FishingLicenseCheck

Wisconsin fishing license

Wisconsin requires a recreational fishing license from age 16. The state licenses freshwater fishing. The current license year is 2026-2027 (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027).

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · Reviewed July 30, 2026

Your trip in Wisconsin

Special circumstances that can change the answer

Your likely official license

Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Wisconsin, the official match is Nonresident 1-Day Fishing License.

Published cost for this trip$15
  • Nonresident 1-Day Fishing License$15 · Good until midnight of the day purchased.

What it covers

  • Nonresident 1-Day Fishing License — freshwater. Row published verbatim as "Fishing, 1-day (Can be used towards upgrade to annual license for $40.75)" $15.00 on the Go Wild nonresident license price list (dnr.wisconsin.gov/GoWild/nonresident.html, re-checked 2026-07-30).Limits on this license: Lets you do everything but fish for premium species like trout and salmon; an additional stamp is needed for those species.

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

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources publishes these for the water you selected. Whether one applies depends on what you fish for and where — something this tool does not ask.

  • Inland Trout Stamp — Required in addition to a fishing license to fish for trout on Wisconsin's classified inland trout streams and inland trout waters. Same $10.00 price for residents and nonresidents. · $10
  • Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp — Required of every angler fishing for salmon or trout in the Wisconsin waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior) and their tributaries accessible to Great Lakes salmon and trout. Same $10.00 price for residents and nonresidents. · $10

Why this answer

  1. You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
  2. Nonresident 1-Day Fishing License covers the full trip: Good until midnight of the day purchased.
Other options you are eligible for
  • Nonresident 2-Day Great Lakes Fishing License — $14 for this trip · 2-day fishing license.Valid only on Wisconsin's outlying Great Lakes trout and salmon waters (Wis. Stat. 29.228: "A nonresident 2-day sports fishing license only authorizes fishing in outlying trout and salmon waters"). The Great Lake Salmon/Trout Stamp privilege is included in the fee, so no separate stamp is needed.
  • Nonresident 4-Day Fishing License — $29 for this trip · 4-day fishing license.
  • Nonresident 15-Day Fishing License — $33 for this trip · 15-day fishing license.
  • Nonresident Annual Fishing License — $55 for this trip · Licenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.Does not cover trout or salmon; an inland trout stamp or Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp is additionally required for those species.
Reduced-fee and free licenses, if you qualify (6, from No charge)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers these to anglers who meet specific criteria — such as a disability, veteran or military status, low income, or tribal membership. We cannot check whether they apply to you, so they are never used as the answer above.

  • Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License (secondary) — No charge · Issued only alongside the primary Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License held by a family member; it cannot be bought on its own.
  • Nonresident Military Fishing License — $20 · Available to qualifying members of the U.S. Armed Forces; eligibility is verified by the DNR at purchase. Not available for online purchase.
  • Nonresident Student Fishing License — $20 · Available to qualifying nonresident students; eligibility is verified by the DNR at purchase. Not available for online purchase.
  • Nonresident Annual Fishing First-time Buyer License — $28.75 · First-time buyers only.
  • Nonresident 15-Day Family Fishing License — $45
  • Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License (primary) — $70

Exceptions that may change it

  • Wisconsin's most recently published free fishing days were January 17, 2026 (Winter Free Fishing Weekend (day 1)), January 18, 2026 (Winter Free Fishing Weekend (day 2)), June 6, 2026 (June Free Fishing Weekend (day 1)) and June 7, 2026 (June Free Fishing Weekend (day 2)); check the agency for the next one. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
  • Nonresident 1-Day Fishing License: Lets you do everything but fish for premium species like trout and salmon; an additional stamp is needed for those species.
  • Anglers born before 1927 fish without a license.
  • Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces who is on furlough or leave is eligible for a free Small Game & Fishing License (state stamps included).
  • This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
Buy on the official Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources site

We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.

Check current Wisconsin regulations

Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.

Validity
2026-2027 · April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
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 1-Day Fishing License

$15

Resident for the season

Adult Wisconsin resident · freshwater · all year

Resident Annual Fishing License

$20

Age and residency rules

Who counts as a resident. Wis. Stat. s. 29.001(69): a resident is "a person who has maintained his or her place of permanent abode in this state for a period of 30 days immediately preceding his or her application". Proof of Wisconsin residency is required to buy a resident license.

Age-based rules

  • In Wisconsin, kids 15 and under fish without a license every day.

License options

LicenseWhoWaterValid forPrice
Resident Annual Fishing LicenseDoes not cover trout or salmon; an inland trout stamp or Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp is additionally required for those species.ResidentAll residents and nonresidents age 16 or older must have a fishing license; kids 15 and under fish without a license.freshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$20
Resident 1-Day Fishing LicenseLets you do everything but fish for premium species like trout and salmon; an additional stamp is needed for those species.ResidentfreshwaterGood until midnight of the day purchased.$8
Resident 2-Day Great Lakes Fishing LicenseValid only on Wisconsin's outlying Great Lakes trout and salmon waters. The Great Lake Salmon/Trout Stamp privilege is included in the fee, so no separate stamp is needed.Residentfreshwater2-day fishing license.$14
Resident 2-Day Inland Lake Trout Fishing LicenseWisconsin statutes provide that "a 2-day inland lake trout fishing license only authorizes fishing for lake trout in inland lakes." The Inland Trout Stamp privilege is included in the fee.Residentfreshwater2-day fishing license.$14
Resident Junior Fishing License (16 & 17 years old)Resident16 & 17 years oldfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$7
Resident Senior Citizen Fishing License (65 years & older)Resident65 years & olderfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$7
Resident Spousal Fishing LicenseResidentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$31
Resident Annual Fishing First-time Buyer LicenseFirst-time buyers only.ResidentOffered at the same $5.00 price for first-time buyers aged 16 & 17, 18-64, and over 64.freshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$5
Resident Annual Disabled Fishing LicenseAvailable to residents with impaired vision and to residents receiving Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income or Railroad Retirement Disability Benefits.ResidentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$7
Resident Veteran's Disabled Fishing LicenseAvailable to veterans receiving Veteran's Disability Compensation for a disability of 70 percent or more for a service-connected disability.ResidentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$3
Nonresident Annual Fishing LicenseDoes not cover trout or salmon; an inland trout stamp or Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp is additionally required for those species.Non-residentAll residents and nonresidents age 16 or older must have a fishing license.freshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$55
Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License (primary)Non-residentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$70
Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License (secondary)Issued only alongside the primary Nonresident Family Annual Fishing License held by a family member; it cannot be bought on its own.Non-residentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.No charge
Nonresident 1-Day Fishing LicenseLets you do everything but fish for premium species like trout and salmon; an additional stamp is needed for those species.Non-residentfreshwaterGood until midnight of the day purchased.$15
Nonresident 2-Day Great Lakes Fishing LicenseValid only on Wisconsin's outlying Great Lakes trout and salmon waters (Wis. Stat. 29.228: "A nonresident 2-day sports fishing license only authorizes fishing in outlying trout and salmon waters"). The Great Lake Salmon/Trout Stamp privilege is included in the fee, so no separate stamp is needed.Non-residentfreshwater2-day fishing license.$14
Nonresident 4-Day Fishing LicenseNon-residentfreshwater4-day fishing license.$29
Nonresident 15-Day Fishing LicenseNon-residentfreshwater15-day fishing license.$33
Nonresident 15-Day Family Fishing LicenseNon-residentfreshwater15-day family fishing license.$45
Nonresident Annual Fishing First-time Buyer LicenseFirst-time buyers only.Non-residentfreshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$28.75
Nonresident Military Fishing LicenseAvailable to qualifying members of the U.S. Armed Forces; eligibility is verified by the DNR at purchase. Not available for online purchase.Non-residentAll residents and nonresidents age 16 or older must have a fishing license.freshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$20
Nonresident Student Fishing LicenseAvailable to qualifying nonresident students; eligibility is verified by the DNR at purchase. Not available for online purchase.Non-residentAll residents and nonresidents age 16 or older must have a fishing license.freshwaterLicenses are valid April 1 through March 31 of the following year.$20

Stamps, endorsements and report cards

  • Inland Trout Stamp — Required in addition to a fishing license to fish for trout on Wisconsin's classified inland trout streams and inland trout waters. Same $10.00 price for residents and nonresidents. · $10
  • Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp — Required of every angler fishing for salmon or trout in the Wisconsin waters of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior) and their tributaries accessible to Great Lakes salmon and trout. Same $10.00 price for residents and nonresidents. · $10

Exemptions worth knowing

  • Anglers born before 1927 fish without a license.
  • Any resident in active service with the Armed Forces who is on furlough or leave is eligible for a free Small Game & Fishing License (state stamps included). Still required: The angler must present their military ID/CAC card or active-duty orders plus proof they are on furlough or leave to a license agent and obtain the free license. It is a no-charge license, not a blanket exemption.
  • On Free Fishing Weekend you can cast a line without having a fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp. All other fishing regulations including bag limits, size limits and species restrictions remain in effect.

Free fishing days

  • Winter Free Fishing Weekend (day 1) — January 17, 2026. No fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp required.
  • Winter Free Fishing Weekend (day 2) — January 18, 2026. No fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp required.
  • June Free Fishing Weekend (day 1) — June 6, 2026. No fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp required.
  • June Free Fishing Weekend (day 2) — June 7, 2026. No fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp required.

Where this comes from

Primary source
Resident licenses — Wisconsin DNR Go Wild — Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Retrieved
July 26, 2026
Reviewed
July 30, 2026
Also consulted

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 Wisconsin license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.

Across all states