Free Fishing Days Return, Offering Easy Access to Gorge Rivers and Lakes
From the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 25, 2025 — Get outdoors with friends and family and enjoy free fishing, crabbing, and clamming on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29. Statewide free-fishing days are a great chance to take someone new fishing and celebrate Oregon’s natural resources.
Just in time for the free-fishing weekend, local anglers in the Gorge have access to some strong options: the Deschutes River State Recreation Area near The Dalles offers riverside access for trout and steelhead. Benson Lake in the Gorge was listed among nearby stocked lakes with good bank access. And the Columbia River mainstem—flowing right through the Gorge—provides plenty of opportunity for bass, walleye, and other species.
No fishing or shellfish licenses or tags (including the Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement, or Two-Rod Validation) are required during those two days. All other fishing regulations apply, including closures, bag limits, and size restrictions. Both Oregon residents and non-residents can fish for free.
It is a perfect excuse to spend time at a favorite river or beach. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will stock trout in several popular lakes in the Willamette Valley in anticipation of the event, which draws both experienced fishers and those learning the sport. Check the Weekly Recreation Report for the best bets for fishing, crabbing, and clamming, including water levels, fishing hot spots, and alerts.
See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in-season regulation updates, too, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the “Zone” where you want to fish to see the regulations updates.
For beginners, the Easy Angling Oregon guide is a great resource to get started fishing in Oregon. And if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg, or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.
Prefer crab or clam instead? Visit the ODFW website for 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.
Call the Oregon Department of Agriculture Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their shellfish closures page before you go. Recreational crabbing is open in bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers, and jetties. Recreational ocean crabbing is closed every year coastwide from Oct. 16 through Nov. 30.
As of mid-November, razor clamming is open from the Washington border to Cape Blanco and closed from Cape Blanco to the California border. Bay clams and mussels are open from the Washington border to the California border. Closures may change by Thanksgiving Weekend, so check before you go.
Visit the ODFW newsroom for more information.
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