Minnesota is one of the few states that prices fishing for couples and families rather than individuals, and the married-couple licence is materially cheaper than two singles. The trout and salmon stamp is where people slip: it is required to fish designated trout water at all, not merely to keep fish, so a catch-and-release afternoon on a trout stream still needs it.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Minnesota fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 March to the end of February.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty-four hours | Resident | 1 day | $12.00 |
| Twenty-four hours | Visitor | 1 day | $14.00 |
| Seventy-two hours | Resident | 3 days | $14.00 |
| Seventy-two hours | Visitor | 3 days | $31.00 |
| Seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $38.00 |
| Married couple, fourteen days | Visitor | 14 days | $49.00 |
| Youth, 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $5.00 |
| Youth, 16-17 | Visitor | Annual | $5.00 |
| Individual, annual | Resident | Annual | $25.00 |
| Married couple, annual | Resident | Annual | $40.00 |
| Individual, annual | Visitor | Annual | $46.00 |
| Family, annual | Visitor | Annual | $63.00 |
| Three years | Resident | 3 years | $71.00 |
These are the fees set in Minnesota Statute 97A.475. An issuing fee is added at the point of sale.
A proposed change did not happen: The DNRβs plan to raise the resident licence from $25 to $30 was not enacted; a 2026 bill on issuing fees died in committee. Old and new prices, the date and the law (withdrawn or rejected, no change; the 2026 bill did not move).
Passing through? A visitor pays $14 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 4 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Still to verify: El sitio del DNR bloquea el acceso automatizado, asi que la fuente es el estatuto. Falta contrastar contra la pagina del DNR y confirmar la tarifa de 65 anos o mas. 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 Minnesota extras on top of the base licence, as DNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and salmon stamp | Required to fish designated trout waters or keep trout and salmon. | $10.00 |
| Walleye stamp | Voluntary. The money goes to walleye stocking. | $5.00 |
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 Minnesota, with the annual-versus-short-term arithmetic.
Do you need a fishing licence in Minnesota?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$25.00 a year if you live in Minnesota, $46.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Minnesota residents fishing on their own homestead land.
- Everyone on the state Take a Kid Fishing weekends and free fishing weekend.
Nobody needs a licence on Minnesotaβs free fishing days (residents only): the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official 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 21 Minnesota waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Mille Lacs Lake β Mille Lacs County
- Leech Lake β Chisago County
- Lake of the Woods β Lake of the Woods County
- Lake Vermilion β St. Louis County
- Cass Lake β Cass County
- Lake Winnibigoshish β Cass County
- Lake Pepin β Pepin County
- Rainy Lake β Koochiching County
- Big Stone Lake β Big Stone County
- Root River β Fillmore County
- Lake Minnetonka β Hennepin County
- Gull Lake β Cass County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Minnesota?
$25.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $46.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Minnesota?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $25.00 for a resident annual licence, $46.00 for a visitor. 3 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota fishing licence online?
Yes. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents. These are the fees set in Minnesota Statute 97A.475. An issuing fee is added at the point of sale.
Is the Minnesota married-couple fishing licence worth it?
If both of you fish, yes: it costs less than two individual licences and covers both anglers. Non-residents have the equivalent family licence.
Do I need a trout stamp to fish catch-and-release in Minnesota?
Yes. The trout and salmon stamp is required to fish designated trout waters at all, not only to keep fish. Releasing everything does not exempt you.