Utah fishing license

Who needs a license, what it costs in 2026 and where to buy it, summarized from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook. Buy licenses only from DWR.

An angler casting from a rocky shore at a wide reservoir with sagebrush hills

Who needs a license

  • Anglers 12 and older must buy a Utah fishing license or a combination license before fishing in Utah. (guidebook p. 8)
  • Kids under 12 can fish without a license, and they may still use two poles, run a setline and keep a full daily limit. (guidebook p. 8)
  • You must carry your license while fishing, and a license cannot be changed or handed over to someone else. (guidebook p. 8)

2026 prices

Prices as printed in the 2026 guidebook. DWR adds a card processing fee.

  • A 365-day fishing license for ages 12 to 13 costs $5 for residents and $18 for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 365-day fishing license for ages 14 to 17 costs $16 for residents and $44 for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 365-day fishing license for ages 18 to 64 costs $40 for residents and $120 for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 365-day fishing license for ages 65 and up costs $31 for residents and $120 for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 3-day fishing license costs $19 for residents and $44 for nonresidents at any age. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 7-day fishing license costs $30 for residents and $91 for nonresidents at any age. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A multi-year fishing license (up to five years) for ages 18 to 64 costs $39 per year for residents and $119 per year for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A 365-day combination license costs $20 resident and $58 nonresident for ages 14 to 17, $44 resident and $190 nonresident for ages 18 to 64, and $35 resident and $190 nonresident for ages 65 and up. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A multi-year combination license (up to five years) for ages 18 to 64 costs $43 per year for residents and $189 per year for nonresidents. (guidebook p. 6)
  • Discounted 365-day licenses for qualifying disabled veterans cost $12 for fishing and $28.50 for a combination license, resident only. (guidebook p. 6)
  • A resident setline permit costs $22 and a nonresident setline permit costs $48, and a valid fishing license is also required. (guidebook p. 6)
  • The DWR adds a 2.2% processing fee to every credit or debit card purchase, online or in person. (guidebook p. 6)
  • The full list of Utah license and permit fees is posted at wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees. (guidebook p. 6)

Where to buy

  • Fishing and combination licenses are sold online at wildlife.utah.gov, through license agents and at DWR offices, and you can also buy one by phone from a local DWR office. (guidebook p. 8)
  • To get the $12 disabled veteran fishing license you must be a Utah resident with a service-connected disability of at least 20 percent; it is valid for 365 days from purchase. (guidebook p. 9)

Free Fishing Day

  • Utah's 2026 Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 6, 2026, when anyone can fish without a license, though every other fishing rule still applies. (guidebook p. 8)

Border waters

  • At Bear Lake, a valid Utah or Idaho fishing or combination license lets you fish both states' portions of the lake, but you may take only one daily limit per day. (guidebook p. 8)
  • At Lake Powell, a valid Utah or Arizona fishing or combination license covers both states' portions of the lake, following the rules of whichever state you are in. (guidebook p. 8)
  • Utah and Wyoming residents fishing across the state line at Flaming Gorge need a resident license from their home state plus a reciprocal permit from the other state; anglers who live in neither state need nonresident licenses from both states to fish the whole reservoir. (guidebook p. 9)
  • Wyoming residents can buy a 365-day Flaming Gorge reciprocal permit from Utah for $59. (guidebook p. 6)

Questions

Do I need a fishing license in Utah?

Yes, if you are 12 or older. Anglers 12 and older must buy a Utah fishing license or a combination license before fishing in Utah. Kids under 12 can fish without a license, and they may still use two poles, run a setline and keep a full daily limit.

Source: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 8.

How much is a Utah fishing license?

A 365-day fishing license for ages 18 to 64 costs $40 for residents and $120 for nonresidents. A 3-day fishing license costs $19 for residents and $44 for nonresidents at any age. A 7-day fishing license costs $30 for residents and $91 for nonresidents at any age. The DWR adds a 2.2% processing fee to every credit or debit card purchase, online or in person.

Source: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 6.

When is Free Fishing Day in Utah?

Utah's 2026 Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 6, 2026, when anyone can fish without a license, though every other fishing rule still applies.

Source: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 8.

Can I fish Lake Powell or Bear Lake with an out-of-state license?

Yes, with a license from a neighboring state that shares the lake. At Lake Powell, a valid Utah or Arizona fishing or combination license covers both states' portions of the lake, following the rules of whichever state you are in. At Bear Lake, a valid Utah or Idaho fishing or combination license lets you fish both states' portions of the lake, but you may take only one daily limit per day.

Source: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 8.

More Utah fishing questions

Rules summarized in our own words from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, with page numbers. DWR can change rules during the year: check wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks for updates. Buy licenses at wildlife.utah.gov/licenses.