Updated: March 2026. Prices and regulations verified against the Indiana DNR official license fees page and eRegulations 2026 Indiana Fishing Licenses & Fees.

2026 Quick Reference — Indiana Fishing License

  • Resident annual license: $23
  • Non-resident annual license: $60
  • Senior annual (age 64+): $3 (includes Trout/Salmon Stamp)
  • Trout/Salmon Stamp: $11 (required in addition to annual license)
  • License year: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
  • Buy online: GoOutdoorsIN.com
  • Free Fishing Days 2026: May 10 · June 6–7 · Sept. 26

Indiana requires a valid fishing license for anyone 18 years of age or older who fishes in the state’s public waters — lakes, streams, rivers, tributaries, and boundary waters including Lake Michigan. The 2026–2027 license year runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. If you’re fishing on or after April 1, 2026, you need a fresh 2026–2027 license; licenses from the 2025–2026 year expired March 31, 2026.

License revenue goes directly to the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, funding habitat restoration, fish stocking programs, access site maintenance, and conservation officer enforcement across Indiana’s more than 1,000 lakes and 24,000 miles of streams. Every license purchased is a direct investment in the Hoosier fishing experience.-

2026 Indiana Fishing License Costs

Indiana fishing license fees have been stable since the 2022 fee increase — the last time the state adjusted prices, which were unchanged since 2006. The 2026–2027 rates below are verified against the official Indiana DNR license fees page (updated July 2025) and confirmed by eRegulations Indiana 2026 (valid April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027).

Resident Fishing Licenses

License Type Fee Notes
Annual Fishing $23 All legal game fish; does NOT include trout/salmon
One-Day Fishing $10 Includes Trout/Salmon Stamp
Annual Senior Fishing (age 64+) $3 Includes Trout/Salmon Stamp; must be born after March 31, 1943
Senior Fish-for-Life (age 64+) $23 (one-time) Valid for life; includes Trout/Salmon Stamp
Voluntary Senior Annual Fishing $3 For residents born before April 1, 1943 (otherwise exempt); supports conservation
Trout/Salmon Stamp Privilege $11 Required in addition to annual license to fish for trout/salmon
Annual Hunting & Fishing Combo $32 Best value if you hunt and fish
DAV Hunting & Fishing $2.75/year or $27.50 (10-year) Disabled American Veterans; application required

Non-Resident Fishing Licenses

License Type Fee Notes
Annual Fishing $60 Does NOT include trout/salmon
Seven-Day Fishing $35 Great for vacation anglers
One-Day Fishing $15 Includes Trout/Salmon Stamp
Trout/Salmon Stamp Privilege $11 Required in addition to annual license to target trout/salmon

Note on technology fees: A $3 tech fee per license applies when purchasing online, plus a credit card processing fee. Purchasing at a DNR property or by mail carries a $1 tech fee per license. These fees are non-refundable. Source: Indiana DNR Licenses & Permits.-

What the Trout/Salmon Stamp Covers

Indiana’s public waters are stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and steelhead, particularly in Lake Michigan tributaries and select inland waters. If you plan to fish for or take trout or salmon from any public water, you must carry both a valid annual fishing license and a valid Trout/Salmon Stamp Privilege ($11). The One-Day Fishing license ($10 resident / $15 non-resident) already bundles the stamp, making it particularly cost-effective for day trips. The Senior Annual Fishing ($3) and Senior Fish-for-Life ($23) licenses also include the trout/salmon stamp at no additional charge. The spring DNR trout stocking program begins before April 1, so having your new 2026–2027 license ready is important for early-season trout fishing.-

Who Needs a Fishing License in Indiana?

Any person 18 years old or older must hold a valid Indiana fishing license to fish in public waters. The residency requirement for a resident license is 60 consecutive days of primary residence in Indiana immediately before purchase; you may not claim residency for fishing purposes in another state simultaneously. Everyone else qualifies as a non-resident. Source: eRegulations Indiana 2026.

License Exemptions — Who Can Fish Free Year-Round

A fishing license and trout/salmon stamp are NOT required for the following individuals, confirmed by the Indiana DNR:

Category Requirement / Notes
Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943 Carry valid Indiana Driver's License or ID to verify age and residency
Residents and non-residents under age 18 No license required; all other regulations apply
Indiana residents who are legally blind No proof of disability required while fishing
Indiana residents with a developmental disability (IC 12-7-2-61) No proof required while fishing
Residents of a state-owned mental rehabilitation facility Supervised activities only
Residents of any licensed healthcare facility Supervised activities sponsored by the facility only
Fishing in a private pond (no fish exchange with public waters) Must have property owner's permission
Indiana resident farmland owners/lessees & their families Fishing on their own farmland only; does not apply to corporate-owned land
Indiana residents on approved full-time military leave Must carry leave orders and valid Indiana Driver's License or voter registration card
Non-resident military on active duty stationed in Indiana Eligible to purchase a resident license
Some non-resident landowners Applies only when fishing public waters from their own Indiana farmland, subject to their home state's reciprocal rules with Indiana

Important for senior anglers: The age threshold for a Senior Annual Fishing license is 64 (not 65). Indiana residents who are at least 64 years old and were born after March 31, 1943, must purchase the $3 Senior Annual Fishing or $23 Senior Fish-for-Life license. Those born before April 1, 1943, are fully exempt and need no license at all. The Senior Fish-for-Life at $23 is a strong one-time value for anglers who will fish for many more years.-

How to Buy Your 2026 Indiana Fishing License

Indiana offers four ways to purchase a fishing license for the 2026–2027 season. The fastest option is online, which generates your license instantly. Source: Indiana DNR Licenses & Permits.

Visit GoOutdoorsIN.com — Indiana DNR’s official licensing portal — to purchase 24/7. You’ll need an Access Indiana account. A $3 tech fee per license plus a credit card processing fee applies. Your license is available for download and print immediately after purchase. Signed electronic copies displayed on your smartphone are legally acceptable when fishing.

In Person

More than 500 authorized retailers statewide sell Indiana fishing licenses — including most Walmart stores, bait shops, and sporting goods retailers. You can find the nearest retailer using the Indiana Hunt & Fish License Retailer directory. The DNR Customer Service Center at Indiana Government Center South (402 W. Washington St., Room W160, Indianapolis, IN 46204) is also a purchase option; hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday, closed state holidays. No cash accepted — debit/credit/check/money order only.

By Phone

Call the Indiana DNR Customer Service Center at (317) 232-4200 or toll-free at (877) 463-6367, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.

Digital License Display

Indiana accepts signed electronic copies of fishing licenses displayed on a smartphone as valid proof of licensure. You must be able to present the license to an Indiana Conservation Officer or any other authorized law enforcement official upon request. Print a backup copy or screenshot your license confirmation before heading out to waters with poor cell service.-

When Does My Indiana Fishing License Expire?

All Indiana annual fishing licenses and stamp privileges run on a fixed license-year calendar: April 1 through March 31 of the following year. The 2026–2027 license is valid from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. There are no date-of-purchase rolling annual licenses in Indiana — if you buy in October, your license still expires March 31. The One-Day and Seven-Day licenses are exceptions and are valid only for the specific date(s) chosen at purchase. Source: Indiana DNR.-

2026 Free Fishing Days — No License Required

Indiana designates several dates each year as Free Fishing Days, when Indiana residents can fish any public water without a license or trout/salmon stamp. All other regulations — size limits, bag limits, and seasons — remain fully in effect. The confirmed 2026 Free Fishing Days, per the Indiana DNR, are:

  • Sunday, May 10, 2026 (Mother's Day)
  • Saturday, June 6, 2026
  • Sunday, June 7, 2026
  • Saturday, September 26, 2026

Note: Free Fishing Days apply to Indiana residents only. Non-residents still require a valid license on these dates. These four days are excellent opportunities to introduce someone new to fishing before committing to a full license purchase. Source: WJTS 18 / Indiana DNR announcement, March 2026.-

Fishing Regulations: What You Must Know

Purchasing a license is the first step — understanding regulations is how you avoid fines. Indiana’s full 2026–2027 Fishing Regulations Guide is published by the DNR each season. Key compliance points every Indiana angler must follow:

  • Carry your license: You must have a physical or valid electronic copy while fishing and present it to any Indiana Conservation Officer upon request.
  • Size limits: Indiana sets minimum (and in some cases maximum) length requirements for species like bass, walleye, and muskellunge. Keeping undersized fish is a separate violation from fishing without a license.
  • Bag limits: Daily and possession limits vary by species. Walleye on most Indiana waters are limited to 6 per day; largemouth/smallmouth bass limits are 5 per day combined.
  • Trout/Salmon Stamp required: Fishing for trout or salmon without a valid stamp while holding an annual license is a separate violation.
  • Fishing guide license required: If you take another person sport fishing for hire on public waters — including Lake Michigan — you must hold an Indiana Fishing Guide License ($125/year), in addition to a regular fishing license. Source: eRegulations Indiana 2026.

Penalties for Fishing Without a License

Fishing without a license in Indiana is generally charged as a Class B misdemeanor under Indiana Code Title 14, Article 22, with fines that can reach up to $1,000, plus court costs. Repeat violations can escalate to a Class A misdemeanor. A license may also be revoked upon conviction for fish and wildlife regulation violations. The $23 resident annual license costs less than 3% of a typical first-offense fine — the math is clear. Source: Indiana Code § 14-22-38.-

Money-Saving Tips for Indiana Anglers

Indiana’s license pricing is already competitive relative to neighboring states (Ohio charges $25 resident / $50 non-resident; Michigan charges $26 resident / $76 non-resident for annual freshwater). But here are ways to maximize value:

  • Combo license: The Hunting & Fishing Combo at $32 saves $11 compared to purchasing both separately ($23 + $20), provided you hunt.
  • Senior Fish-for-Life: At $23 one-time (includes trout/salmon stamp), this license pays for itself in a single year compared to the $3 annual senior + $11 stamp ($14/year). Anglers who fish for trout break even in under two years.
  • DAV license: Disabled American Veterans pay just $2.75/year or $27.50 for 10 years — the 10-year option saves $0.50/year but locks in the current rate.
  • Free Fishing Days: Use the four free days to scout new locations or introduce friends to fishing before they commit to a full license.
  • Note on Lifetime Licenses: Indiana discontinued the sale of new lifetime licenses on July 1, 2005. If you were issued one before that date, it remains valid under its original terms.

Where to Fish in Indiana

Indiana’s license covers all public inland waters. Notable fisheries in the state include Monroe Lake (Indiana’s largest inland body of water, 10,750 acres, known for diverse fishing including crappie, largemouth bass, catfish, and white bass near Bloomington), Patoka Lake (south-central Indiana’s premier bass and crappie destination), Lake Michigan (boundary water access with walleye, yellow perch, and salmon runs in the southern Indiana Dunes area), and the Kankakee River for smallmouth bass and catfish in the northwest. The state’s inland trout fishery is largely dependent on DNR stocking programs — spring stocking runs typically begin before April 1, making the new license year launch a prime time to target rainbow trout in accessible public ponds and streams statewide. Use the Indiana DNR “Where to Fish” interactive map to find stocked locations, access points, boat ramps, and fishing piers near you.-

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Indiana if I’m visiting from another state?
Yes. Non-residents age 18 and older must hold a valid Indiana non-resident fishing license. Indiana does not have statewide reciprocal license agreements with neighboring states for freshwater fishing. Some non-resident landowners may be exempt when fishing public waters from their own Indiana farmland, depending on their home state’s rules.

Can I fish on Indiana Free Fishing Days without any license as a non-resident?
No. Free Fishing Days apply only to Indiana residents. Non-residents must hold a valid license on those dates.

Is catch-and-release fishing exempt from the license requirement?
No. Indiana requires a valid fishing license regardless of whether you intend to keep or release your catch. The license requirement applies to the act of fishing in public waters.

Can I show my Indiana fishing license on my phone?
Yes. Indiana accepts signed electronic copies on a smartphone as valid proof. You must be able to display the license to a conservation officer on request.

What is the trout/salmon stamp, and do I need it?
The Trout/Salmon Stamp Privilege ($11) is a required add-on for anglers who want to fish for or keep trout or salmon from Indiana’s public waters. It is automatically included with the One-Day Fishing license, the Senior Annual Fishing license, and the Senior Fish-for-Life license, but must be purchased separately alongside an annual resident or non-resident license.

I’m 64 years old — what license do I need?
Indiana’s senior fishing age threshold is 64 (not 65). If you’re 64 or older and born after March 31, 1943, you qualify for the $3 Annual Senior Fishing license (includes trout/salmon stamp) or the $23 Senior Fish-for-Life. If you were born before April 1, 1943, you are fully exempt from needing a license.

Are there any freshwater fishing license reciprocal agreements in Indiana?
Indiana does not have broad reciprocal fishing agreements like some other states. Boundary waters such as the Ohio River are shared with Kentucky, but each state’s anglers must hold their own state’s license unless a specific boundary waters agreement is in place. Always check with the Indiana DNR if fishing interstate boundary waters.

Where does my Indiana fishing license fee go?
Funds from fishing license sales support the Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife’s programs: fish stocking, habitat improvement, public access site maintenance, fish population surveys, and conservation officer operations across Indiana’s 1,000+ lakes and 24,000+ miles of streams.-

Official Sources