Illinois · Fishing license
Illinois fishing license
Do I need one?
Yes — anyone 16 or older needs one.
A year costs $15 if you live here and $31.50 if you don't. Just passing through? Sport fishing, 24 hours costs $10.50. Trout needs the inland stamp, Lake Michigan salmon its own — 6.50 each, on top of the licence.
What it costs
If you live in Illinois
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Sport fishing, annual | $15 |
| Sport fishing, 24 hoursRuns 24 hours from the start, not to midnight. | $5.50 |
| Sport fishing, 65 and older | $7.75 |
| Sportsman's licence (hunting and fishing) | $26.25 |
| Senior sportsman's licence (hunting and fishing) | $13.50 |
| Lifetime sport fishing | $435 |
| Inland trout stampFor all water except Lake Michigan, and only sold to licensed anglers. | $6.50 |
| Lake Michigan salmon stampOnly sold to licensed anglers. | $6.50 |
If you're visiting
| license | Price |
|---|---|
| Sport fishing, annual | $31.50 |
| Sport fishing, three days | $15.50 |
| Sport fishing, 24 hours | $10.50 |
| Inland trout stamp | $6.50 |
| Lake Michigan salmon stamp | $6.50 |
Trout and Lake Michigan salmon each need their own 6.50 stamp, and IDNR sells the stamps only to anglers who already hold a licence.
How long it lasts
Illinois sells the sport fishing licence by the year and the short ones by the hour — the cheapest option is a 24-hour licence, not a calendar day.
Who doesn't need one
- Anglers under 16 years of age
IDNR words the age rule this way: IDNR prices its licences from 16 up and sells a reduced licence to anglers of 65 and over; the fee pages read carry the prices rather than a quoted age sentence.
Where to buy it
- Online through IDNR's licence system
- At licence vendors across Illinois
- At IDNR offices
Wondering about the big retailers? A shop like Walmart sells the state's license at the state's price — it sets none of its own.
Days you can fish without one
IDNR publishes this as a recurring rule rather than a fixed date. Check the exact days on their free fishing page before you plan around it.
Where to use it today
Waters we read every morning in Illinois.
- 6 Biting Lake Shelbyville