Iowa charges for the third rod. The Bonus Line permit costs fourteen dollars and is required to fish a third line, and it costs the same whether you live in Iowa or not. The trout fee is separate again. At twenty-two dollars the resident annual is good value, and the lifetime licence at sixty-one fifty for residents sixty-five and over ends the question for good.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Iowa fishing fee
Annual licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-day | Resident | 1 day | $10.50 |
| One-day | Visitor | 1 day | $12.00 |
| Three-day | Visitor | 3 days | $20.50 |
| Seven-day | Resident | 7 days | $15.50 |
| Seven-day | Visitor | 7 days | $37.50 |
| Veterans fishing licence | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Veterans hunting and fishing combo | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Annual, 16 and over | Resident | Annual | $22.00 |
| Annual, 16 and over | Visitor | Annual | $48.00 |
| Fishing, hunting and habitat fee combo | Resident | Annual | $55.00 |
| Three-year | Resident | 3 years | $62.00 |
| Lifetime, 65 and over | Resident | Lifetime | $61.50 |
Fishing a third rod needs its own permit in Iowa, and it costs the same whether you live there or not.
Prices change: Everything up 5%, the legal maximum: resident annual $22 to $23 at the counter. Old and new prices, the date and the law (scheduled, 2027 licences, on sale from december 15, 2026).
Passing through? A visitor pays $12 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 4 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Iowa extras on top of the base licence, as Iowa DNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout fee | $17.50 for visitors. A lifetime trout fee for residents 65 and over costs $65.00. | $14.50 |
| Third fishing line permit | Same price for residents and visitors. | $14.00 |
| Paddlefish licence and tag | $49.00 for visitors. | $25.50 |
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 Iowa?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$22.00 a year if you live in Iowa, $48.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekend.
Nobody needs a licence on Iowaβs free fishing days (residents only): the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Iowa Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official Iowa DNR 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 14 Iowa waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Okoboji β Dickinson County
- Rathbun Lake β Appanoose County
- Spirit Lake β Dickinson County
- Mississippi River Pool 9 β Allamakee County
- Lake MacBride β Johnson County
- Coralville Lake β Johnson County
- Clear Lake β Cerro Gordo County
- East Okoboji Lake β Dickinson County
- Storm Lake β Buena Vista County
- Saylorville Lake β Polk County
- Red Rock Lake β Marion County
- Cedar River β Linn County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Iowa?
$22.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $48.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Iowa?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $22.00 for a resident annual licence, $48.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Iowa?
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 Iowa fishing licence online?
Yes. Iowa Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents.
Can I fish three rods in Iowa?
Only with the Bonus Line permit, which costs $14.00 and is priced the same for residents and visitors. Two lines are covered by the licence.
Is there a lifetime fishing licence in Iowa?
Yes, for residents aged 65 and over: $61.50, with a separate $65.00 lifetime trout fee if you want it.