Illinois Fishing License
Issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Fishing in Illinois
Illinois has more public fishing water than most anglers realize. Lake Michigan out of Waukegan and Chicago produces chinook, coho, brown trout, and lake trout from late spring through fall. The Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio rivers hold catfish, sauger, and white bass. Carlyle, Rend, and Shelbyville lakes give up walleye, white bass, and big crappie. The Kankakee and Fox river systems are reliable smallmouth water, and Banner Marsh and Powerton are go-to muskie destinations.
License Types & Fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual Fishing | $15.00 |
| Resident 24-Hour Sport Fishing | $5.50 |
| Resident First-Time Fishing No license in past 10 years | $5.50 |
| Resident Senior Fishing (65–74) | $7.75 |
| Resident 3-Year Senior Fishing (65–74) | $22.25 |
| Resident Super Senior Fishing (75+) | $1.50 |
| Resident 3-Year Super Senior Fishing (75+) | $3.50 |
| Resident Veteran Fishing Prior certification required | $7.75 |
| Resident Sportsmen's Combo Hunt/Fish | $26.25 |
| Resident 3-Year Fishing License | $44.00 |
| Resident Lifetime Fishing License | $435.50 |
| Non-Resident Annual Fishing | $31.50 |
| Non-Resident Fishing (3-Day) | $15.50 |
| Non-Resident Sport Fishing (24-Hour) | $10.50 |
| Inland Trout Stamp Required for inland trout waters | $6.50 |
| Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp Required for Lake Michigan salmon/trout | $6.50 |
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current pricing on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website before purchasing.
Illinois license year runs March 1 through March 31 of the following year. Licenses purchased before March 1 are valid for the current license year only. Many additional sub-categories exist (3-year veteran, super-senior combo, lifetime sportsman's, dealer permits) — the rows above cover the SKUs most anglers buy.
Log Your Illinois Catches
CatchVault is available on iOS. Identify species with AI, measure with LiDAR, and keep a private journal of every fish you land in Illinois.