Tennessee Non-Resident Fishing License: Cost & Rules
A Tennessee non-resident fishing license is required for most visitors age 16 or older who fish Tennessee public waters. The right license depends on how long you will fish, whether trout are part of the trip, whether you need Reelfoot Lake coverage, whether you are fishing during Free Fishing Day, and whether a special location requires another permit. This guide explains 2026 Tennessee nonresident fishing license costs, 3-day and 10-day options, all-species trout coverage, online purchase, print/reprint help, Free Fishing Day and the most common visitor mistakes.
Watch Before You Buy: TWRA On the Go Mobile App
This TWRA mobile app video is included for visitors who want to understand Tennessee’s digital license experience before buying. Use it as a quick app overview, then verify license costs, trout coverage and special-permit needs through TWRA and Go Outdoors Tennessee.
Video availability may change. Official TWRA and Go Outdoors Tennessee pages control final license products, costs and requirements.
Tennessee Non-Resident Fishing License Cost in 2026
TWRA’s current nonresident fishing license structure is built around trip length and trout coverage. The price difference between “No Trout” and “All Species” matters because all-species licenses include trout. Processing fees may apply at checkout.
Nonresident 3-Day Fishing – No Trout
Minimum visitor option for fishing Tennessee waters for three consecutive days when trout are not part of the trip.
Nonresident 3-Day All Species Including Trout
Short visitor license for three consecutive days when trout are included or possible.
Nonresident 10-Day Fishing – No Trout
Useful for a longer vacation when you will fish Tennessee waters but will not fish for trout.
Nonresident 10-Day All Species Including Trout
Go Outdoors Tennessee packages this as a 10 Day Avid Angler style option for fishing all species, including trout, for 10 consecutive days.
Nonresident Annual Fishing – No Trout
Annual visitor license for anglers who fish Tennessee more than once during the license year but do not need trout coverage.
Nonresident Annual Fishing – All Species Including Trout
Annual visitor license that includes trout coverage for nonresident anglers age 16 and over.
Which Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License Should You Buy?
The right nonresident license depends mainly on three things: how many days you will fish, whether trout is involved, and whether your water has a special permit requirement. Do not choose based only on the cheapest price.
3-Day No Trout
Choose this for a quick Tennessee fishing trip when you are sure trout are not part of the plan.
3-Day All Species
Choose this if your three-day trip includes trout streams, stocked trout waters or any chance of trout fishing.
10-Day No Trout
Good for a longer non-trout vacation, family visit, lake trip or river trip across Tennessee.
10-Day All Species
Best for Smoky Mountains, trout-focused vacations, coldwater streams or mixed trips where trout may happen.
Annual No Trout
Best if you return to Tennessee several times but only fish non-trout waters.
Annual All Species
Best if you fish Tennessee repeatedly and want trout coverage included for the year.
Tennessee Trout Rules for Nonresident Anglers
Trout is the main reason many visitors buy the wrong Tennessee license. TWRA separates no-trout and all-species nonresident licenses. “All Species” includes trout; “No Trout” does not. Specialty locations may still require additional permits.
No-Trout Licenses
Use these only when your trip does not include trout. They are lower-cost but narrower.
All-Species Licenses
Use these when trout are part of the plan, or when you want flexibility to fish trout waters legally.
Specialty Locations
Go Outdoors Tennessee package language notes that specialty locations requiring an additional permit may not be included.
Tennessee 3-Day and 10-Day Nonresident Fishing Licenses
Short-term licenses are best for visitors who know their exact trip dates. Both 3-day and 10-day licenses run for consecutive days from the selected start date, so choose your start date carefully during checkout.
| Trip Type | Best License to Compare | Cost | Trout Included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend lake trip without trout | 3-Day Fishing – No Trout | $20 | No |
| Weekend trout stream trip | 3-Day All Species | $40 | Yes |
| Longer vacation without trout | 10-Day Fishing – No Trout | $30 | No |
| Longer vacation with trout | 10-Day All Species | $61 | Yes |
| Multiple trips in a year without trout | Annual Fishing – No Trout | $49 | No |
| Multiple trips in a year with trout | Annual All Species | $98 | Yes |
Tennessee Annual Nonresident Fishing License: When It Makes Sense
The annual nonresident license is not only for people who stay in Tennessee all year. It can also make sense for visitors who fish Tennessee several times, have family in the state, own a cabin, travel for tournaments, or make multiple trout trips.
Annual Fishing – No Trout
This is the best annual visitor value if you fish Tennessee repeatedly but do not need trout coverage. Compare it when your short-term purchases start approaching $49.
Annual All Species Including Trout
This is the stronger annual visitor option if you fish trout waters, travel to coldwater streams, or want all-species flexibility for repeated Tennessee trips.
Reelfoot Lake and Special Tennessee Fishing Locations
Some Tennessee waters or packages can have special rules. Go Outdoors Tennessee shows visitor activity packages such as a 3 Day Reelfoot Angler Package, and package language notes that specialty locations requiring an additional permit may not be included in some general packages.
Reelfoot Lake
If your trip is specifically Reelfoot Lake, check the Reelfoot package and current TWRA rules before buying a general license.
Wildlife Management Areas
Some WMA or lake areas may have additional access, permit, boating, hunting-season or safety rules.
Local Trout Waters
Places such as Gatlinburg streams can have local or specialty trout license rules. Check the exact water before fishing.
How to Buy a Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License Online
Go Outdoors Tennessee is the official online system for buying Tennessee fishing and hunting licenses. Visitors can purchase licenses, manage accounts, update address information, and access unlimited free license reprints through the portal.
Start at the official Go Outdoors Tennessee portal
Use license.gooutdoorstennessee.com or the TWRA license page. Avoid unofficial checkout pages before entering personal or payment information.
Create or locate the correct customer account
New customers create a TWRA account. Existing customers can use account lookup details such as date of birth, last name and last four of SSN where applicable.
Select nonresident license packages
Make sure the portal shows you are viewing nonresident packages, not Tennessee resident packages.
Choose no-trout or all-species
This is the key decision. No-trout is cheaper, but all-species includes trout and is safer for trout trips.
Pick the correct start date
For 3-day and 10-day licenses, choose the first day you will actually fish because the license is for consecutive days.
Save the electronic copy
Go Outdoors Tennessee says the electronic license copy emailed after purchase is a true and legal copy of the license.
How to Print, Reprint or Show a Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License
Visitors should save proof before traveling to lakes, tailwaters, mountain streams or remote public access points. Go Outdoors Tennessee confirms the electronic license copy received by email is a true and legal copy, and another email can be sent by logging in and selecting “reprint my license.”
Email Copy
Save the license email immediately after purchase. It is valid proof according to Go Outdoors Tennessee.
Print Backup
Print a backup for river floats, mountain trips, family groups and places with weak phone signal.
Mobile Access
Use the Tennessee app or digital account tools for easy access, but keep backup proof when traveling.
Tennessee Free Fishing Day 2026 for Nonresidents
Tennessee’s Free Fishing Day is especially useful for visitors. TWRA family fishing information lists Free Fishing Day as June 6, 2026. On that day, everyone can fish for free in Tennessee public waters without a fishing license. Youth ages 15 and younger may fish free for the full week from June 6 through June 12, 2026.
Free Fishing Day
June 6, 2026 is Tennessee Free Fishing Day, when residents and visitors can fish public waters without a license.
Youth Free Fishing Week
Youth ages 15 and younger may fish free June 6–12, 2026.
Rules Still Apply
Free fishing does not remove creel limits, length limits, private-property permission or special water rules.
Who Needs a Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License?
Most nonresident anglers age 16 or older need the correct Tennessee fishing license unless Free Fishing Day or another official exemption applies. Children under 13 do not need a Tennessee fishing license, and Tennessee youth rules are different from adult visitor rules.
Most Visitors Age 16+
Nonresidents age 16 or older generally need a Tennessee fishing license for public waters.
Children Under 13
TWRA states children under 13 years old do not need a fishing license in Tennessee.
Youth Free Week
Youth ages 15 and younger may fish free during Tennessee’s Free Fishing Week in 2026.
Private Property
If you fish on private property, TWRA reminds anglers to obtain permission from the owner.
Tennessee Fishing Rules Visitors Should Check Before Keeping Fish
A license lets you fish legally, but it does not replace Tennessee’s creel limits, length limits, water-specific exceptions, endangered species rules, bait rules or private-property rules. TWRA’s statewide regulations page also notes that several waters have exceptions to statewide limits.
Before You Keep Fish
- Check the statewide creel and length limit for the species.
- Check whether the water has a local exception.
- Check trout rules separately if fishing trout waters.
- Check tailwater, reservoir, WMA or special-area rules.
- Do not sell fish or turtles without the correct commercial license.
Before You Travel
- Confirm your license start date and expiration date.
- Save electronic proof and a printed backup.
- Verify boat ramp, park, access or local parking rules.
- Get private landowner permission where needed.
- Check whether the destination requires an additional permit.
Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License Mistakes That Waste Money
Most Tennessee visitor mistakes happen at checkout. The license names look simple, but no-trout versus all-species, 3-day versus 10-day, annual versus short-term, and special-location permits can change the right answer.
Before Buying
- Do not buy a no-trout license if trout may be part of the trip.
- Do not buy a 3-day license if your trip needs 10 consecutive fishing days.
- Do not buy repeated short-term licenses without comparing annual pricing.
- Do not select Tennessee resident packages as a visitor.
- Do not choose the wrong start date for a 3-day or 10-day license.
- Do not assume specialty locations are included in every package.
Before Fishing
- Do not rely only on mobile signal for license proof.
- Do not keep fish without checking creel and length limits.
- Do not fish private property without permission.
- Do not assume Free Fishing Day removes regulations.
- Do not ignore local exceptions to statewide rules.
- Do not fish trout water with a no-trout license.
Official Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License Links
Use these official TWRA and Go Outdoors Tennessee pages for final decisions. This guide explains visitor costs and rules, but TWRA controls current fees, packages, permits, regulations, reprints and account access.
Tennessee Nonresident Fishing License FAQ
How much is a Tennessee nonresident fishing license in 2026?
TWRA lists nonresident fishing licenses at $20 for 3-day no trout, $40 for 3-day all species including trout, $30 for 10-day no trout, $61 for 10-day all species including trout, $49 for annual no trout and $98 for annual all species including trout. Processing fees may apply.
What is the cheapest Tennessee nonresident fishing license?
The cheapest standard nonresident visitor option listed is the 3-day fishing license with no trout at $20. It is only the right choice if your trip does not include trout.
Do nonresidents need a trout license in Tennessee?
Nonresidents who fish for trout need a license that includes trout, such as the 3-day all-species, 10-day all-species or annual all-species license. A “No Trout” license does not include trout coverage.
Is the Tennessee 10-day all-species license good for trout?
Yes. TWRA and Go Outdoors Tennessee list the 10-day all-species license as including trout for 10 consecutive days from the selected date.
Can I buy a Tennessee nonresident fishing license online?
Yes. Nonresidents can buy Tennessee fishing licenses online through Go Outdoors Tennessee, the official TWRA licensing portal.
Can I show my Tennessee fishing license on my phone?
Yes. Go Outdoors Tennessee says the electronic copy of the license received by email is a true and legal copy. Visitors should still save a backup in case of weak mobile service.
Can I reprint my Tennessee nonresident fishing license?
Yes. Go Outdoors Tennessee says users can log in and select “reprint my license” to have another email copy sent. The portal also promotes unlimited free license reprints.
What is Tennessee Free Fishing Day in 2026?
Tennessee Free Fishing Day is June 6, 2026. On that day, state residents and visitors of any age may fish Tennessee public waters without a license. Youth ages 15 and younger may fish free June 6–12, 2026.
Do children need a Tennessee nonresident fishing license?
Children under 13 do not need a Tennessee fishing license. Youth ages 15 and younger may also fish free during Tennessee’s Free Fishing Week in 2026.
Should I buy a 3-day, 10-day or annual Tennessee nonresident license?
Buy 3-day for a short weekend, 10-day for a longer vacation, and annual if you will fish Tennessee multiple times. If trout is possible, compare the all-species version instead of the no-trout version.
Does a Tennessee nonresident fishing license cover every water?
Not always. Specialty locations, Reelfoot Lake packages, WMA areas, local trout waters or other special areas may require additional permits or rules. Check the exact water before fishing.
Where should I verify Tennessee nonresident fishing license rules?
Verify through TWRA, Go Outdoors Tennessee, official TWRA fishing regulations, TWRA license fee pages and the Go Outdoors Tennessee account portal before buying, renewing, relying on an exemption or fishing a new water.
Final Take: Choose the Tennessee Nonresident License by Days and Trout
The easiest way to choose a Tennessee non-resident fishing license is to start with trip length, then decide whether trout is included. A short non-trout trip may only need the $20 3-day license. A longer non-trout vacation may fit the $30 10-day license. A trout weekend needs the $40 3-day all-species license, while a trout vacation needs the $61 10-day all-species license. Repeat visitors should compare the $49 annual no-trout and $98 annual all-species options.
Before you pay, check the start date, trout coverage, special-location requirements and final checkout fees. After purchase, save the electronic license email, print or screenshot backup proof, and check current TWRA fishing regulations for the exact water. A few minutes of careful checking prevents the most common Tennessee visitor license mistakes.
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