Free Fishing Days Nov. 29-30

The Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are Free Fishing days in Oregon. That means you don't need a license to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon. That's no license, no combined angling tag, no endorsements, no validations needed. Click here to see the small print.

Put crab on your holiday menu

Dungeness crab for the holidays is an iconic Oregon tradition. So why not harvest your own! Crabbing is easy, affordable and fun. Here's all the intel you need to get started. Recently, crabbing has been good out of Newport and excellent out of Waldport.

Coastal rivers close to Chinook Dec. 1

This will be the last full weekend to fish for fall Chinook on coastal rivers. Some rivers may drop to fishable levels by then. See the zone updates to find the most likely ones.

Hunting big game out of state? Know the rules about Oregon's Parts Ban.

It is illegal to transport any part of the brain or spinal column of deer, elk or other cervids into Oregon from another state. See page 16 of the Big Game Hunting regulations for guidance on how to transport your meat and antlers home to Oregon.

Foragers – be visible in the woods

It's elk hunting season in the western Oregon woods. So, if you've got mushrooming or other foraging on your agenda, be sure to make yourself (and your dog) visible by wearing red, hunter orange (it's not just for hunters) or another bright color.

Best strategies for weekend fishing:

With rain in the forecast in western Oregon, and freezing temperatures in eastern Oregon, anglers will want to be flexible and ready to hit the water when conditions permit.

• Salmon and steelhead anglers should keep an eye on rivers levels and be on the water as they start to drop.
• Smaller river systems will drop and clear up more quickly than larger ones. Plan accordingly.
• Plunking close to the bank can be a good technique when rivers are high.
• When rivers are too high for fishing, consider targeting trout in lower elevation lakes and reservoirs that have good populations of holdover fish.

View the report