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Do You Need a Fishing License in Oregon?
Yes. Anglers 12 and older need an Oregon fishing license. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) issues all licenses and tags through MyODFW.
Both licenses and tags must be carried while fishing.
Oregon does not require a separate trout stamp, but you must have a Combined Angling Tag to harvest salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, or Pacific halibut. Two-rod validation is needed to fish with two rods on legal waters.
Oregon Fishing License Cost 2026
ODFW raised fees for 2026. A resident annual fishing license now costs $50. The youth license (ages 12-17) stays at $10, a resident senior angling license (70+) is $34, and a nonresident annual license is $138.
Short-term 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day licenses are covered in the next section and cost the same for residents and nonresidents.
Combined Angling Tag (salmon/steelhead/sturgeon/halibut): $69 resident, $89 nonresident, $5 youth. Two-Rod Validation: $34 (residents and nonresidents). Columbia River Basin Endorsement: $11.75. The new Ocean Endorsement for most ocean fishing is $9 annual or $4 daily.
| License or add-on | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Resident annual angling | $50 |
| Resident senior angling (70+) | $34 |
| Youth license (12-17) | $10 |
| Nonresident annual angling | $138 |
| 1-day angling + shellfish (any angler) | $29 |
| 2-day angling (any angler) | $48 |
| 3-day angling (any angler) | $68 |
| Nonresident 7-day angling | $117 |
| Combined Angling Tag (resident) | $69 |
| Combined Angling Tag (nonresident) | $89 |
| Combined Angling Tag (youth) | $5 |
| Two-Rod Validation | $34 |
| Columbia River Basin Endorsement | $11.75 |
| Ocean Endorsement | $9 annual / $4 daily |
How Much Is a 1-Day Fishing License in Oregon?
A 1-day Oregon fishing license costs $29 for residents and nonresidents alike, and it includes shellfish. Longer options are the 2-day at $48 and the 3-day at $68, both priced the same for residents and nonresidents, plus a nonresident 7-day at $117.
Keeping salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, or halibut also requires the Combined Angling Tag on top of any short-term license.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Fishing License in Oregon?
You need an Oregon fishing license once you turn 12, and a resident juvenile license for ages 12 to 17 costs $10. Anglers 11 and younger fish free but still need the free juvenile Combined Angling Tag to harvest salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut.
Where to Buy an Oregon Fishing License
Buy online at MyODFW.com (opens in a new tab) or in the MyODFW mobile app. The digital license is valid in the field, no print copy required. You'll also use the app to electronically tag salmon and steelhead.
Phone orders: 1-800-720-6339. In-person sales happen at over 400 license agents including Bi-Mart, Fred Meyer, Sportsman's Warehouse, and most fishing shops. ODFW field offices also sell licenses.
Annual licenses are valid on a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Buying in May means the license expires December 31, 2026.
Oregon Free Fishing Weekend 2026
Oregon hosts two free fishing weekends in 2026: February 14-15 (Presidents' Day Weekend) and June 6-7 (first weekend in June). No license or tag is required either weekend.
All other regulations stay in force, including daily limits, size limits, and gear restrictions. ODFW also runs the Free Fishing Day Family Festival at Sheldon Pond in Bend during the June weekend.
Key Oregon Fishing Regulations
Oregon manages waters by zone. Northwest, Southwest, Willamette, Central, Southeast, Snake River, and Marine. Bag and size limits vary by zone and water. The annual ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations booklet is essential.
Trout: 5 daily statewide on most waters with 8-inch minimum (some waters have wild-trout release rules or higher limits). Salmon and steelhead: typically 2 adult salmonids daily, must be tagged immediately on harvest using the Combined Angling Tag or app.
Bass and walleye: typically 5 daily with no size limit on warmwater lakes. The Columbia River has unique zone regulations and requires the Columbia River Basin Endorsement for salmon/steelhead/sturgeon.
Best Fishing Spots in Oregon
The Columbia River is one of the world's top salmon and steelhead rivers. Buoy 10 at the mouth produces fall Chinook each August-September, and the gorge tributaries host summer and winter steelhead.
The Deschutes River is famous for native redband trout, summer steelhead, and the salmonfly hatch. The Rogue, Umpqua, and Sandy rivers are classic Pacific Northwest anadromous fisheries.
Coastal bays like Tillamook, Nehalem, and Coos host Chinook, Dungeness crab, and surfperch. Diamond Lake, East Lake, and the Cascade alpine lakes deliver trout and kokanee. GilledIt maps current ODFW stocking and salmon-run data.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Oregon resident annual fishing license is $50 in 2026 and a nonresident annual is $138, including the agent fee. The Combined Angling Tag for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut costs extra.
Yes. You must carry the Combined Angling Tag. It costs $69 for residents, $89 for nonresidents, and $5 for youth in 2026. Immediately mark each salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut on the tag (paper or in the MyODFW app) when retained.
Oregon has two free fishing weekends in 2026: February 14-15 and June 6-7. No license, tag, or endorsement is required either weekend, but daily limits and gear rules still apply statewide.
Yes, with a Two-Rod Validation ($34 in 2026). The validation is not legal on all waters, fly-only and some quality fisheries are excluded. Check the ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations before using two rods.
Oregon residents 70 and older pay $34 for the senior annual angling license in 2026, and long-time residents 65+ with 50 years in Oregon qualify for the $10 Pioneer combination license. Disabled veterans also get reduced-fee licenses through ODFW.
Yes. The MyODFW mobile app stores your Oregon fishing license, tags, and validations and is legally valid in the field. You can also electronically tag salmon and steelhead directly in the app.