Virginia Department of Wildlife ResourcesAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know

License Requirements

See Fishing License 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 (refer to National Forest Stamp exceptions).
  4. Fishing in wild trout or most special regulation waters? Some require a signed landowner permit card which can be obtained from certain DWR offices, streamside landowners (see individual stream descriptions), and online.

Nonresidents 16 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: Nonresident children under 16 not required to have freshwater fishing or trout license.
  3. Fishing in most waters within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests? Need a National Forest Stamp (refer to National Forest Stamp exceptions).
  4. Fishing in wild trout or most special regulation waters? Some require a signed landowner permit card which can be obtained from certain DWR offices, streamside land- owners (see individual stream descriptions), and online.