Free Fishing President's Day Weekend, Feb. 18-19
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-14-2023
Website
SALEM, Ore.—Make fishing part of your three-day weekend plans. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday of President's Day Weekend, Feb. 18-19, 2023.
No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free.
All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and 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. For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon, and if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.
Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing. Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions—always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean.
As of Feb. 14, crabbing is open coastside but razor clamming is closed along the entire Oregon coast due to biotoxin levels.
Remember to call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish page before you go clamming or crabbing. 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.
More Reports
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, February 10th, 2023
• ODFW Recreation Report
• Commission meets Feb. 16-17 in Portland, will host reception at Pacific NW Sportsmen's Show Thursday afternoon
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, February 8th, 2023Henry Hagg Lake: Henry Hagg Lake Fishing Report
Quartzville Creek: Currently the river is at 760 cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,400 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is a little low, but fishable
Miami River: Steelhead are in the river, but the Miami is still on the low side
Necanicum River: The Necanicum will be a little on the low side this week, but still fishable
Nehalem River: Nehalem River Fishing Report
Nehalem River- North Fork: Fishing on the North Fork Nehalem has remained slow and effort has been light
Nestucca River: The Nestucca River is a little high but still fishable
Three Rivers: Three Rivers has hatchery steelhead coming back
Salmon River: Steelhead are starting to push up and throughout the system
Trask River: The Trask is in good shape right now
Wilson River: Steelhead fishing on the Wilson picked up this weekend
Yaquina River: Fishing has been challenging the past few weeks but it’s starting to pick up
Coos River: The Coos Basin steelhead rivers have been running low and clear
Coquille River: The South Fork Coquille River received just enough rain this past weekend to get some steelhead moving upriver
• Fishing for bottom fish is open to All-depths
Campbell Reservoir: There are likely no fish in the reservoir
Gerber Reservoir: Gerber Reservoir Report
John C Boyle Reservoir: The reservoir has open water
Upper Klamath Lake: Best fishing is near the outlet and around Pelican Bay at Rocky Point
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Fishing Report
Krumbo Reservoir: Krumbo Reservoir Report
Lake Of The Woods: Ice fishing has been slow to good depending on the day
Sycan River: Sycan River Report
Willow Valley Reservoir: The Reservoir is likely thawed
Yellowjacket Lake: Trout densities are quite high in Yellowjacket going into winter