Wisconsin runs two separate trout stamps, and that is the thing to get right. The Inland Trout Stamp covers the streams; the Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Stamp covers Michigan and Superior. Fishing both means buying both. At twenty dollars the resident licence is cheap for the water on offer, and the first-time buyer rate of five dollars is a genuine way in for someone who has never held one.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Wisconsin fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 April to 31 March.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing, one day Can be upgraded to an annual. | Resident | 1 day | $8.00 |
| Fishing, one day Can be upgraded to an annual. | Visitor | 1 day | $15.00 |
| Two-day Great Lakes, stamp included | Resident | 2 days | $14.00 |
| Two-day inland trout, stamp included | Resident | 2 days | $14.00 |
| Two-day Great Lakes, stamp included | Visitor | 2 days | $14.00 |
| Fishing, four days | Visitor | 3 days | $29.00 |
| Fishing, fifteen days | Visitor | 14 days | $33.00 |
| Fishing, fifteen-day family | Visitor | 14 days | $45.00 |
| Fishing, resident on active service | Resident | Annual | Free |
| Fishing, disabled veteran | Resident | Annual | $3.00 |
| Fishing, first-time buyer | Resident | Annual | $5.00 |
| Fishing, junior, ages 16-17 | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Fishing, senior, 65 and over | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Fishing, disabled | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Fishing, annual | Resident | Annual | $20.00 |
| Military fishing | Visitor | Annual | $20.00 |
| Student fishing, full-time non-resident student | Visitor | Annual | $20.00 |
| Fishing, first-time buyer | Visitor | Annual | $28.75 |
| Fishing, spousal | Resident | Annual | $31.00 |
| Fishing, annual | Visitor | Annual | $55.00 |
| Fishing, family annual Includes children aged 16 and 17. | Visitor | Annual | $70.00 |
Wisconsin runs two separate trout stamps: one for inland water and one for the Great Lakes. Fishing both means buying both.
A proposed change did not happen: Proposed resident annual $20 to $30 was struck by the Joint Finance Committee; $20 stands, as it has since 2005. Old and new prices, the date and the law (withdrawn or rejected, removed from the 2025β27 budget, signed july 3, 2025).
Passing through? A visitor pays $15 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 Wisconsin extras on top of the base licence, as WI DNR lists them.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Inland trout stamp | For trout in inland waters. | $10.00 |
| Great Lakes salmon and trout stamp | For salmon and trout in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. | $10.00 |
| Sturgeon spearing, Lake Winnebago | $65.00 for visitors. | $20.00 |
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.
Do you need a fishing licence in Wisconsin?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$20.00 a year if you live in Wisconsin, $55.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers under 16.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekends.
Nobody needs a licence on Wisconsinβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official WI 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 29 Wisconsin waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake Geneva β Walworth County
- Lake Winnebago β Winnebago County
- Wolf River β Waupaca County
- Shawano Lake β Shawano County
- Delavan Lake β Walworth County
- Pewaukee Lake β Waukesha County
- Lake Mendota β Dane County
- Castle Rock Lake β Juneau County
- Chippewa Flowage β Sawyer County
- Sheboygan (Lake Michigan) β Sheboygan County
- Green Bay β Brown County
- Turtle-Flambeau Flowage β Iron County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Wisconsin?
$20.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $55.00 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
Do you need a fishing license in Wisconsin?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $20.00 for a resident annual licence, $55.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Wisconsin?
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 Wisconsin fishing licence online?
Yes. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents.
Which Wisconsin trout stamp do I need?
The Inland Trout Stamp for inland streams and lakes, the Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Stamp for Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. They are separate purchases and neither covers the other.
What is the Wisconsin first-time buyer licence?
A five-dollar resident annual for anyone who has not held a Wisconsin fishing licence before. Visitors have an equivalent at $28.75.