Oregon will allow free fishing on Friday and Saturday, the last of the year's eight scheduled free-fishing days.



No license or tag is required to fish, crab or dig clams on either day anywhere in the state. Washington doesn't offer extended free-fishing days.



Anglers (and crabbers and diggers) must, however, obey all current regulations. They include the extended seasonal closure of all razor clam digging on Clatsop County ocean beaches north of Tillamook Head until March 1.



Trout, large brood and one-pounders, have been stocked in several ponds throughout the Willamette Valley and Portland area.



Brooders were put into Sheridan, Huddleston (Willamina) and Junction City ponds and Blue (Fairview/Troutdale), Walter Wirth (Salem) and Timber Linn Lakes (Albany).



Legal and larger fish are stocked in Canby, Mt. Hood College (Gresham), West Salish (Gresham), Junction City and Cottage Grove ponds and Timber Linn (Albany), Walter Wirth and Waverly (Albany) lakes.

An interactive map showing locations (and directions) is on the state's Web site.



The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends steelhead anglers look to the lower Rogue and Alsea rivers, while the first winter steelhead has been caught locally in the lower Clackamas River.



Unfortunately, weather and rain forecasts suggest rising rivers through the weekend, although some may remain fishable.



- Bill Monroe