For the 2026 Illinois license year, the Electronic Inland Trout Stamp costs $6.50 for most licensed anglers. Illinois residents age 75 and older can buy the Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp for $0.50. The stamp is generally required when taking or attempting to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan. Anglers who are exempt from the fishing-license requirement, including anglers under 16 and qualifying blind or disabled anglers, do not need the inland trout stamp.
Last updated: August 11, 2026. Fees, exemptions, and 2026 trout-season information were checked against Illinois DNR and iFishIllinois.
Quick Answer
- The 2026 Illinois inland trout stamp costs $6.50 for most licensed resident and nonresident anglers.
- Illinois residents age 75 and older can buy the Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp for $0.50.
- Most anglers who are required to hold a fishing license also need the inland trout stamp when taking or attempting to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan.
- Anglers under 16 and qualifying blind or disabled anglers who are exempt from the fishing-license requirement do not need the inland trout stamp. An Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces may also qualify for an exemption.
- The inland trout stamp does not cover Lake Michigan. A Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp applies when harvesting trout or salmon in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan.
- Illinois inland trout stamps expire on March 31. Confirm the correct license year when buying around the March license-year transition.
2026 Illinois Trout Stamp Cost at a Glance
| Angler or Situation | Inland Trout Stamp | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Most licensed resident anglers | $6.50 | Required when taking or attempting to take trout in waters other than Lake Michigan |
| Most licensed nonresident anglers | $6.50 | Same inland trout-stamp price as standard resident anglers |
| Illinois resident age 75+ | $0.50 | Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp |
| Angler under 16 | Not required | Under-16 anglers are exempt from the fishing-license requirement and inland trout stamp |
| Qualifying blind or disabled angler | Not required | If exempt from the fishing license, the angler is also exempt from the inland trout stamp |
| Illinois resident on qualifying active-duty leave | Not required when the license exemption applies | Check IDNR eligibility requirements before fishing |
| Illinois waters of Lake Michigan | Inland stamp does not apply | Lake Michigan has a separate salmon-stamp requirement for harvesting trout or salmon |
| Illinois Free Fishing Days | Not required | In 2026, Free Fishing Days were June 19–22 |
What Is a Trout Stamp?
An Illinois inland trout stamp is an annual fishing privilege required for most licensed anglers who take or attempt to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan. The current electronic stamp costs $6.50 for most licensed anglers and $0.50 for Illinois residents age 75 and older.
The stamp is separate from the fishing license. If you are required to have a fishing license, you normally need both privileges before targeting trout in inland waters.
Illinois uses revenue from inland trout stamps to support the Catchable Trout Program. For the 2026 spring season, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported that it stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout, with another 80,000 planned for the fall program.
See the current Illinois Catchable Trout Program for season dates, stocked waters, and current program notices.
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Who Needs a Trout Stamp?
Most resident and nonresident anglers who must hold an Illinois fishing license also need an inland trout stamp before taking or attempting to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan.
The important distinction is the fishing-license exemption. Illinois law provides that an individual who is not required to obtain a fishing license is also not required to obtain an inland trout stamp.
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Age Requirements for Stamps
If you are 16 or older and do not qualify for another fishing-license exemption, you generally need a fishing license and an inland trout stamp to take or attempt to take trout in inland Illinois waters.
Illinois residents age 75 and older can buy the Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp for $0.50.
If you are under 16, Illinois does not require a fishing license, so you also do not need an inland trout stamp.
The inland trout stamp does not apply to Lake Michigan. Illinois uses a separate Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp for anglers subject to the stamp requirement when harvesting trout or salmon there.
Resident vs. Non-Resident
The standard Electronic Inland Trout Stamp costs $6.50 for both licensed residents and licensed nonresidents.
The age-75 super-senior trout-stamp price is an Illinois resident benefit. Residents age 75 and older can buy the Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp for $0.50.
The fishing license itself is priced separately. For current license and stamp prices, check the Illinois DNR fishing license and stamp fee page.
For more detail on senior license tiers, see this guide to Illinois senior fishing license costs.
Exemptions and Special Cases
These are the main exemptions and special situations to check before buying an inland trout stamp:
- Anglers under 16: No Illinois fishing license or inland trout stamp is required.
- Qualifying blind or disabled anglers: If you qualify for Illinois’ fishing-license exemption, you are also exempt from the inland trout stamp.
- Illinois residents on qualifying active-duty leave: IDNR lists an exemption for an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces.
- Private-property landowner exemption: Owners or qualifying resident tenants and specified family members who are exempt from a fishing license while fishing waters on their own land are also exempt from the inland trout stamp. This does not automatically exempt guests or anglers on club lakes, organizational lakes, or lake developments.
- Free Fishing Days: During Illinois Free Fishing Days, anglers may fish without a fishing license, salmon stamp, or inland trout stamp. The 2026 dates were June 19 through June 22.
Cost of the Trout Stamp
The 2026 Electronic Inland Trout Stamp costs $6.50. The Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp for Illinois residents age 75 and older costs $0.50.
The stamp is an additional privilege for anglers who are required to hold a fishing license. Current IDNR fees list a standard resident annual fishing license at $15.00 and a standard nonresident annual fishing license at $31.50. A Resident Super Senior Fishing License is listed at $1.50.
Lake Michigan uses a separate Electronic Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp, currently listed at $6.50 for the standard privilege and $0.50 for the Resident Super Senior Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp.
Use the official Illinois DNR fee table to confirm prices immediately before purchasing because license fees can change.
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How to Purchase a Trout Stamp
You can buy an Illinois inland trout stamp online or through an authorized Illinois DNR license vendor. The online system issues electronic fishing privileges, so there is no need to search specifically for a physical paper trout stamp.
Purchase Online Easily
The simplest route is to start from the Illinois DNR license-sales page and follow its Online License Sales link.
- Select the correct license year: This is especially important around the March license-year transition.
- Select the correct stamp: Most licensed anglers use the Electronic Inland Trout Stamp; qualifying Illinois residents age 75+ can select the super-senior version.
- Buy the required fishing license: The inland trout stamp does not replace a fishing license when a license is otherwise required.
- Payment: IDNR states that fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased online using a credit card.
Start at the Illinois DNR License Sales, Vendors and Information page.
Authorized Vendor Locations
If you prefer to purchase in person, use an authorized Illinois DNR license vendor. IDNR provides a vendor-list option from its fishing-license and license-sales pages.
Because participating locations can change, use the current IDNR vendor locator rather than assuming a particular bait shop, sporting-goods store, or chain retailer sells the privilege.
License Expiration Dates
Keep these timing rules in mind:
- Illinois inland trout stamps expire on March 31.
- The 2026 license year began March 1, 2026.
- When purchasing around March 1, verify which license year you are selecting.
- The inland trout stamp applies to Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan.
Before fishing, make sure both your fishing license and required stamp are current for the trip date.
Trout Fishing Regulations in Illinois
Illinois’ 2026 spring trout fishing season opened April 4, 2026. An early catch-and-release opportunity opened March 21 at select sites. Anglers participating in that early period still needed the applicable fishing license and inland trout stamp unless they qualified for an exemption.
The statewide daily harvest limit for the Catchable Trout Program is five trout per angler. Individual waters can also have closures, opening-time rules, gear restrictions, or other site-specific regulations.
For 2026, IDNR reported 59 spring trout locations. The agency also states that more than 80,000 rainbow trout are stocked for the spring program, with another 80,000 planned for the fall season, which begins in October.
Because fall dates, water temperatures, stocking schedules, and site availability can change, check the current Illinois Catchable Trout Program shortly before your trip.
| Regulation Type | 2026 Guidance | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Regular Season | Opened April 4, 2026 | Confirm the individual site’s opening time |
| Early Catch-and-Release | Opened March 21 at select sites | Not every stocked water participates |
| Daily Trout Harvest Limit | 5 trout per angler | Check for additional site-specific restrictions |
| Standard Inland Trout Stamp | $6.50 | Required only when the angler is not otherwise exempt |
| Fall Season | Begins in October | Check IDNR for current dates, stocking notices, and locations |
Exemptions and Special Circumstances
The easiest way to understand the inland trout-stamp exemption is to start with the fishing-license rule. Illinois law says that individuals who are not required to obtain a fishing license are not required to obtain an inland trout stamp.
- Under 16: Resident and nonresident anglers under 16 are exempt.
- Blind or disabled anglers: Qualifying anglers who are exempt from the fishing license are also exempt from the inland trout stamp.
- Active-duty leave: An Illinois resident on qualifying leave from active duty in the Armed Forces may fish under the applicable exemption.
- Qualifying landowners and tenants: The fishing-license exemption for waters on their own land can also remove the inland trout-stamp requirement, but the rule does not automatically cover guests, club lakes, organizational lakes, or lake developments.
- Illinois Free Fishing Days: The fishing license, inland trout stamp, and salmon stamp are waived during the designated statewide period. In 2026, the dates were June 19–22.
If your exemption depends on disability documentation, military status, residency, or land ownership, review the current Illinois DNR eligibility rules before relying on it.
Trout Fishing Locations
Illinois’ 2026 spring Catchable Trout Program listed 59 ponds, lakes, and streams. Rather than assuming that any well-known river is stocked with trout, use the current IDNR list because participating waters can change from year to year.
Verified 2026 examples include:
- Rock Creek at Kankakee River State Park
- Apple River at Apple River Canyon State Park
- Grove Lake in DuPage County
- Wolf Lake at William W. Powers State Recreation Area in Chicago
- Siloam Springs State Park Lake in Adams County
- Morgan Lake at Nichols Park in Jacksonville
- Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake in Johnson County
- Derby Lake at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta
Some waters also participate in early catch-and-release fishing, while others have spring or fall closed-season rules. Check the current stocked-trout list before choosing a destination.
Benefits of Having a Trout Stamp
The inland trout stamp is primarily a legal fishing privilege and a funding source for Illinois’ Catchable Trout Program.
For anglers who are required to buy it, the stamp:
- Allows the angler to meet the stamp requirement for taking or attempting to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan.
- Helps support Illinois’ Catchable Trout Program.
- Contributes to a program that stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout for the spring season and another 80,000 for fall.
- Provides a reduced $0.50 option for Illinois residents age 75 and older.
The stamp does not override seasons, harvest limits, closures, or site-specific fishing regulations.
Before You Go: Illinois Trout Stamp Checklist
Before leaving for an Illinois trout trip, confirm four things: your fishing-license status, whether you need the inland trout stamp, whether the water is part of the current trout program, and whether a season closure or site-specific rule applies.
- Inland waters: Most licensed anglers taking or attempting to take trout need the $6.50 inland trout stamp.
- Exempt anglers: If you are exempt from the fishing-license requirement, you generally do not need the inland trout stamp.
- Lake Michigan: Use the Lake Michigan rules and salmon-stamp requirements instead of the inland trout stamp.
- Catch-and-release season: The stamp requirement still applies to non-exempt participants.
- Current location: Verify that the water appears on the current trout-program list and check its individual rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Fish Without a Trout Stamp if I Have a Fishing License?
If you are required to hold an Illinois fishing license and you take or attempt to take trout in Illinois waters other than Lake Michigan, you generally also need an inland trout stamp. A fishing license does not replace the stamp.
Do I Need an Illinois Trout Stamp for Catch-and-Release?
Yes, when the trout-stamp requirement otherwise applies. For the 2026 early spring catch-and-release season, IDNR stated that participating anglers still needed a fishing license and inland trout stamp unless they qualified for an exemption.
Do Anglers Under 16 Need an Illinois Trout Stamp?
No. Resident and nonresident anglers under 16 are exempt from the Illinois fishing-license requirement and therefore do not need an inland trout stamp.
Do Qualifying Blind or Disabled Anglers Need an Illinois Trout Stamp?
No. A qualifying blind or disabled angler who is exempt from the Illinois fishing-license requirement is also exempt from the inland trout stamp.
Do I Need an Inland Trout Stamp on Lake Michigan?
No. The inland trout stamp applies to waters other than Lake Michigan. Illinois has a separate Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp requirement for licensed anglers harvesting trout or salmon in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan.
How Long Is the Trout Stamp Valid Once Purchased?
Illinois inland trout stamps expire on March 31. When buying around the March license-year transition, confirm that the privilege is for the license year you intend to use.
Can I Fish for Trout Without a Stamp During Illinois Free Fishing Days?
Yes. During the designated Illinois Free Fishing Days, anglers may fish without a fishing license, inland trout stamp, or salmon stamp. In 2026, those days were June 19 through June 22. The dates are set by the state, so check IDNR for the current year’s schedule.
Bottom Line
For most licensed anglers, the 2026 Illinois inland trout stamp costs $6.50. Illinois residents age 75 and older pay $0.50. Anglers who are exempt from the fishing-license requirement, including anglers under 16 and qualifying blind or disabled anglers, do not need the inland trout stamp.
Before fishing, confirm the correct license and stamp, check the current trout-season dates and stocked-water list, and review any site-specific restrictions through iFishIllinois or the Illinois DNR license-fee page.
