Tennessee fishing license
Tennessee requires a recreational fishing license from age 13. The state licenses freshwater fishing. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency runs licenses from the date of purchase rather than on a license year: Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency · Reviewed July 30, 2026
Your likely official license
Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Tennessee, the official match is Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout.
- Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout$20 · Valid for three days.
What it covers
- Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout — freshwater. Base fee published by TWRA; TWRA states "Processing fees apply to all purchases."Limits on this license: Does not cover trout.
Required add-ons
No stamp or endorsement is attached to this licence for your residency, age and trip length. Check “You may also need” below for requirements that depend on where and what you fish.
You may also need
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes these for the water you selected. Whether one applies depends on what you fish for and where — something this tool does not ask.
- Annual Trout Supplemental — Required to fish for trout. TWRA states it "must be purchased with either the combo hunt/fish, county of residence license, or the one-day fishing no trout." Annual Sportsman and Lifetime licence holders do not need it. · $21
- South Holston Reservoir Supplemental — Required for licensed Tennessee resident anglers age 13 and over to fish the Virginia portion of South Holston Reservoir. TWRA describes it as essentially a Virginia licence sold by TWRA, so all licence holders including Sportsman's Licence holders need it when fishing in Virginia. · $20
- TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit - Daily — Required in addition to the base fishing licence to sport fish for one day on TWRA State lakes. Applies to residents 16-64 and nonresidents 16 and over. Lifetime, Annual and Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman's licence holders do not need it; resident anglers 65 and older do not need the permit but still need a fishing licence; anglers under 16 do not need a lake permit. · $6
- TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit - Annual — Required in addition to the base fishing licence to sport fish on TWRA State lakes for the year. Applies to residents 16-64 and nonresidents 16 and over. · $48
- Tellico-Citico Trout 1-Day Permit — Required for all ages, seasonally, to fish the Tellico River and Citico Creek, and year-round on Green Cove Pond. · $6
- Bedford Lake 1 Day Fishing Permit — One-day permit required in addition to the base fishing licence to fish at Bedford Lake. · $6
1 more are listed on the official Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency pages linked below.
Why this answer
- You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
- Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout covers the full trip: Valid for three days.
Other options you are eligible for
- Nonresident 10-Day Fishing License - No Trout — $30 for this trip · Valid for ten days.Does not cover trout.
- Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - All Species, including Trout — $40 for this trip · Valid for three days.
- Nonresident Annual Fishing License - No Trout — $49 for this trip · Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.Does not cover trout.
- Nonresident 10-Day Fishing License - All Species, including Trout — $61 for this trip · Valid for ten days.
- Nonresident Annual Fishing License - All Species, including Trout — $98 for this trip · Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.Covers all species including trout.
Exceptions that may change it
- Tennessee's most recently published free fishing days were June 6, 2026 (Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day), June 7, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)), June 8, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)), June 9, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)), June 10, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)), June 11, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)) and June 12, 2026 (Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger)); check the agency for the next one. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
- Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout: Does not cover trout.
- Landowners, their spouses, children, and children's spouses who fish on their own farmland do not need a licence. They must be residents of Tennessee but need not reside on the land. The exemption does not apply if the farmland is owned jointly or in common by unrelated persons.
- Tenants, their spouses, and their dependent children who fish on farmland owned by an individual or a family do not need a licence. A tenant is a person who, for money, free rent or other consideration, cares for farmland, and the tenancy must be agricultural in nature.
- First cousins who own farmland jointly or in common may fish on the farmland without a licence, and their children may fish as well.
- Persons on military leave are exempt from the licence requirement.
- This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.
Check current Tennessee regulations(external, opens the official state website)Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.
- Source
- License Structure and Fees - TWRA Customer Portal(external, opens the official state website) — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Validity
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
Answers at a glance
Common trips, answered from the same official record the checker uses. These assume an adult with no special circumstances — set your own age, water and trip above.
Visiting for a day
Adult visiting from another state · freshwater · one day
Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout
Published total: $20
Resident for the season
Adult Tennessee resident · freshwater · all year
Resident Annual Combination Hunting/Fishing License
Published total: $33
Age and residency rules
Who counts as a resident. Resident licenses can be purchased by persons who possess a valid Tennessee driver's license or Tennessee state ID issued by the Department of Safety. Persons who do not drive, do not possess a valid driver's license, do not have a TN state ID, or hold a driver's license or ID from another state, but who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the genuine intent of making Tennessee their permanent home, may prove residency by presenting any two of: a current Tennessee voter registration card; a current Tennessee vehicle registration or title; Form I-94; or a current rental/mortgage contract or receipt, deed of sale for property, or receipt for payment of Tennessee real estate taxes within the last year. Military personnel on active duty in Tennessee and children under 16 who reside with them, and students enrolled in a Tennessee school, college or university for at least six months, also qualify for resident licenses.
Age-based rules
- Those under the age of 13 may fish without a license anywhere in Tennessee. Certain permits may still be required for all ages.
- A Tennessee resident who was born before March 1, 1926 needs no hunting or fishing license. Still required: TWRA states: "To qualify for this exemption, you must carry proof of your age and residency to show to a wildlife officer, if requested."
- Resident grandchildren and resident great-grandchildren under the age of 16 who fish on farmland owned by their resident grandparents or great-grandparents do not need a licence. Still required: The grandparent or great-grandparent must be the bona fide owner of the land and the child must have the landowner's permission.
License options
| License | Who | Water | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Junior Hunt, Fish & Trap License (ages 13-15)(external, opens the official state website)Valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition. | ResidentAges 13-15. Must be purchased before the 16th birthday. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $9 |
| Resident 1-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)Does not cover trout. The Annual Trout Supplemental may be added to this licence to fish for trout. | ResidentAges 13-64. | freshwater | Valid for one day. | $6 |
| Resident 1-Day Fishing License - All Species(external, opens the official state website)Covers all species including trout for the one day of validity. | ResidentAges 16-64. | freshwater | Valid for one day. | $11 |
| Resident Annual Combination Hunting/Fishing License(external, opens the official state website)TWRA describes this as the "Minimum license required to fish and/or hunt small game" for residents aged 16-64; TWRA publishes no fishing-only annual licence for residents in this age band other than the restricted County of Residence licence. Does not cover trout - the Annual Trout Supplemental must be added to fish for trout. Supplemental licenses are required to hunt deer, bear, boar, turkey and waterfowl. | ResidentAges 16-64. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $33 |
| Resident County of Residence Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)Allows an angler to fish in his/her county of residence with natural bait (worms, crickets, corn, etc.) but not minnows. No artificial lures can be used. A supplemental license is required to fish for trout. | ResidentAges 13 and over. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $10 |
| Resident Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap License (age 65 and over)(external, opens the official state website)A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition. | ResidentCan only be purchased when the 65th birthday is reached. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $4 |
| Resident Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap License (age 65 and over)(external, opens the official state website)A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition. | ResidentCan only be purchased when the 65th birthday is reached. | freshwater | Permanent licence; TWRA identifies it as Type 166. | $49 |
| Resident Annual Sportsman License(external, opens the official state website)All-inclusive licence valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits. Holders do not need the trout supplemental or the special fishing permits. | ResidentAges 16-64. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $165 |
| Resident Senior Sportsman License (age 65 and over)(external, opens the official state website)All-inclusive licence valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits. | ResidentAges 65 and over. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $49 |
| Nonresident Annual Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)Does not cover trout. | Non-residentAge 16 and over. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $49 |
| Nonresident Annual Fishing License - All Species, including Trout(external, opens the official state website)Covers all species including trout. | Non-residentAge 16 and over. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $98 |
| Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)Does not cover trout. | Non-residentAge 16 and over. | freshwater | Valid for three days. | $20 |
| Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - All Species, including Trout(external, opens the official state website) | Non-residentAge 16 and over. | freshwater | Valid for three days. | $40 |
| Nonresident 10-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)Does not cover trout. | Non-residentTWRA lists this licence for "All ages"; anglers under 13 need no licence. | freshwater | Valid for ten days. | $30 |
| Nonresident 10-Day Fishing License - All Species, including Trout(external, opens the official state website) | Non-residentAge 16 and over. | freshwater | Valid for ten days. | $61 |
| Nonresident Annual Junior Hunt/Fish Combination - No Big Game (ages 13-15)(external, opens the official state website)A 7-Day Junior ALL Game or Junior ALL Game Annual licence is required to hunt big game. | Non-residentRequired for nonresidents ages 13-15 to fish or hunt small game. No license is required for youth 12 and under. | freshwater | Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. | $10 |
Resident Junior Hunt, Fish & Trap License (ages 13-15)(external, opens the official state website)
Valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 13-15. Must be purchased before the 16th birthday.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $9
Resident 1-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)
Does not cover trout. The Annual Trout Supplemental may be added to this licence to fish for trout.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 13-64.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for one day.
- Price
- $6
Resident 1-Day Fishing License - All Species(external, opens the official state website)
Covers all species including trout for the one day of validity.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 16-64.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for one day.
- Price
- $11
Resident Annual Combination Hunting/Fishing License(external, opens the official state website)
TWRA describes this as the "Minimum license required to fish and/or hunt small game" for residents aged 16-64; TWRA publishes no fishing-only annual licence for residents in this age band other than the restricted County of Residence licence. Does not cover trout - the Annual Trout Supplemental must be added to fish for trout. Supplemental licenses are required to hunt deer, bear, boar, turkey and waterfowl.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 16-64.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $33
Resident County of Residence Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)
Allows an angler to fish in his/her county of residence with natural bait (worms, crickets, corn, etc.) but not minnows. No artificial lures can be used. A supplemental license is required to fish for trout.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 13 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $10
A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition.
- Who
- Resident · Can only be purchased when the 65th birthday is reached.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $4
A valid Tennessee driver's license or proof of age and residency is required. No supplemental licenses are required, but WMA permits must be purchased in addition.
- Who
- Resident · Can only be purchased when the 65th birthday is reached.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Permanent licence; TWRA identifies it as Type 166.
- Price
- $49
Resident Annual Sportsman License(external, opens the official state website)
All-inclusive licence valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits. Holders do not need the trout supplemental or the special fishing permits.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 16-64.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $165
Resident Senior Sportsman License (age 65 and over)(external, opens the official state website)
All-inclusive licence valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without any state supplemental licenses or non-quota permits.
- Who
- Resident · Ages 65 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $49
Nonresident Annual Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)
Does not cover trout.
- Who
- Non-resident · Age 16 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $49
Covers all species including trout.
- Who
- Non-resident · Age 16 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $98
Nonresident 3-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)
Does not cover trout.
- Who
- Non-resident · Age 16 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for three days.
- Price
- $20
- Who
- Non-resident · Age 16 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for three days.
- Price
- $40
Nonresident 10-Day Fishing License - No Trout(external, opens the official state website)
Does not cover trout.
- Who
- Non-resident · TWRA lists this licence for "All ages"; anglers under 13 need no licence.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for ten days.
- Price
- $30
- Who
- Non-resident · Age 16 and over.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Valid for ten days.
- Price
- $61
A 7-Day Junior ALL Game or Junior ALL Game Annual licence is required to hunt big game.
- Who
- Non-resident · Required for nonresidents ages 13-15 to fish or hunt small game. No license is required for youth 12 and under.
- Water
- freshwater
- Valid for
- Annual licenses and permits are valid 365 days from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted.
- Price
- $10
Stamps, endorsements and report cards
- Annual Trout Supplemental — Required to fish for trout. TWRA states it "must be purchased with either the combo hunt/fish, county of residence license, or the one-day fishing no trout." Annual Sportsman and Lifetime licence holders do not need it. · $21
- South Holston Reservoir Supplemental — Required for licensed Tennessee resident anglers age 13 and over to fish the Virginia portion of South Holston Reservoir. TWRA describes it as essentially a Virginia licence sold by TWRA, so all licence holders including Sportsman's Licence holders need it when fishing in Virginia. · $20
- TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit - Daily — Required in addition to the base fishing licence to sport fish for one day on TWRA State lakes. Applies to residents 16-64 and nonresidents 16 and over. Lifetime, Annual and Annual Senior Citizen Sportsman's licence holders do not need it; resident anglers 65 and older do not need the permit but still need a fishing licence; anglers under 16 do not need a lake permit. · $6
- TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit - Annual — Required in addition to the base fishing licence to sport fish on TWRA State lakes for the year. Applies to residents 16-64 and nonresidents 16 and over. · $48
- Tellico-Citico Trout 1-Day Permit — Required for all ages, seasonally, to fish the Tellico River and Citico Creek, and year-round on Green Cove Pond. · $6
- Bedford Lake 1 Day Fishing Permit — One-day permit required in addition to the base fishing licence to fish at Bedford Lake. · $6
- Annual Reelfoot Preservation Permit — Required for all users of Reelfoot WMA except those under 16 years of age, residents 65 years or older, and Sportsman licence holders. The cost is the same for residents and nonresidents. Daily ($3) and 3-day ($10) versions are also published. · $16
Exemptions worth knowing
- Landowners, their spouses, children, and children's spouses who fish on their own farmland do not need a licence. They must be residents of Tennessee but need not reside on the land. The exemption does not apply if the farmland is owned jointly or in common by unrelated persons. Still required: TWRA publishes a Farmland Owner License Exemption form (TCA 70-2-204) that qualifying persons download; the agency directs those relying on the exemption to obtain and complete it. TWRA states explicitly that persons HUNTING under the farmland owner exemption must complete and sign a statement attesting where the property is located and how it qualifies before hunting; the agency does not publish an equivalent explicit signed-statement requirement for fishing.
- Tenants, their spouses, and their dependent children who fish on farmland owned by an individual or a family do not need a licence. A tenant is a person who, for money, free rent or other consideration, cares for farmland, and the tenancy must be agricultural in nature. Still required: Must be residents of Tennessee, must actually reside on the land, and must have permission from the landowner to fish.
- First cousins who own farmland jointly or in common may fish on the farmland without a licence, and their children may fish as well.
- Persons on military leave are exempt from the licence requirement. Still required: TWRA states: "On military leave, carry a copy of your leave orders. A pass does not meet this requirement."
- Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day is June 6, 2026, when all state residents and visitors of any age may fish for free without a licence. Free Fishing Week runs June 6-12, 2026, when all children aged 15 and younger can fish for free.
Free fishing days
- Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day — June 6, 2026. All state residents and visitors of any age may fish for free without a license in Tennessee's public waters.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 7, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 8, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 9, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 10, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 11, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
- Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and younger) — June 12, 2026. Children aged 15 and younger may fish free June 6-12, 2026.
Where this comes from
- Primary source
- License Structure and Fees - TWRA Customer Portal(external, opens the official state website) — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Retrieved
- July 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- July 30, 2026
- Also consulted
- TWRA Fishing Licenses - License Structure and Fees(external, opens the official state website)
- TWRA Frequently Asked Questions(external, opens the official state website)
- Tennessee's Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day June 6(external, opens the official state website)
- Tennessee Fishing Regulations(external, opens the official state website)
Found something out of date? Email corrections@fishinglicensecheck.com and tell us which figure and which page — see corrections.
Nearby states
Licenses are issued state by state — a Tennessee license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.