License Requirements

See Fishing License Information & Fees for details and costs.

Note: The trout license is only required from October 1 through June 15. From June 16 through September 30 anglers can fish in stocked trout waters without a trout license.

Fee Fishing Areas require a daily fishing permit in addition to an appropriate freshwater fishing license.

Residents 16 years of age and older

  1. A state or county freshwater fishing license.
  2. Fishing a Designated Stocked Trout Water? Need an additional trout license. (Note: a resident may not use a 5-day freshwater license in combination with a trout license).
  3. Fishing in most waters within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests? Need a National Forest Stamp.
  4. Fishing in wild trout or most special regulation waters? Some require a signed landowner permit card which can be obtained from certain DGIF offices, streamside landowners (see individual stream descriptions), and online.

Nonresidents 12 years of age and older

  1. A nonresident annual, daily, or 5-day freshwater fishing license.
  2. Fishing a Designated Stocked Water? Need an additional nonresident trout license. Note: Nonresidents of any age, including children under 12, must have a nonresident fishing license (annual, daily or 5 day) and an additional trout license to fish designated stocked trout waters.
  3. Fishing in most waters within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests? Need a National Forest Stamp.
  4. Fishing in wild trout or most special regulation waters? Some require a signed landowner permit card which can be obtained from certain DGIF offices, streamside landowners (see individual stream descriptions), and online.