Hagg Lake gets trophy trout ahead of free fishing weekend June 6-7

Anglers can fish, crab and clam in Oregon without a license on June 6-7, and at Hagg Lake the weekend comes with a free fishing event and a fresh load of trout. I'm Hooked Inc will run a free fishing day at the lake from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, handing out gear and showing newcomers how to rig up, bait, cast and clean a catch. It's one of several events the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and partner groups are holding around the state. Hagg Lake is also in line for thousands of trout in the run-up to the weekend. ODFW has the lake between Gaston and Forest Grove down for 4,026 legal-size trout the week of May 25-29 and 2,950 trophy trout the week of June 1-5, the days just before the free weekend, according to its trout stocking schedule. Trophy trout, which measure at least 15 inches, have been stocked since a pilot program began in 2016, according to ODFW. The agency does not publish exact stocking dates, and the schedule can change with water conditions. On free fishing days, the state waives the need for a fishing or shellfish license, a combined angling tag, the Columbia River Basin and ocean endorsements, and a two-rod validation. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free. All other rules still apply, including closures, gear restrictions, and bag and size limits. ODFW recommends checking the online regulations and any in-season changes before heading out, especially for salmon and steelhead. Drought conditions could warm some smaller lakes and ponds early this year, ODFW said, and the agency suggested fishing early in the day or switching to warmwater fish like bass, bluegill and crappie. Crabbing and clamming are free that weekend, too. Razor clamming is open from the Washington border to Cape Blanco and closed from there south to California because of elevated domoic acid, while crabbing is open coastwide. Closures can change quickly, so ODFW says to call the Oregon Department of Agriculture shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check the ODA shellfish page first. Oregon State Parks is also waiving day-use parking fees at its parks on Saturday, June 6. Other free fishing events are set from Ukiah to Florence to Eugene; the full list is on ODFW's free fishing days events schedule. The agency's weekly Recreation Report lists the best bets near home. One more free fishing weekend follows in 2026: November 27-28, over Thanksgiving weekend.