Idaho rewards loyalty with a price lock: renew without a gap and you keep a lower rate year after year, thirty dollars fifty falling to twenty-five seventy-five. What the headline hides is the Access and Depredation fee, a compulsory five dollars for residents and ten for visitors on annual and three-year licences. Daily licences skip it, which matters for a week on the Henrys Fork.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Idaho fishing fee
Licences are valid through 31 December.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily fishing, first day, 14 and over Each consecutive day adds $6.00. | Resident | 1 day | $13.50 |
| Daily fishing, first day, 14 and over Each consecutive day adds $7.00. | Visitor | 1 day | $22.75 |
| Three-day salmon and steelhead | Visitor | 3 days | $44.75 |
| Disabled fishing | Resident | Annual | $5.75 |
| Senior combination hunting and fishing | Resident | Annual | $13.75 |
| Military furlough fishing | Resident | Annual | $20.50 |
| Junior fishing, ages 14-17 | Visitor | Annual | $23.75 |
| Fishing, annual Renewing without a break locks a lower $25.75 rate. | Resident | Annual | $30.50 |
| Combination hunting and fishing | Resident | Annual | $38.75 |
| Fishing, annual, 18 and over | Visitor | Annual | $108.00 |
| Sportsman's package | Resident | Annual | $144.60 |
| Combination hunting and fishing | Visitor | Annual | $264.00 |
| Fishing, three years | Resident | 3 years | $73.75 |
| Fishing, three years | Visitor | 3 years | $291.25 |
Idaho runs a price lock: renew without a gap and you keep the lower rate year after year.
Who fishes free in Idaho
- Anglers under 14, who must fish with an adult Idaho licence holder and whose catch counts against that adult’s limit.
- Everyone on the state free fishing day.
Exemptions are narrower than they sound and the burden of proof is on you. Carry whatever document the exemption rests on.
How to buy it
Idaho Department of Fish and Game sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices. Buying online takes about ten minutes and you can print or screenshot the confirmation immediately.
Official IDFG licensing page →
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 26 Idaho waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Clearwater River — Nez Perce County
- Henrys Fork — Madison County
- Lake Pend Oreille — Bonner County
- Snake River (South Fork) — Bonneville County
- Boise River — Ada County
- Silver Creek — Blaine County
- Henrys Lake — Fremont County
- South Fork Boise River — Elmore County
- Blackfoot Reservoir — Caribou County
- South Fork Clearwater River — Idaho County
- North Fork Clearwater River — Clearwater County
- Dworshak Reservoir — Clearwater County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Idaho?
$35.50 for a resident annual all waters licence and $118.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Idaho?
From age 14. Anglers under 14 fish without one, though some states still require a catch record card.
Can I buy a Idaho fishing licence online?
Yes. Idaho Department of Fish and Game sells online and through licence agents. Buy before you rig up and keep the confirmation on your phone: wardens check ramps at dawn.
What is the Idaho price lock?
A lower rate for anglers who renew without a break: $25.75 instead of $30.50 for a resident annual. Let it lapse and you go back to the full price.
Do Idaho daily licences carry the access fee?
No. The Access and Depredation fee applies only to annual and three-year licences, so short trips avoid it entirely.