How To Obtain an Indiana Fishing License and Indiana Fishing License Exemptions

Fall is a great time to gather up the fishing pole and the nearest kid (or not) and head out to the river, a stream or pond to go fishing. But, before you cast, get you license. How does one go about getting a fishing license in Indiana? Easy!

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has an on-line licensing system where you can purchase your Indiana resident and non-resident fishing, hunting and trapping licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There is a 5 day grace period once you purchase a license to have it reprinted without a fee assessed. After that you will be charged a $3 fee to reprint a license.

Here are some quick links to find the area that you need. You can even purchase a licensing gift card. It's a perfect gift for Father's Day!

• License Fees
• License Reprint Service
• License Gift Certificate
• Apply for a License Here

License Exemptions

A fishing license and trout and salmon stamp are NOT required for:

• Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943. Such residents should carry their driver’s license or other identification to verify age and residency.
• Residents and non-residents under age 18.
• Residents who are legally blind.
• Residents of a state-owned mental rehabilitation facility.
• Residents of any licensed health care facility in Indiana taking part in a supervised fishing activity sponsored by the facility.
• Fishing in a private pond that does not have ingress or egress of fish from public waters. However, an angler must have permission from the property owner to fish.
• Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time military service while on approved military leave. However, the angler must carry leave orders and a valid Indiana driver’s license or voter registration card.
• Resident owners or lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, their spouses and children living with them, while hunting, fishing or trapping on the farmland they own or lease. This exemption does not apply to land owned by a business, corporation or partnership unless the shareholders, partners, members or owners are comprised solely of an immediate family and farm that land. Farmland means means agricultural land that is devoted or best adaptable to the production of crops, fruits, timber or raising livestock, or is assess as agricultural land for property tax purposes.
• Some non-resident landowners, while fishing in public waters from the farmland they own, according to the exemptions that their state provides to Indiana residents. See Fishing.IN.gov or call (317) 234-5191.