Kentucky Fishing License 2026-27: Trout Permit Waters, License Year, and Prices
Kentucky runs March 1 through the last day of February, and the $10.57 Trout Permit can be required even before a trout goes in the cooler.
Kentucky trout and license-year rules
- March 1 start
- Kentucky fishing licenses run March 1 through the last day of February.
- Trout Permit trigger
- Keeping trout requires the Trout Permit, and some Cumberland/Hatchery Creek waters require it from every licensed angler.
- Ages 15 and younger
- Kentucky anglers 15 and younger do not need the fishing license or Trout Permit.
- Resident couple row
- Kentucky has a joint married-couple resident fishing row, so two-resident households should compare it before buying separate annuals.
Kentucky license timing is easy to miss because the license year runs March 1 through the last day of February. A product bought for a spring trip should be checked against that Kentucky license year rather than treated like a calendar-year card.
The Trout Permit is not limited to keeping trout. Kentucky requires it when an angler keeps trout, and certain Cumberland River and Hatchery Creek waters require the permit from every licensed angler fishing there.
Anglers 15 and younger are outside the paid fishing-license and Trout Permit rows, but adult residents, visitors, married resident couples, and buyers comparing a three-year product should still use the current fee table before paying.
2026-27 Kentucky Price Rows
Use the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife fee page and the state purchase system for current totals.
| Product | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fishing license | $24.31 | $58.14 | Base annual fishing row for the license year. |
| One-day fishing license | N/A | $15.86 | Short visitor row. |
| Seven-day fishing license | N/A | $37.00 | Longer short-term visitor row. |
| Three-year fishing license | $58.14 | N/A | Resident online multi-year option. |
| Joint married-couple annual fishing | $44.38 | N/A | Resident couple row. |
| Trout Permit | $10.57 | $10.57 | Needed for keeping trout and for every licensed angler on certain named trout waters. |
| First-time Sportsman license | $37 | N/A | Resident introductory bundle; verify current eligibility before relying on it. |
Kentucky prices include cents in the published rows. Confirm the exact active product and any vendor fee in the purchase system before paying.
Guides
Kentucky Senior Fishing License 2026: Resident & Nonresident Rules
Kentucky senior fishing license guide: compare Senior Sportsman's, lifetime, disabled, resident, nonresident, and trout rules.
Updated August 19, 2026
Is an Ohio Fishing License Valid in Kentucky? Border Rules 2026
Ohio-Kentucky fishing license reciprocity: Ohio River main stem, bank and boat rules, tributary limits, stamps, and when Kentucky licensing is required.
Updated August 19, 2026
Kentucky Nonresident 7-Day Fishing License 2026: Fees & Trout
Kentucky nonresident 7-day fishing license 2026: $37 weekly fee, $15.86 1-day, $58.14 annual, $10.57 trout permit, and license year.
Updated August 18, 2026
Kentucky Fishing License 2026-27: March-Feb Trout Permit
Kentucky fishing licenses run March 1 through February. See trout permit rules, youth exemptions, senior nuances, and 1-day, 7-day, and 3-year options.
Updated August 18, 2026FAQs
When does the Kentucky fishing license year run?
Kentucky uses March 1 through the last day of February, so a 2026-27 purchase should be matched to that state license year.
When is the Kentucky Trout Permit required?
It is required to keep trout, and certain Cumberland River and Hatchery Creek waters require it from every licensed angler fishing there.
Do Kentucky anglers 15 and younger need the Trout Permit?
No. Anglers 15 and younger do not need the fishing license or the Trout Permit, but seasons, limits, and method rules still apply.