Wisconsin Fishing License
Fishing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the muskie capital of the world. The Chippewa Flowage, Eagle River chain, Lac Courte Oreilles, and the Three Lakes chain hold trophy musky and big smallmouth. Lakes Michigan and Superior run salmon, lake trout, and trophy brown trout. The Mississippi River pools and Lake Pepin produce walleye and white bass. Door County and the Apostle Islands deliver trophy smallmouth. The Driftless Area in the southwest holds hundreds of miles of spring-fed trout streams. Ice fishing is a cultural institution.
License Types & Fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual Fishing | $20.00 |
| Resident First-Time Buyer First WI license or returning after 10+ years | $5.00 |
| Resident 1-Day Fishing Credit toward annual upgrade for $12.75 | $8.00 |
| Resident Junior Fishing (16–17) | $7.00 |
| Resident Senior Citizen (65+) | $7.00 |
| Resident Spousal Fishing Single license shared by spouses | $31.00 |
| Resident 2-Day Great Lakes Fishing Includes Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp | $14.00 |
| Resident 2-Day Inland Lake Trout Fishing Includes Inland Trout Stamp | $14.00 |
| Resident Disabled Fishing | $7.00 |
| Resident Veteran/Disabled Fishing | $3.00 |
| Resident Armed Forces Fish & Small Game Active service on furlough or leave | Free |
| Non-Resident Annual Fishing | $55.00 |
| Non-Resident Family Annual (Primary) Includes children 16–17 | $70.00 |
| Non-Resident Family Annual (Secondary) | Free |
| Non-Resident First-Time Buyer | $28.75 |
| Non-Resident 1-Day Fishing Upgrade to annual for $40.75 | $15.00 |
| Non-Resident 4-Day Fishing | $29.00 |
| Non-Resident 15-Day Fishing | $33.00 |
| Non-Resident 15-Day Family | $45.00 |
| Non-Resident Military Fishing | $20.00 |
| Non-Resident Student Fishing | $20.00 |
| Inland Trout Stamp | $10.00 |
| Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp | $10.00 |
| Sturgeon Hook & Line (Inland) | $20.00 R / $50.00 NR |
| Sturgeon Spearing Lake Winnebago Purchase deadline October 31 | $20.00 R / $65.00 NR |
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current pricing on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website before purchasing.
Kids 15 and under fish without a license, and residents born before 1927 also fish free for life. The First-Time Buyer at $5 is one of the cheapest re-entry options in the country. Wisconsin is also the only state with a Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season — separate license required, with a hard October 31 deadline. The Inland Trout Stamp and Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp are required separately for those species; the 2-Day combos bundle them in.
Log Your Wisconsin Catches
CatchVault is available on iOS. Identify species with AI, measure with LiDAR, and keep a private journal of every fish you land in Wisconsin.