Indiana Fishing License 2026: Trout/Salmon Stamp, Senior Exemptions, and Prices

Indiana annual fishing licenses and annual stamps run April 1 through March 31 of the following year, not a personal 365-day year from purchase date. A one-day fishing license is different: it already includes trout/salmon privilege, so a one-day public-water trout trip should not add a separate stamp by habit.

The trout/salmon stamp applies when an angler fishes for or takes trout or salmon from Indiana public waters, unless the angler is exempt or the license product already includes the privilege. Residents and nonresidents under 18 are exempt from both the fishing license and the trout/salmon stamp.

Indiana resident seniors split by birthdate. Residents born before April 1, 1943 do not need a fishing license or stamp at all, though they may still buy a low-cost Voluntary Senior Annual Fishing license to support conservation. Residents who are at least 64 years old and were born after March 31, 1943 must buy either the Annual Senior Fishing or Senior Fish-for-Life license; both already include trout/salmon privilege.

Indiana Rules That Change What You Buy

2026–2027 Indiana Price Rows

Fees below are valid April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, confirmed against the Indiana DNR license fee page. Buy directly through the official DNR Activity Hub / GoOutdoorsIN portal, which requires an Access Indiana login.

Online and app purchases add a $3 tech fee per license plus a non-refundable card processing fee. Mail or retailer purchases add a $1 tech fee instead. Always confirm the final total in the Activity Hub before paying, since fees are subject to change even when base license prices are not.

Common Pitfalls

• Buying an annual fishing license and forgetting the separate $11 trout/salmon stamp when targeting trout or salmon in public waters.
• Assuming the trout/salmon inclusion on a one-day license carries over to a multi-day trip; each additional day past the one-day window needs its own coverage.
• Treating the license year as a personal 365 days from purchase instead of the fixed April 1–March 31 cycle.
• Missing the senior birthdate cutoff: born before April 1, 1943 means fully exempt, while 64+ born after that date still needs a paid senior license.
• Overlooking that residents have no seven-day option; that short-term product is nonresident-only.
• Skipping the Access Indiana login step, which is required before checkout on the Activity Hub/GoOutdoorsIN system.

FAQs

When does Indiana require the trout/salmon stamp?

When an angler fishes for or takes trout or salmon from Indiana public waters, unless the angler is exempt or the license product already includes trout/salmon privilege, such as the one-day fishing license or either senior fishing license.

Do Indiana anglers under 18 need a fishing license or trout/salmon stamp?

No. Resident and nonresident anglers under 18 are exempt from both the base fishing license and the trout/salmon stamp.

Which Indiana seniors are fully exempt?

Residents born before April 1, 1943 do not need a fishing license or trout/salmon stamp, though they can still buy a $3 Voluntary Senior Annual Fishing license to support conservation. Residents 64+ born after March 31, 1943 must buy the Annual Senior Fishing ($3) or Senior Fish-for-Life ($23) license, both of which include the trout/salmon stamp.

Where should I actually buy the license?

Use the official Indiana DNR Activity Hub via GoOutdoorsIN, which requires an Access Indiana account login, or check current base fees on the DNR license fee page before purchasing. Avoid third-party lookalike sites that add markup fees.