Illinois is one of the cheapest states in the country for a resident licence, and it stacks its species privileges as separate stamps rather than building them into the price: inland trout and Lake Michigan salmon each cost extra. It also runs two discounts most states do not. Residents over 75 pay a token amount, and anyone who has not held a licence in the past decade can buy a first-time rate as a way back in.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Illinois fishing fee
The licence year begins 1 March and runs to 31 March of the following year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport fishing, 24 hours | Resident | 1 day | $5.50 |
| Sport fishing, 24 hours | Visitor | 1 day | $10.50 |
| Three days | Visitor | 3 days | $15.50 |
| Super senior resident, 75 and over | Resident | Annual | $1.50 |
| Resident first-time angler For residents who have not held a licence in the past ten years. | Resident | Annual | $5.50 |
| Senior resident, 65-74 | Resident | Annual | $7.75 |
| Resident veteran Prior certification required. | Resident | Annual | $7.75 |
| Annual | Resident | Annual | $15.00 |
| Sportsman combination, hunting and fishing | Resident | Annual | $26.25 |
| Annual | Visitor | Annual | $31.50 |
| Three years | Resident | 3 years | $44.00 |
| Lifetime | Resident | Lifetime | $435.50 |
Passing through? A visitor pays $10.50 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 3 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Still to verify: Falta confirmar el umbral de edad en la pagina oficial. We publish what we have checked and leave the rest blank rather than guess.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Illinois extras on top of the base licence, as IDNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Inland trout stamp | Required to take trout from inland waters. $0.50 for super seniors. | $6.50 |
| Lake Michigan salmon stamp | Required to take salmon or trout from Lake Michigan. $0.50 for super seniors. | $6.50 |
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.
Do you need a fishing licence in Illinois?
Yes. IDNR requires one of residents and visitors alike. We have not confirmed the age it starts at, so this page does not state one.
$15.00 a year if you live in Illinois, $31.50 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Residents on active military duty home on leave.
- Anglers with a qualifying disability, with the correct certification.
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on Illinoisβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Illinois Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official IDNR 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 13 Illinois waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Rend Lake β Franklin County
- Lake Shelbyville β Moultrie County
- Carlyle Lake β Clinton County
- Fox Chain OβLakes β Lake County
- Lake Michigan (Chicago) β Cook County
- Shabbona Lake β DeKalb County
- Fox River β Kane County
- Cedar Lake β Jackson County
- Fox Lake β Lake County
- Clinton Lake β DeWitt County
- Lake Springfield β Sangamon County
- Kinkaid Lake β Jackson County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Illinois?
$15.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $31.50 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires a licence of residents and visitors alike, at $15.00 and $31.50 for the annual. We have not yet confirmed the age at which the requirement starts, so this page says so rather than guessing.
Can I buy a Illinois fishing licence online?
Yes. Illinois Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents.
Do I need a trout stamp to fish in Illinois?
Only to take trout from inland waters, and only during the trout season. The Lake Michigan salmon stamp is a separate purchase covering salmon and trout taken from the lake.
When does the Illinois licence year start?
On 1 March. A licence bought before that date belongs to the previous year and expires on 31 March, which catches people out in February.