Indiana’s Trout/Salmon Stamp is an $11 fishing privilege for anglers who fish for or take trout or salmon from the state’s public waters. The price is the same for residents and nonresidents, but your total cost depends on your fishing license because several one-day and senior licenses already include the privilege.
Quick Answer
Indiana’s Trout/Salmon Stamp costs $11 for both residents and nonresidents during the 2026–27 license year. Most adults need it in addition to a fishing license when fishing for or taking trout or salmon from public waters. One-day fishing licenses and qualifying senior licenses already include the privilege.
Key Takeaways
- The standalone Indiana Trout/Salmon Stamp costs $11 for residents and nonresidents.
- A regular annual or seven-day fishing license does not include the stamp.
- Resident and nonresident one-day fishing licenses include trout and salmon privileges.
- People under 18 and several other groups are exempt from both the fishing license and stamp.
- Carry your license and stamp on paper or as a saved electronic copy whenever you fish.
At a Glance
| Time Required | Available immediately online or in person; allow about two weeks for mail orders |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| What You Need | Personal information, an eligible fishing license, payment, and a phone or printed copy for proof |
| Cost | $11 when purchased separately, plus the fishing license and applicable transaction fees |
What the Trout/Salmon Stamp Covers
The Trout/Salmon Stamp is an electronically generated privilege connected to your Indiana fishing record. Unless an exemption applies or your license already includes the privilege, you need both a valid fishing license and the stamp to legally fish for or take trout or salmon from Indiana public waters.
The requirement applies to inland trout waters, Lake Michigan, and Indiana tributaries where anglers pursue species such as rainbow trout, brown trout, steelhead, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. The current Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide explains the separate seasons, size limits, bag limits, and water-specific rules.
The $11 stamp is a species privilege. It does not replace your fishing license, and a regular annual fishing license does not automatically include it.
Carry proof while fishing. An ink-signed paper copy is accepted, and Indiana DNR also accepts an electronic copy saved on a smartphone or other smart device. Saving the document to your phone is safer than depending on mobile service at the water.
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Current Cost of the Trout/Salmon Stamp
The standalone Trout/Salmon Stamp costs $11 for residents and $11 for nonresidents. The 2026–27 annual license year runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
The table below shows the base prices before technology and card-processing fees. Current prices are published on the Indiana DNR License Fees page.
| License option | Resident base cost | Nonresident base cost | Trout/Salmon included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fishing | $23 license + $11 stamp = $34 | $60 license + $11 stamp = $71 | No |
| One-day fishing | $10 total | $15 total | Yes |
| Seven-day fishing | Not offered | $35 license + $11 stamp = $46 | No |
| Resident Annual Senior Fishing | $3 total for eligible residents | Not offered | Yes |
| Resident Senior Fish-for-Life | $23 lifetime license for eligible residents | Not offered | Yes |
| Standalone Trout/Salmon Stamp | $11 | $11 | This is the privilege |
Note: The $15 nonresident price sometimes confused with the stamp is the price of a one-day fishing license that already includes trout and salmon privileges. The standalone nonresident stamp remains $11.
Who Needs a Trout/Salmon Stamp in Indiana
Most resident and nonresident anglers age 18 or older need the Trout/Salmon Stamp when they fish for or take trout or salmon from public waters. They also need an appropriate fishing license unless a separate fishing-license exemption applies.
Common situations requiring a separately purchased $11 stamp include:
- A resident using a $23 annual fishing license.
- A nonresident using a $60 annual fishing license.
- A nonresident using a $35 seven-day fishing license.
- A holder of a basic lifetime fishing license issued before Indiana ended lifetime-license sales, unless the license is a comprehensive type that includes stamp privileges.
- A disabled American veteran using the discounted DAV fishing license and pursuing trout or salmon.
You do not need to add a separate stamp to an Indiana one-day fishing license, Annual Senior Fishing license, Senior Fish-for-Life license, or qualifying comprehensive lifetime fishing license because those options include the privilege.
Warning: Buying the stamp does not override seasons, closures, hook restrictions, size limits, or bag limits. Check the current regulations for the exact water you plan to fish.
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How to Purchase the Stamp Online and In-Person
You can buy the stamp online, through the GoOutdoorsIN mobile app, at an authorized license retailer, at many DNR properties, or by mail. The privilege is linked to your Indiana outdoor-license account rather than issued as a traditional adhesive stamp.
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1.5" x 1.5" Stamp Block
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Online Purchase Steps
- Open the official Go Outdoors Indiana licensing system.
- Sign in or create an account using the requested identification and contact information.
- Select the fishing license that fits your trip.
- Add the Trout/Salmon Stamp if the selected license does not already include it.
- Review the $3 technology fee per license and any credit-card processing fee shown at checkout.
- Complete payment and save the license to your phone or print a copy.
- Sign any printed copy and carry proof while fishing.
Pro Tip: Save the license file or a clear screenshot directly to your phone before leaving home. A saved copy remains available when the fishing area has weak or no cellular service.
Retailer In-Person Locations
Indiana has more than 500 authorized license locations. These include bait and tackle shops, sporting-goods stores, and other participating businesses. Use the official Indiana hunting and fishing retailer directory to find a current location.
Bring the identification and personal information needed to find or create your customer record. Accepted payment methods can vary by retailer, so contact the location if you need to use a particular form of payment.
Payment Methods Accepted
| Purchase channel | Current additional charges | Payment notes |
|---|---|---|
| Website or app | $3 technology fee per license plus card processing | Credit or debit card through the licensing system |
| Authorized retailer | $1 technology fee per license | Accepted payment types vary by location |
| DNR property | $1 technology fee per license | Availability and payment options may vary |
| $1 technology fee per license | Check, money order, or supplied card information; allow about two weeks |
Duplicate licenses can be obtained online. Indiana DNR allows a free online reprint for up to five days after purchase; a duplicated license purchased at a retailer costs $3. Licenses are nontransferable and generally nonrefundable.
Stamp Exemptions and Special Cases
Indiana provides several exemptions from both the fishing-license and Trout/Salmon Stamp requirements. An exemption does not remove other fishing rules, including seasons, bag limits, size limits, equipment restrictions, and property rules.
A fishing license and Trout/Salmon Stamp are not required for:
- Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943. They should carry identification showing age and Indiana residency.
- Residents and nonresidents under age 18.
- People who are legally blind.
- Residents of a state-owned mental rehabilitation facility.
- Residents of an Indiana-licensed health care facility who participate in a supervised fishing activity sponsored by that facility.
- Indiana residents with a developmental disability as defined by state law.
- People whose only participation is assisting certain exempt anglers with blindness, a qualifying disability, or facility-sponsored fishing.
- Indiana residents fishing on an officially designated Free Fishing Day.
- People fishing with permission in a private pond that does not allow fish to enter from or leave for public waters.
- Qualifying resident owners or lessees of Indiana farmland, along with spouses and children living with them, while fishing on the farmland they own or lease.
- Certain nonresident farmland owners when their home state grants Indiana residents an equivalent privilege.
Private-water status depends on whether fish can move between the pond and public waters. Fish that originated in public water remain subject to public-water regulations even after entering private water. Review the current Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide when the water connection is uncertain.
How Stamp Revenue Supports Conservation and Stocking
The Trout/Salmon Stamp is part of Indiana’s fishing-license system. Indiana DNR states that all revenue from hunting, fishing, and trapping license sales is used to manage fish and wildlife resources. License money is also frequently used as the state contribution needed to obtain federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration grants.
Those combined funding sources support work such as:
- Fish and wildlife research and population surveys.
- Habitat restoration and management.
- Maintenance of public fishing areas and access sites.
- Fish hatchery operations and stocking programs.
- Angler education, outreach, and enforcement support.
The state’s fish-stocking database includes rainbow trout, brown trout, steelhead, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. Fisheries biologists evaluate fish populations and water conditions when deciding where stocking is appropriate.
License purchases therefore support the broader system that manages Indiana fishing opportunities. However, Indiana DNR does not present each individual $11 stamp purchase as a separate receipt tied to a single stream, hatchery, or habitat project.
Combined License and Stamp Options for Residents and Nonresidents
Indiana does not offer one universal annual fishing package that includes the Trout/Salmon Stamp for every angler. Whether you buy the stamp separately depends on the exact license selected.
Resident Combined Options
A resident annual fishing license costs $23 and does not include the stamp. A resident planning to fish for trout or salmon for the full license year pays a base total of $34 before transaction charges.
Residents may avoid a separate stamp purchase with these qualifying options:
- One-day fishing license: $10 and includes trout/salmon privileges for that day.
- Annual Senior Fishing license: $3 for eligible Indiana residents and includes the privilege.
- Senior Fish-for-Life license: $23 for eligible residents and includes the privilege for the holder’s lifetime.
- Comprehensive lifetime fishing license: Older licenses of this type include stamp privileges, although Indiana stopped selling new lifetime licenses in 2005.
The standard $32 resident hunting-and-fishing combination license does not include the Trout/Salmon Stamp.
Nonresident Package Choices
Nonresidents have three main choices:
- One-day fishing: $15 total, including trout/salmon privileges.
- Seven-day fishing: $35 plus the $11 stamp, for a $46 base total when pursuing trout or salmon.
- Annual fishing: $60 plus the $11 stamp, for a $71 base total.
Nonresident anglers under 18 are exempt from both the fishing license and Trout/Salmon Stamp. Adults should choose between the one-day, seven-day, and annual options based on the number and length of planned trips.
Trout Stamp Inclusion
Before paying, check the selected license description for the words “includes Trout/Salmon.” Do not add a second stamp to a one-day or qualifying senior license that already includes the privilege.
- Included: Resident one-day, nonresident one-day, Annual Senior Fishing, Senior Fish-for-Life, and qualifying comprehensive lifetime licenses.
- Separate $11 stamp required: Resident annual fishing, nonresident annual fishing, nonresident seven-day fishing, the standard resident hunting-and-fishing combination license, basic lifetime fishing licenses, and DAV fishing licenses.
Military, Veterans, and Discounted Stamp Eligibility
Indiana residents engaged in full-time military service are exempt from the base fishing-license requirement while on approved military leave. They must carry their leave orders and an Indiana driver’s license or voter registration card showing residency.
The current fishing-guide summary describes this as a fishing-license exemption, not a waiver of the separately required Trout/Salmon Stamp. A qualifying service member who fishes for or takes trout or salmon should therefore carry the $11 stamp.
Nonresident active-duty service members stationed in Indiana may purchase resident licenses at resident prices. They are not automatically exempt from all fishing-license and stamp requirements.
Indiana residents with a documented service-connected disability may qualify for:
- An annual DAV hunting-and-fishing license for $2.75.
- A 10-year DAV hunting-and-fishing license for $27.50.
These discounted DAV licenses cover general fishing and small-game hunting but do not include any stamps. A DAV license holder who fishes for trout or salmon must add the Trout/Salmon Stamp at the regular $11 price for the applicable license year.
Eligibility and application instructions are available from the Indiana DNR disabled-veteran license page.
Common Questions About Using the Trout/Salmon Stamp
Use this checklist before heading to the water:
- Confirm whether your fishing license already includes trout/salmon privileges.
- Add the $11 stamp if your license does not include it.
- Save an electronic copy to your device or print and sign a paper copy.
- Check the current rules for the specific lake, stream, river, or tributary.
- Verify the open season, daily bag limit, minimum size, and any hook restrictions.
- Keep proof available for an Indiana Conservation Officer or other authorized officer.
For inland trout, Indiana generally uses a combined daily limit of five brook, rainbow, or brown trout, with no more than one brown trout. Special waters have different minimum-size rules, and selected streams have seasonal closures or catch-and-release periods. Lake Michigan and its tributaries follow a separate trout-and-salmon regulation section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a Trout/Salmon Stamp as a gift for someone else?
Indiana licenses and stamp privileges are nontransferable and must be issued to the angler’s customer record. Instead of buying a transferable stamp, you can purchase a Go Outdoors Indiana gift certificate or use the system’s friends-and-family features to help the recipient obtain the correct license in their own name.
Is a separate Trout/Salmon Stamp required for ice fishing?
The requirement is based on the species, not the fishing method. Unless you are exempt or your license already includes the privilege, you need the Trout/Salmon Stamp when ice fishing for or taking trout or salmon from Indiana public waters.
Does the stamp expire at the same time as my fishing license?
A separately purchased annual stamp follows the annual license year, which runs from April 1 through March 31. A one-day license includes the privilege only for the licensed day. The resident Senior Fish-for-Life license includes trout and salmon privileges for the holder’s lifetime.
Are refunds available if I change my fishing plans?
Indiana DNR licenses and stamp privileges are generally nonrefundable and nontransferable after issuance. Review the license type, dates, and included privileges carefully before completing payment.
Can volunteers or river stewards receive free stamps?
Indiana’s current public license guidance does not list a general free Trout/Salmon Stamp program for volunteers or river stewards. A volunteer does not need the stamp only when another listed exemption applies.
Which Indiana fishing licenses include the Trout/Salmon Stamp?
The resident and nonresident one-day fishing licenses, resident Annual Senior Fishing license, resident Senior Fish-for-Life license, and qualifying comprehensive lifetime fishing licenses include trout and salmon privileges. Regular annual, seven-day, basic lifetime, combination, and DAV licenses do not.
Do I need the stamp to fish for salmon or steelhead in Lake Michigan?
Yes, unless you qualify for an exemption or your license already includes the privilege. Indiana’s Trout/Salmon Stamp applies when fishing for or taking trout and salmon from Lake Michigan and its Indiana tributaries.
Conclusion
Indiana’s standalone Trout/Salmon Stamp costs $11 for both residents and nonresidents. Add it to a regular annual or seven-day fishing license when you plan to fish for trout or salmon, but do not purchase it twice when using a one-day or qualifying senior license that already includes the privilege.
Before fishing, confirm your exemption status, save or print your proof, and review the current rules for the water you plan to visit. The stamp covers the required species privilege; it does not replace seasons, size limits, bag limits, or other fishing regulations.
Sources
- Indiana DNR License Fees — current resident and nonresident license prices, included privileges, transaction fees, and reprint rules.
- 2026–27 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide — current licensing, inland trout, and Lake Michigan regulations.
- Indiana DNR Licenses and Permits — purchase channels, mail instructions, proof, refunds, and transfer rules.
- Indiana DNR Customer Service FAQ — age exemptions and electronic-license guidance.
- Licenses for Disabled Hunters and Anglers — DAV eligibility, prices, and excluded stamp privileges.
- Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife Funding — verified uses of license-sale revenue and federal grant matching.
