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:
- A state or county freshwater fishing license.
- 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).
- Fishing in most waters within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests? Need a National Forest Stamp (refer to National Forest Stamp exceptions).
- 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:
- A nonresident annual, daily, or 5-day freshwater fishing license.
- 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.
- Fishing in most waters within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests? Need a National Forest Stamp (refer to National Forest Stamp exceptions).
- 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.