At ten dollars fifty the Arkansas resident licence is among the two or three cheapest in the country, and the state throws in something genuinely useful for anglers on the northern border: the White River Border Lakes licence lets Arkansas residents fish the Missouri side of Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock for ten dollars, instead of buying a full Missouri non-resident licence. It does not cover trout, which is the catch.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Arkansas fishing fee
Annual licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident three-day trip | Resident | 3 days | $6.50 |
| Non-resident three-day trip | Visitor | 3 days | $30.00 |
| White River border lakes Lets Arkansas residents fish the Missouri side of Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock. | Resident | Annual | $10.00 |
| Resident fisheries conservation licence | Resident | Annual | $10.50 |
| Non-resident annual fishing | Visitor | Annual | $60.00 |
| Resident three-year disability | Resident | 3 years | $10.50 |
At $10.50 the Arkansas resident licence is among the two or three cheapest in the country.
Passing through? Arkansas sells no one-day licence. The shortest option for a visitor is 3 days at $30. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Arkansas extras on top of the base licence, as AGFC lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout permit | Required to keep trout. $20.00 for visitors. | $10.00 |
A trout stamp is an endorsement, not a licence: it is useless without the licence above it. What it costs in every state, and the 26 that require none.
Visiting from out of state? What visitors pay in Arkansas, with the annual-versus-short-term arithmetic.
Do you need a fishing licence in Arkansas?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$10.50 a year if you live in Arkansas, $60.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekend.
Nobody needs a licence on Arkansasβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official AGFC licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 17 Arkansas waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Ouachita β Garland County
- Greers Ferry Lake β Cleburne County
- Bull Shoals Lake β Boone County
- White River β Baxter County
- Beaver Lake β Washington County
- Norfork Lake β Baxter County
- DeGray Lake β Clark County
- Little Red River β Cleburne County
- Lake Hamilton β Garland County
- Millwood Lake β Little River County
- Lake Greeson β Pike County
- Nimrod Lake β Yell County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Arkansas?
$10.50 for a resident annual all waters licence and $60.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Arkansas?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $10.50 for a resident annual licence, $60.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Arkansas?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Arkansas fishing licence online?
Yes. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission sells online and through licence agents.
What is the White River Border Lakes licence?
A ten-dollar add-on that lets Arkansas residents fish the Missouri portion of Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock. It does not cover trout, so the tailwaters still need a Missouri permit.
Do I need a trout permit in Arkansas?
To keep trout, yes: $10.00 for residents and $20.00 for visitors, on top of the licence.