Idaho Youth Fishing License Cost: Quick Answer
Last updated: August 11, 2026
In Idaho, children under 14 generally do not need a fishing license, while anglers ages 14 and older need a valid license. The rules differ by residency: an Idaho resident under 14 has their own fishing limit, while a nonresident child under 14 who fishes without their own license must be accompanied by a valid Idaho license holder and has harvested fish counted in that license holder’s limit. Residents ages 14–17 pay $16.00 for a standard annual junior fishing license, or $13.75 if eligible for Price Lock. The nonresident junior fishing license is $23.75. An annual Access/Depredation Fee may also apply when the buyer purchases their first annual license of the year.
| Youth angler | General fishing license rule | Base license price | Catch-limit rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho resident, under 14 | No general fishing license required | $0 | Has their own fishing limit |
| Idaho resident, 14–17 | Junior fishing license required | $16.00 standard; $13.75 Price Lock | Own fishing limit |
| Nonresident, under 14 without own license | No license required when fishing under the youth exemption | $0 | Must be with a valid Idaho license holder; harvested fish count toward that license holder’s limit |
| Nonresident youth with own junior license | May purchase a junior license for an independent limit | $23.75 | Own fishing limit |
Idaho Fish and Game also charges an annual Access/Depredation Fee when applicable to the buyer’s first annual license of the year: currently $2 for a resident junior and $4 for a nonresident junior. Online and telephone purchases may have additional processing fees. Check the Idaho Fish and Game licensing page before purchasing because fees and regulations can change.
Who Needs a Fishing License in Idaho
Anyone 14 years of age or older generally needs a valid Idaho fishing license before fishing. Children under 14 are exempt from the general license requirement, but Idaho treats resident and nonresident children differently.
An Idaho resident under 14 may fish without a general fishing license and has a separate fishing limit. The child still has to follow the same applicable seasons, daily bag limits, possession limits, size restrictions, and water-specific rules.
A nonresident child under 14 may fish without buying a license when accompanied by someone who holds a valid Idaho fishing license. In that situation, harvested fish taken by the child are included in the license holder’s limit. A nonresident child may instead purchase their own junior fishing license to receive an independent fishing limit.
These rules cover the general fishing license. Salmon, steelhead, and two-pole fishing have additional permit rules explained below. Idaho Fish and Game summarizes the age and residency rules on its official licenses, tags, and permits page.
Age-Based License Rules for Kids and Teens
The easiest way to determine what a child needs is to check age first and residency second.
Idaho residents under 14 fish without a general license and have their own limit. Nonresident children under 14 can use the youth exemption when fishing with a valid Idaho license holder, but their harvested fish then count toward that person’s limit.
- Resident age 13 or younger: No general fishing license is required, and the child has their own fishing limit.
- Resident age 14–17: A resident junior fishing license is required.
- Nonresident age 13 or younger: The child can fish without their own license when accompanied by a valid Idaho license holder, with harvested fish counted in that person’s limit.
- Nonresident youth wanting an independent limit: A junior fishing license can be purchased for the child.
- Age 14–17 nonresident: A nonresident junior fishing license is required for general fishing.
Age-based exemptions do not remove the need to follow the regulations for the specific water and species being fished. Use the Idaho Fishing Planner to check rules for the lake, river, reservoir, or stream you plan to visit.
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Resident Youth Fishing Limits and Costs
For Idaho residents, the key cutoff is age 14. A resident child under 14 does not need a general fishing license and receives their own fishing limit. Their catch is not automatically combined with a parent’s limit simply because the child is under 14.
Resident anglers ages 14–17 need a junior fishing license. Idaho Fish and Game currently lists the standard annual resident junior fishing license at $16.00. Eligible Price Lock customers may pay $13.75. The annual Access/Depredation Fee for a resident junior is currently $2.00 when that fee is due for the buyer’s first annual license purchase of the year.
Current resident prices can be checked directly on the Idaho Fish and Game resident fee page.
A license or youth exemption does not create a statewide universal bag limit. Limits vary by species and can also change by water. Check the current fishing rules before keeping fish, especially where special seasons, size restrictions, or reduced limits apply.
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Nonresident Youth Options and Pricing
A nonresident child under 14 has two practical licensing choices in Idaho.
- Use the youth exemption: The child does not buy a general fishing license, fishes with a person holding a valid Idaho fishing license, and harvested fish are included in that license holder’s limit.
- Buy a junior fishing license: A nonresident youth can purchase their own junior fishing license to have an independent fishing limit.
The current base price for a nonresident junior fishing license is $23.75. Idaho Fish and Game also lists a $4.00 annual Access/Depredation Fee for nonresident junior buyers when that annual fee is due. Online or telephone processing fees can be additional.
Families should therefore avoid treating $23.75 as the price for every Idaho youth angler. It is the current nonresident junior license price, not the standard resident junior price.
Check the official nonresident fee schedule before purchase for the current rate.
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How to Buy a Youth Fishing License
If the child needs or chooses to purchase a junior fishing license, Idaho Fish and Game provides several purchase methods.
- Online: Use Idaho Fish and Game’s official Go Outdoors Idaho licensing system.
- Mobile: Licenses can be purchased and stored through the Go Outdoors Idaho mobile system.
- In person: Buy from an authorized Idaho license vendor or an Idaho Fish and Game regional office.
- By phone: Call 1-800-554-8685.
Idaho Fish and Game notes that processing fees apply to online and telephone purchases. You can review all methods on its official license purchase-options page.
The official online system is available at Go Outdoors Idaho. A fishing license may be carried in an accepted printed or electronic form, so make sure the required license and permits are accessible while fishing.
Before paying, confirm the child’s residency classification, age, whether an Access/Depredation Fee is due, and whether the planned fishing requires a salmon, steelhead, or two-pole permit.
Special Permits and When Kids Need Them
A general youth license or under-14 exemption does not answer every permit question. Idaho has additional rules for salmon, steelhead, and fishing with two poles.
For salmon and steelhead, youth under 14 can have different options depending on whether they fish under another angler’s permit and limit or obtain the products needed for their own limit. For two-pole fishing, Idaho requires the appropriate two-pole permit even for young anglers who would otherwise be exempt from a general fishing license.
When Extra Permits Apply
Two-pole fishing: An angler who wants to fish with two poles where two-pole fishing is allowed needs a two-pole permit. The youth exemption from a general license does not by itself waive this permit requirement.
Salmon and steelhead: Anglers holding junior fishing licenses who fish for salmon or steelhead need the applicable salmon or steelhead permit. A resident child under 14 can fish under a supervising permit holder’s limit without purchasing their own permit; if the resident child obtains their own permit, they can have their own applicable limit. Nonresident children using the under-14 exemption have harvested salmon or steelhead counted under the accompanying permit holder’s limit; a nonresident child seeking an independent limit needs the appropriate nonresident license and permit.
- Confirm whether the target species is salmon or steelhead.
- Determine whether the child will fish under another permit holder’s limit or needs an independent limit.
- Buy a two-pole permit before using two rods where the method is allowed.
- Check water-specific regulations before fishing because possession of a permit does not override local gear, season, or harvest restrictions.
Two-Pole and Salmon
The original article used the nonresident permit prices for everyone. Idaho Fish and Game currently lists different resident and nonresident rates.
| Permit type | Resident standard | Resident Price Lock | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-pole permit | $15.00 | $13.75 | $17.00 |
| Salmon or steelhead permit | $15.25 | $12.75 | $28.25 |
| Youth note | Under-14 salmon/steelhead rules depend on whether the child fishes under another permit holder’s limit or obtains their own permit | Price Lock applies only to qualifying resident customers | Nonresident under-14 anglers seeking their own salmon/steelhead limit need the appropriate license and permit |
See Idaho Fish and Game’s official two-pole permit information and salmon or steelhead permit information for current prices and requirements.
Tips for Teaching Responsible Youth Anglers
Teaching a child to fish should include the rules that apply before a line goes into the water. Start by showing the child how age, residency, species, and fishing location affect the license or permit they need.
- Check the water before the trip: Look up the lake, stream, river, or reservoir in the Idaho Fishing Planner and review its current season, bag, size, and gear rules.
- Keep limits separate: Resident children under 14 have their own limit. For a nonresident child under 14 using the license exemption, remember that harvested fish count toward the accompanying Idaho license holder’s limit.
- Measure fish when required: Carry an appropriate measuring tool and release fish that do not meet applicable size or harvest rules.
- Handle released fish carefully: Minimize unnecessary handling and return fish promptly when regulations or your fishing plan call for release.
- Keep licenses and permits accessible: Before leaving home, make sure required licenses and permits are available in an accepted printed or electronic form.
These habits teach a young angler something more useful than simply memorizing a license price: how to check the exact rule that applies to the person, species, and water being fished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Children Fish From a Boat Without an Adult Present?
A fishing-license exemption should not be treated as permission for a child to operate or use a boat without considering separate boating-safety requirements. Idaho’s youth fishing-license rules determine whether the child needs a fishing license and how catch limits are handled; boating-operation, flotation-device, and supervision requirements are separate rules. Check the current boating rules for the type of boat and child’s age before the trip.
Are There Discounts for Siblings or Family Fishing Passes?
Idaho Fish and Game’s current fishing fee schedules list licenses by individual eligibility category rather than a general sibling or household fishing pass. The main youth savings come from the under-14 license exemption and reduced junior prices. For Idaho residents ages 14–17, the current standard junior fishing license is $16.00, with a lower Price Lock rate for eligible residents. Nonresident junior fishing licenses are currently $23.75. Applicable Access/Depredation and transaction fees are separate.
Do Youth Need Separate Trout Stamp or Tags?
Idaho does not list a general statewide trout stamp among the standard fishing permits discussed here. The important additional fishing permits for this article are the salmon or steelhead permit and the two-pole permit. Special rules can still apply to individual waters and species, so check the Idaho Fishing Planner before fishing.
What Equipment Sizes Are Recommended for Different Youth Ages?
Idaho’s fishing-license requirement is based on age and residency, not the size of a child’s rod. Choose equipment the child can cast, hold, and control comfortably. A simple light rod-and-reel setup is often easier for beginners, but there is no youth rod-length requirement created by the fishing-license rules.
Are There Seasonal Closures Affecting Youth Fishing Access?
Yes. A youth fishing-license exemption does not override a closed season or water-specific restriction. Idaho waters can have special seasons, reduced bag limits, size limits, or gear restrictions. Check the current Idaho Fishing Planner and fishing regulations for the exact water before each trip.
Conclusion
For most families, Idaho’s youth fishing-license rules come down to four points. Residents under 14 fish without a general license and have their own limit. Residents ages 14–17 need a junior license. Nonresident children under 14 can use the youth exemption when fishing with a valid Idaho license holder, but harvested fish then count toward that person’s limit. A nonresident youth can purchase a junior license for an independent limit.
Current base junior-license prices are $16.00 for a resident before any applicable resident junior Access/Depredation Fee and $23.75 for a nonresident before any applicable nonresident junior Access/Depredation Fee. Eligible resident Price Lock customers may receive lower resident pricing. Salmon, steelhead, and two-pole fishing can require additional permits.
Before paying or fishing, verify the current fee and the rules for your destination through Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Fishing Planner.
