Free fishing.

This weekend, at least, the idea of free fishing will be more than just the dream of every angler who ever picked up a pole. Saturday and Sunday, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is opening the state’s rivers, lakes and ponds to all comers for its annual Free Fishing Weekend. No fishing licenses will be required either day.

In addition, ODFW has special events planned all along the South Coast, many of them specifically geared toward young anglers. Perhaps the best known is the ages 16-and-under Powers Kids Fishing Derby, now in its 18th year at Powers Pond in Powers County Park, scheduled for Saturday.

All kids use the same loaner equipment — there can’t be anyone with a special advantage, after all — and the youngster with the biggest fish wins.

There will also be target-casting contests, environmental education stations and booths where kids can learn to tie flies and cast and, of course, goodies.

“Everybody wins something. Every kid goes home with a nice prize” said Carl Linderman of the Powers Ranger District, which is partnering with ODFW to organize the event. “Kids go away with more than just a bobber.”

Prizes, including fishing poles and gear, donated by local businesses will be given away via a lottery. The fishing derby ends at noon, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

ODFW plans to stock the pond with 3,200 legal-sized rainbow trout and about 100 trophy-sized trout prior to the event.

A similar day is scheduled for ages 10-and-under at Eel Lake, in Tugman State Park, on Saturday. The lake near Lakeside also is to be stocked prior to the event.  

Eel Lake will have various stations for young anglers to learn about fish identification, knot tying, casting, fishing etiquette, habitat and, of course, making the ubiquitous fish print. Kids completing all stations will get a stamp to show their knowledge.

“It’s like a passport to fishing,” said ODFW District Fish Biologist Mike Gray.

A net pen with fish trapped in it will give kids a better chance of hooking a catch.

The Elk River hatchery, on Elk River Road outside Port Orford, will host its 13th Free Fishing Weekend event, starting at 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. There, youth anglers ages 10-and-under will be allowed to fish for rainbow trout in a special pond stocked with 800 legal-sized fish and 350 trophy-sized fish.

The hatchery will provide rods, reels and bait for kids to use. This event is limited to the first 100 fishermen who show up each morning. People are asked not to try to fish both days.

All kids attending will get a free fishing starter kit, and additional prizes also will be given away, including mail boat trips on the Rogue River, rods and reels and a fully-stocked tackle box.

Libby Pond, outside of Gold Beach, is hosting an event for 13-and-under kids on Saturday at 8 a.m. It will feature food, loaner fishing equipment and gear, as well as a fishing derby with prizes.

At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Lake Marie — in the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park south of Winchester Bay — will have its own fishing event for kids 14-and-under, complete with concessions and gear for beginners to use should they not have any.

Folks from the Gardner-Reedsport Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program will be there to lend a hand.

“They’ll help kids who maybe never caught a fish catch their first fish,” said ODFW Salmon Trout Enhancement Program biologist Greg Huchko.

More information about Free Fishing Weekend is available by calling: Charleston ODFW at 888-5515 (Powers Pond and Eel Lake); ODFW District Office in Roseburg at 440-3353 (Lake Marie); Gold Beach ODFW at 247-7605 (Libby Pond); or the Elk River Hatchery at 332-7025 (Elk River Hatchery).