Free Fishing Weekend events around the Willamette Valley

June 2, 2014

Savannah Partridge, 14, of Albany is all smiles after catching her first fish at a family fishing event hosted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. (Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW)

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon is June 7-8, and a number of events are planned around the Willamette Valley to help people make the most of this opportunity.

During Free Fishing Weekend, fishing licenses, tags and endorsements are not required anywhere in Oregon. To provide a little extra incentive to get out and join the fun, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and several of its partners are planning organized fishing activities on Saturday, June 7. At most of these events, fishing gear, bait and instruction will be provided. Some will even have special activities for the kids. Event locations, times and contact information are as follows:

• Alton Baker Canal, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Shannon Richardson, 541-726-3515
• Benson State Recreation Area, 9 a.m.-noon, Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser, 503-695-2261
• Champoeg State Park, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Daniel Klug, 503-551-7808
• Detroit Reservoir, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Christopher Boyd, 503-854-3522
• Henry Hagg Lake, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (registration closed)
• Roaring River Hatchery, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Luke Allen, kids 12 and under, 503-394-2496
• Silverton Reservoir, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Dawn Olson, 503-873-2681; Skip Bouskill, 503-873-7269
• St. Louis Ponds, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Jeff Fullop, 971-673-6034
• Thissel Pond, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Matt Frank, 541-487-7240
• Willamette Fish Hatchery, 9 a.m.-noon, Tami Edmunds, kids 10 and under, 541-782-2933

Though fishing licenses are not required all other regulations apply, including those pertaining to catch limits and size restrictions.

Free Fishing Weekend also coincides with State Parks Day, so if you’re going camping or hiking in an Oregon State Park this weekend, be sure and take a fishing rod along.

For those who prefer a little more solitude, there dozens of other lakes, ponds and streams around the Willamette Valley to explore. Many are listed on ODFW’s website (www.odfw.com) under the Fishing tab, along with additional fishing information, including:

• The Weekly Recreation Report
• The 2014 Annual Fishing Guide
• Great spots to take the family fishing in Easy Angling Oregon.
• Trout stocking schedules and Google-based maps of stocked trout fisheries.

Free Fishing Weekend is always the first full weekend in June. But remember, it’s always free fishing for kids under 14 years old.

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Contact:
Rick Swart 971-673-6038