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Do You Need a Fishing License in Kansas?
Yes. Anyone 16 through 74 must have a Kansas fishing license to fish public waters. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) issues all licenses.
Residents under 16 and 75 or older fish free. Lifetime Pass Plus, Hunting and Fishing Combination, and the Kansas Senior Lifetime Combination are also options.
A Trout Permit is required to fish for or possess trout in designated trout waters from November 1 through April 15.
How Much Does a Kansas Fishing License Cost in 2026?
Resident annual fishing license: $27.50. Resident multi-year (5-year): $102.50. Resident senior (65-74): $15. Non-resident annual: $52.50. Non-resident 1-day: $14.50. Non-resident 5-day: $27.50.
Trout Permit: $14.50 annual ($7.50 youth 16-20 and senior 65+). Combination hunt/fish: $47.50 resident. Lifetime resident: $502.50.
Disabled veterans, blind anglers, and Kansas residents on active military duty fish free with proper documentation.
Where to Buy a Kansas Fishing License
Online at ksoutdoors.com is the easiest option, delivering an instant digital license. The KDWP also has a free mobile app called Go Outdoors Kansas that stores licenses.
Statewide vendors include Bass Pro, Cabela's, Scheels, Walmart, Dillon's grocery stores, and over 350 independent bait shops and sporting goods stores.
KDWP regional offices in Pratt, Emporia, Wichita, Topeka, Hays, and Valley Falls all sell licenses during business hours.
Free Fishing Days in Kansas
Kansas Free Fishing Days in 2026 are Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7. No fishing license is required on those days, though Trout Permits are still needed for trout waters.
Both residents and non-residents can fish license-free during the event. Bag and size limits remain in effect.
KDWP, regional fishing clubs, and city park departments host free events at urban fishing lakes like Lake Shawnee (Topeka), Lake Olathe, and Wichita's Chisholm Creek Park.
Key Kansas Fishing Regulations You Need to Know
Largemouth and smallmouth bass have a 15-inch minimum statewide with a 5-fish daily limit. Many community lakes have 21-inch slot limits to grow trophy fish.
Walleye limit is 5 with an 18-inch minimum statewide. Sauger is 5 daily with no minimum size. Wiper (white bass x striped bass hybrid) limit is 2 over 21 inches.
Trout limit is 5 daily in designated trout waters during the November 1 to April 15 season. Channel catfish limit is 10 with no minimum statewide.
Best Fishing Spots in Kansas
Milford Reservoir near Junction City is Kansas's biggest lake and a hotspot for blue catfish and walleye. The state record blue cat (102 pounds, 8 ounces) came from Milford in 2018.
Wilson Reservoir produces the state's best smallmouth bass and white bass. Cheney Reservoir near Wichita is a top wiper destination.
The Mined Land Wildlife Area in southeast Kansas holds dozens of strip-mine pits stocked with bass, crappie, and bluegill. Lake Scott in western Kansas offers rare-for-Kansas spring-fed trout fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resident annual is $27.50, non-resident annual is $52.50. Resident seniors 65-74 pay $15. Non-resident short-term: $14.50 for 1 day or $27.50 for 5 days.
Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7, 2026. Both residents and non-residents can fish without a license. A Trout Permit is still required for designated trout waters.
Yes. To fish for or possess trout in any KDWP-designated trout water, you need a $14.50 Trout Permit in addition to your fishing license. The trout season runs November 1 through April 15.
Kansas residents 75 and older fish free. Residents 65 through 74 pay a reduced $15 annual rate. Non-residents pay full price regardless of age.
Online at ksoutdoors.com or through the Go Outdoors Kansas app, at Bass Pro, Cabela's, Scheels, Walmart, Dillon's, and 350+ local vendors. KDWP offices also sell licenses.
Five largemouth or smallmouth bass combined daily with a 15-inch minimum statewide. Community lakes often have 21-inch slot limits, so check KDWP local rules before keeping fish.