FishKillFlea The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) manages fishing licenses in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" — which actually has over 11,842 lakes of 10+ acres. Minnesota's fishing license system is straightforward and affordable, making it easy to access world-class freshwater fishing.
2026 Minnesota Fishing License Cost — Resident
| License Type | Price | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Angling | $25.00 | Mar 1 – Feb 28 | Standard license |
| Married Couple | $38.50 | Annual | Covers both spouses |
| Combo (Fishing + Small Game) | $34.00 | Annual | Save vs. buying separately |
| Sports (Fish + Hunt + Small Game) | $57.00 | Annual | Best all-inclusive deal |
| Senior (65+) | $6.50 | Annual | One of the cheapest in the US |
| Disabled/Low Income | $6.50 | Annual | Qualifying conditions |
| 24-Hour Fishing | $14.00 | 24 Hours | Day trip |
| Lifetime Fishing | $383.00 | Lifetime | Pays for itself in ~15 years |
Minnesota Fishing License Cost — Non-Resident
| License Type | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $51.00 | Annual |
| Family (NR) | $61.50 | Annual |
| 7-Day | $41.00 | 7 Consecutive Days |
| 72-Hour | $36.00 | 72 Hours |
| 24-Hour | $14.00 | 24 Hours |
MN Fishing Stamps
| Stamp | Price | Required For |
|---|---|---|
| Trout & Salmon Stamp | $10.00 | Designated trout streams and lakes |
| Lake Superior Stamp | $10.00 | All Lake Superior fishing |
| Walleye Stamp (voluntary) | $5.00 | Conservation contribution |
How Much Is a Minnesota Fishing License?
| Angler Type | License | Stamps | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MN Resident — walleye/bass | $25.00 | — | $25.00 |
| MN Resident — trout angler | $25.00 | $10.00 | $35.00 |
| MN Resident — married couple | $38.50 | — | $38.50 |
| MN Resident 65+ | $6.50 | — | $6.50 |
| Visiting — 72-hour trip | $36.00 | — | $36.00 |
| Visiting — full week | $41.00 | +$10 if trout | $41–$51 |
Lifetime Fishing License Minnesota
Minnesota's Lifetime Fishing License costs $383 for residents. For anglers who fish regularly, this pays for itself in about 15 years. It's one of the top searches — "lifetime fishing license Minnesota" — because the value is excellent for younger anglers. The lifetime license covers all future fee increases.