How much is a Minnesota fishing license?

An annual resident fishing license in Minnesota costs $25. A non-resident annual license costs $51. Short-term and senior options are also available — see the full table below.

Do you need a fishing license in Minnesota?

Anglers under 16 are not required to have a license. Residents age 90+ also exempt. See the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for full eligibility rules.

Where can I buy a Minnesota fishing license?

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources licenses can be purchased online at https://www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense, at any authorized license agent (sporting goods stores, bait shops), or at any DNR office.

Minnesota Fishing License Cost (2026)

A Minnesota resident annual fishing license costs $25. Non-residents pay $51 for an annual license. Short-term, senior, and combination licenses are listed below, plus current trout stamp prices and where to buy.

A Minnesota fishing license is the document that puts you on the right side of game-and-fish law statewide. Walleye, northern pike, and bass have their own season and bag-limit rules layered on top, and the DNR updates those rules annually.

On most Minnesota lakes, the species-specific season and bag-limit rules apply uniformly statewide. Some lakes carry special regulations — those override the statewide rules and are documented on the per-lake regulation pages. For each lake page on LakeQuality, we surface the relevant special regulations from the MN DNR LakeFinder dataset, so you can see at a glance whether a specific lake imposes lower bag limits, slot restrictions, or unique seasons.

2026 License Fees

License Type	Resident	Non-Resident	Notes
Annual angling	$25	$51
72-hour angling	$14	$36
24-hour angling	$12	$14
7-day angling	—	$43
Senior angling (65+)	$13.50	—	Resident only
Married-couple combination	$40	$67
Lifetime angling (age 16-50)	$478	—	One-time purchase

Trout Stamp

Resident: $10 · Non-resident: $10

Required to fish for or possess trout, salmon, or to fish in a designated trout stream or lake.

Who Needs a License?

Anglers under 16 are not required to have a license. Residents age 90+ also exempt.

Season & Regulations

The Minnesota walleye, northern pike, and bass season opens the Saturday two days before Mother's Day. Most other species are open year-round.

For complete bag limits, slot limits, and water-specific rules, see the Minnesota fishing regulations ↗.

Where to Buy

Online: https://www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense ↗
In person: Sporting goods stores, bait shops, and county auditor / clerk offices that act as license agents.
At DNR offices: Any Minnesota Department of Natural Resources office.

Fees current as of 2026. License pricing can change each fiscal year — always confirm with the official Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fishing license page before purchase. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.