Illinois vs Indiana fishing license
For a visitor fishing fresh water for 3 days, Illinois is $19.50 cheaper than Indiana. For a visitor's annual fresh-water license, Illinois is $28.50 cheaper than Indiana. You need a license from age 16 in Illinois and from 18 in Indiana.
- 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 | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ||
| 1 day | $10.50 | $15 |
| 3 days | $15.50 | $35 |
| 7 days | $31.50 | $35 |
| 1 year | $31.50 | $60 |
| Residents, annual | ||
| Fresh water | $15 | $23 |
| Prices for | 2026-27 | 2026-27 |
Rules side by side
| Illinois | Indiana | |
|---|---|---|
| License needed from age | 16 | 18 |
| Senior residents | Resident sport fishing license (75+): $1.50 (ages 75+) | Resident senior annual fishing license: $3 (ages 64+) Resident senior fish-for-life license: $23 (ages 64+) |
| Senior visitors | Normal visitor prices | Normal visitor prices |
| Required stamps | None | None |
| Next free fishing day | Not yet announced | Not yet announced |
| On a charter | Yes: everyone who fishes needs their own license | It depends on the boat and where you fish |
| License on your phone | – | Accepted |
| Annual licenses last | To March 31 | To 03-31 |
| Last checked | Nov 4, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 |
Full details and sources: Illinois fishing license · Indiana fishing license
Shared waters
Wabash River (Indiana) (Illinois rules)
Illinois and Indiana officers accept a valid sport fishing license from either state on the Wabash River where it forms the border. If you're licensed in only one state, don't fish beyond the other state's natural river banks or from its land, and don't fish its tributaries, bayous or backwaters. Secondary source: Indiana fishing regulations (eRegulations)
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 | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass |
Black bass |
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) |
| Smallmouth bass |
Black bass |
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) |
| Trout |
Trout and salmon |
Trout (inland streams and lakes) Lake Michigan trout and salmon |
| Walleye |
Walleye, sauger and saugeye |
Walleye, sauger and saugeye |
| Crappie |
No statewide limit; bag No statewide limit |
No size limit (9 in at Dogwood and Hardy lakes); bag 25 (Statewide; 1 more) |
| Catfish |
Channel catfish |
Channel, blue and flathead catfish Bullhead |
| Northern pike |
24" minimum (none on the Mississippi River); bag 3 |
24 in; no more than 1 of 30 in or over; bag 3 |
| Muskellunge (muskie) |
Muskellunge and tiger muskie |
Muskellunge and tiger muskie |
| Salmon |
Trout and salmon |
Lake Michigan trout and salmon |
Questions
Is a Illinois fishing license valid in Indiana?
No. Each state needs its own license, except on shared waters covered by a border agreement: Wabash River (Indiana).
Which is cheaper for visitors, Illinois or Indiana?
1 day (fresh water): Illinois $10.50, Indiana $15. 1 year (fresh water): Illinois $31.50, Indiana $60.
At what age do you need a fishing license in Illinois and Indiana?
You need a license from age 16 in Illinois and from 18 in Indiana.