Iowa Fishing License 2026: Trout Fee, Bonus Line, Youth Limit, and Prices
The base license is only the start: trout, a third line, under-16 limits, and Free Fishing Weekend each change the Iowa answer.
Iowa trout, line, and youth rules
- Under-16 trout limit
- No base license is needed under 16, but a separate trout limit requires the child to have a Trout Fee.
- Trout Fee
- Resident and nonresident trout anglers add the Trout Fee when fishing for or possessing trout under Iowa rules.
- Bonus Line
- The Bonus Line permit is the third-line product; it does not come from the base license.
- Free Fishing Weekend
- June 5-7, 2026 is listed for Iowa residents, but it does not erase every non-license regulation.
Iowa anglers under 16 do not need the base fishing license, but trout is the detail families should handle first. A child can fish for and possess trout without a separate Trout Fee only when accompanied by a properly licensed adult who paid the Trout Fee and when they share one combined daily trout limit. If the child needs an individual trout limit, buy the child a Trout Fee.
Adults and licensed anglers add the Trout Fee when trout rules apply. A third fishing line is a separate Bonus Line purchase, not something included with the annual license or the Trout Fee.
Iowa also publishes a resident Free Fishing Weekend. For 2026, the listed weekend is June 5, 6, and 7 for Iowa residents. Treat it as a license holiday only for the rows DNR waives; bag limits, trout rules, line rules, seasons, and local water rules still need to be checked.
2026 Iowa Price Rows
Use the Iowa DNR fishing license page and Go Outdoors Iowa for the live purchase record.
| Product | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fishing license | $22 | $48 | Base annual fishing row. |
| Trout Fee | $14.50 | $17.50 | Add when trout rules apply. |
| Bonus Line / third line | $14 | $14 | Allows a third fishing line when legal for the water. |
| One-day fishing license | $10.50 | $12 | Short-trip base license row. |
| Three-day fishing license | N/A | $20.50 | Visitor short-trip row. |
| Seven-day fishing license | $15.50 | $37.50 | Week-style row before trout or line add-ons. |
| Lifetime fishing, age 65+ | $61.50 | N/A | Resident lifetime base fishing row. |
| Lifetime Trout Fee, age 65+ | $65 | N/A | Resident lifetime trout row. |
Use the DNR page for planning and the Go Outdoors Iowa receipt for the final active product record.
Guides
FAQs
Can an Iowa child under 16 fish for trout without buying a Trout Fee?
Yes only in the accompanied-adult situation where the adult has paid the Trout Fee and the child shares that adult group daily trout limit. Buy the child a Trout Fee for a separate trout limit.
What does the Iowa Bonus Line permit add?
It adds the third fishing line where that setup is legal. It is separate from the annual fishing license and separate from the Trout Fee.
What are Iowa Free Fishing Weekend dates for 2026?
Iowa DNR lists June 5, 6, and 7, 2026 for Iowa residents. Other regulations still apply, so verify trout, line, season, and water-specific rules before fishing.