Resident
First time buying? $5.
Nonresident
Up north for a week? The 4-day is $29, 15-day $33.
Kids 15 & under
No license needed, any day.
Buy it
Go Wild- Go to gowild.wi.gov and make an account (driver's license or customer number).
- Pick your license, and a trout stamp if you'll fish for trout.
- Pay. Your license is on your phone right away; no paper needed.
Rather buy in person? Bait shops and sporting goods stores that sell licenses, and DNR service centers, can do it.
Residents
| Annual | $20 |
| First-time buyer | $5 |
| 1-day | $8 |
| Junior (16-17) | $7 |
| Senior (65+) | $7 |
| Husband & wife (spousal) | $31 |
| Disabled | $7 |
| Disabled veteran | $3 |
| Active duty on leave | Free |
Nonresidents
| Annual | $55 |
| First-time buyer | $28.75 |
| 1-day | $15 |
| 4-day | $29 |
| 15-day | $33 |
| Family annual | $70 |
| 15-day family | $45 |
| Military | $20 |
| Student | $20 |
Stamps
| Inland trout stampNeeded to fish for trout in inland waters. | $10 |
| Great Lakes salmon & trout stampNeeded to fish for trout or salmon in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and their tributaries. | $10 |
| 2-day Great Lakes (stamp included)License plus stamp for two days on the Great Lakes. | $14 |
| 2-day inland trout (stamp included)License plus stamp for two days of inland trout. | $14 |
Every lake page says whether that lake needs a stamp.
No license needed
- Kids 15 and under
- Anglers born before 1927
- Everyone on Free Fishing Weekend
Free Fishing Weekends: June 6-7, 2026 and January 16-17, 2027. No license or stamps; all other rules still apply.
Valid from the day you buy it through the next March 31.
Questions
How much is a Wisconsin fishing license?
A resident annual license is $20. A nonresident annual license is $55. First-time buyers pay less: $5 resident, $28.75 nonresident.
Do kids need a fishing license in Wisconsin?
No. Kids 15 and under fish without a license every day.
When does a Wisconsin fishing license expire?
It runs from the day you buy it through the next March 31.
Where do I buy a Wisconsin fishing license?
Online at Go Wild (gowild.wi.gov), at license agents like bait shops and sporting goods stores, or at a DNR service center.
Do I need a trout stamp?
Only to fish for trout. Inland trout need the inland trout stamp; trout and salmon on the Great Lakes need the Great Lakes stamp. Each is $10.
Prices from the Wisconsin DNR, checked 2026-10-07. Lake Sheet doesn't sell licenses and isn't part of the DNR.