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.
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, and missing one is the commonest way to get written up with a valid licence in your pocket.
| 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 |
Who fishes free in Minnesota
- Anglers under 16.
- Minnesota residents fishing on their own homestead land.
- Everyone on the state Take a Kid Fishing weekends and free fishing weekend.
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
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 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.
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 — Mille Lacs County
- Leech Lake — Chisago County
- Lake of the Woods — Lake of the Woods County
- Lake Vermilion — St. Louis County
- Cass Lake — Cass County
- Lake Winnibigoshish — Cass County
- Lake Pepin — Goodhue County
- Rainy Lake — Koochiching County
- Big Stone Lake — Big Stone County
- Root River — Fillmore County
- Lake Minnetonka — Hennepin County
- Gull Lake — 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.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Minnesota?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though some states still require a catch record card.
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.