Colorado vs Kansas fishing license
For a visitor fishing fresh water for 3 days, Kansas is $15.16 cheaper than Colorado. For a visitor's annual fresh-water license, Kansas is $61.77 cheaper than Colorado. You need a license from age 16 in Colorado and in Kansas.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
What visitors pay
Cheapest way for an adult non-resident to cover the trip, including required stamps, worked out from each state's price list. The cheaper state is marked.
| Trip | Colorado | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ||
| 1 day | $21.90 | $10 |
| 3 days | $40.16 | $25 |
| 7 days | $76.68 | $45 |
| 1 year | $136.77 | $75 |
| Residents, annual | ||
| Fresh water | $57.63 | $25 |
| Prices for | 2026-27 | 2026 |
Rules side by side
| Colorado | Kansas | |
|---|---|---|
| License needed from age | 16 | 16 |
| Senior residents | Resident senior annual fishing license (64+): $12.96 (ages 64+) | Free (fresh): Kansas residents aged 75 or over |
| Senior visitors | Normal visitor prices | Normal visitor prices |
| Required stamps | Annual Habitat Stamp: $12.76 | None |
| Next free fishing day | Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| On a charter | Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license | Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license |
| License on your phone | Accepted | – |
| Annual licenses last | To March 31 | 12 months from purchase |
| Last checked | Nov 4, 2026 | Nov 4, 2026 |
Full details and sources: Colorado fishing license · Kansas fishing license
Shared waters
Neither state lists a special agreement for waters shared with the other. Where you fish decides which license you need.
Limits for fish found in both states
Guide only. Statewide rules; many waters have their own. Check each state's official rules before you keep a fish.
| Fish | Colorado | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass |
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass |
Black bass |
| Smallmouth bass |
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass |
Black bass |
| Trout |
bag 4 in total (8 in possession) |
Rainbow and brown trout |
| Walleye |
Walleye, saugeye and sauger |
Walleye, sauger and saugeye |
| Crappie |
bag 20 in total |
bag 50 |
| Catfish |
Channel, blue and flathead catfish |
Channel catfish Blue catfish |
| Northern pike |
bag No limit |
30" minimum; bag 2 |
Questions
Is a Colorado fishing license valid in Kansas?
No. Each state needs its own license. There's no general agreement between the two states.
Which is cheaper for visitors, Colorado or Kansas?
1 day (fresh water): Colorado $21.90, Kansas $10. 1 year (fresh water): Colorado $136.77, Kansas $75.
At what age do you need a fishing license in Colorado and Kansas?
You need a license from age 16 in Colorado and in Kansas.