Photo credit
Fly fishing Meadow Creek in the Scapegoat Wilderness, Montana. Photo: Brandan W. Schulze, US Forest Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky fishing license
You need one to fish in Kentucky. Buy it from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Where to buy it
Online from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Many fly shops and sporting goods stores sell them too.
Buy a license on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website (opens in a new tab)
Where this link comes from
The agency's license store, opened Nov 8, 2026.
Before you go
| License | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual fishing license | $24.31 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Non-resident annual fishing license | $58.14 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Non-resident 1-day license | $15.86 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
Free fishing days
- First consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June each year Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
Who needs one
- No license needed under 16 Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
Extra permits
- Trout Permit: needed for trout fishing Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
- Carry it while you fish, on paper or on your phone if the state allows.
- Fishing for trout? Some states also need a trout stamp or permit; the agency's page says.
- Read the special regulations for the water you pick: seasons, lures and limits can differ.
- Veteran or service member? Kentucky concessions, quoted from the agency.