A license is required for fishing in all Illinois waters, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams. Licenses are not required for anglers who are under the age of 16, blind or disabled anglers, or residents on active military service.
How do I get a free fishing license in Illinois?
The following groups can fish license-free:
- Illinois residents who have a disability.
- Persons on active duty in the Armed Forces.
- Illinois residents who are taking a child under the age of 16 fishing.
- Illinois residents who are owners or tenants of a property where waters flow on or over it can fish license-free.
How much does an Illinois fishing license cost?
Fishing Licenses
| Name |
Fee |
Available Online |
| Resident Fishing License |
$15.00 |
Online |
| Resident Initial Commercial Fishing License |
$60.50 |
Online |
| Resident Lifetime Fishing License |
$435.00 |
Online |
| Resident Lifetime Sportsmen’s Combination Hunting/Fishing License |
$765.00 |
Online |
What do you need to get a fishing license in Illinois?
Illinois Resident first-time purchasers need to bring
- proof of residency.
- Illinois Driver’s License or ID.
- Social Security Card, and Date of Birth.
- For Illinois Resident renewals, your previous IDNR license is adequate.
- Children under the age of 16 yrs old do not need a fishing license.
Can you fish in Illinois without a license? – Related Questions
How many rods can you fish with in Illinois?
Ice fishing is allowed; however, no more than three poles with two hooks for each line. Harvesting bullfrogs are permitted but not using a hook and line or bow and arrow.
How many fishing rods are required in Illinois?
The freshwater rod & reel limit for every state in America:
| State |
Lines Allowed |
Special Notes |
| Illinois |
2 |
3 while ice fishing |
| Indiana |
Unlimited |
|
| Iowa |
2 |
3 while ice fishing |
| Kansas |
2 |
|
Does a 13 year old need a fishing license in Illinois?
Anyone under the age of 16 in Illinois does not need a license to fish. Note: The adult accompanying a child fishing does not need a fishing license if he/she does not participate in fishing at all.
How much is a lifetime fishing license in Illinois?
How much is a fishing license for a 65 year old in Illinois?
Does Walmart sell Illinois fishing license?
Yes, you can buy a perfectly legal fishing license from any US-based Walmart by speaking to the staff in the Sports & Outdoors section. Expect to pay between $11 and $40, depending on the state, your age, and how long the license will be valid for.
How many trout can you keep in Illinois?
For the 2022 fall trout season, no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 15. During the season, the daily catch limit is five trout. For more information, visit www.ifishillinois.org.
Do you need a license to sell bait in Illinois?
Resident Retail Minnow Dealer License is required for retail sale of minnows and frogs for bait. Resident Wholesale Minnow Dealer License allows the wholesale of minnows and frogs. These are annual permits with fee expiring on 1/31 of every year. Call DNR at 217-785-3423 or 217-782-2965 for applications.
Can you sell fish you catch in Illinois?
Any non-resident commercial fisherman who sells or ships aquatic life to other wholesalers, retailers, or consumers must possess a non-resident aquatic life dealer’s license. A separate license is required for each location and for each vehicle from which aquatic life is sold.
Is night fishing legal in Illinois?
Fishing hours are the same as regular forest preserve hours: one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset. Night fishing is only allowed at Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve and you must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m. 3. Fishing is not allowed in designated Illinois nature preserves.
How many bluegill can you keep in Illinois?
There is limit of 25 fish-per day on all bluegills and redears. For more information, call (217) 854-8020.
Is catfishing illegal in Illinois?
Creating fake social media profiles or identities on the Internet is called “catfishing,” and it is illegal. Catfishers have not only been charged with fraud, but actually brought to the Illinois Supreme Court. “Pyramid schemes” are business ventures that profit simply from promoting that venture.
Is noodling legal in Illinois?
Currently, the states that have legalized noodling are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Is it illegal to fish off a bridge in Illinois?
No person may fish from the drawspan of a regularly attended bridge, and no county may permit any person to do so.
How big do crappie have to be to keep in Illinois?
Minimum length limits, usually 9- or 10-inch size limits, coupled with reduced creel limits, have been widely applied to improve crappie harvest and fishing quality nationwide.