clamming, making it a good opportunity for beginners to try shellfish harvesting without purchasing a license.
Anyone planning to clam or crab should check current conditions before going. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish for naturally occurring biotoxins and may close areas when levels become unsafe.
As of the release, razor clamming was open from the Washington border to Cape Blanco and closed from Cape Blanco to the California border because of elevated domoic acid levels. Crabbing was open coastwide.
Because shellfish closures can change quickly, harvesters should call the ODA Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures webpage before heading to the coast. Harvest status information is available in multiple languages on the ODA website.
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