Park for free on June 3

June 2, 2023 — Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend of June.

No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required on those two days (June 3-4). Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free. Oregon State Parks also offers free parking and camping on Saturday, June 3.

All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations here www.eregulations.com/oregon for rules. Remember to check for any in season regulation changes at the Recreation Report especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the zone where you want to fish and then click the “Regulation Updates” tab to see the in-season changes.   

The Recreation Report is updated weekly and features the best bests for fishing for the upcoming week and can be found here myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report. 

Expect lots of extra rainbow trout to be stocked in Oregon’s lakes for the weekend; more fish are stocked during the next two weeks (for Memorial Day and June Free Fishing Weekend) than at any other time of year. This video series “How to fish for trout in Oregon” (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLleHsPDijGZHEawPgtMVgtFs_EUta4ID) breaks down everything you need to know to fish for trout any time of year and see the trout stocking schedule for more information — myodfw.com/fishing/species/trout/stocking-schedule. 

It’s also a great weekend to try clamming or clamming. This year, June free fishing days coincide with a minus tide (with low tides on the coast getting below the average low water mark by one or even two feet) creating ideal conditions for clamming. MyODFW.com has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing including maps of locations and how-tos.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat.  As of today, razor clamming is open from Tillamook Head (just south of Seaside) north to the Washington border but closed south of Tillamook head to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Crabbing is open coastwide. 

Closures can happen quickly and may change before Free Fishing Weekend. Remember to call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish page before you go — www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/foodsafety/shellfish/pages/shellfishclosures.aspx.

ODFW staff and a number of fishing organizations will host events throughout the state on Free Fishing Weekend, bringing all the gear beginners need to get started.  Staff and volunteers will hand out fishing equipment and be available to teach how to bait, cast, land and clean your catch. 

Events are being held at following events and times:

Saturday, June 3

• Alsea, Oregon Hatchery Research Center, 7 a.m-2 p.m.

• Camp Sherman, Wizard Falls Hatchery, 9 a.m.-noon (for age 10 and younger)
• Enterprise, Marr Pond, 8 a.m.-noon
• Estacada, Small Fry Lake, Promontory Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (for age 17 and younger)
• Eugene, Alton Baker Park, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Gaston, Henry Hagg Lake, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Silverton at Silverton Reservoir, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Sutherlin, Cooper Creek Reservoir, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Toledo, Olalla Reservoir, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Ukiah, Twin Ponds, 9 a.m.-noon. Note trophy trout will not be stocked for this event due to disease concerns with these trout; other legal-size trout will be stocked.

Sunday, June 4

• Lake Marie, Reedsport, Noon- 5 p.m.

Celebrate State Parks Day with free parking and free RV and tent site camping at all Oregon State Parks June 3 as well as special events at select parks.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will waive day-use parking fees at the 25 locations that charge them and waive camping fees for all tent, RV and horse campsites.

State Parks Day has been a tradition since 1998 as a way to thank Oregonians for their support of the state park system over many decades.

Several special events and service projects are planned June 3 to celebrate State Parks Day, including at Jessie M. Honeyman State Park, south of Florence where an educational film screening will be held at the Amphitheater located in B loop overnight campground from 1 to 3 p.m. Park at the Sand Dunes Day use parking area and walk to the amphitheater, or find limited parking by the campground registration booth. This event is weather dependent.

For more information go to  stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do.event&eventId=48606.