Everything you need to know about Colorado’s 2024-2025 fishing licenses

Heather Willard
·3 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — Grab your rods and head to the outdoors Colorado, because 2024-2025 state-issued fishing licenses are now ready for purchase.

The state agency annually stocks 90 million fish in over 27,000 miles of Colorado waters to ensure prime angling opportunities, from warmer areas like Barr Lake or the Pueblo Reservoir to icy mountain streams and lakes. The state has recorded 35 species of warm- and cold-water fish.

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Proceeds from fishing license sales do help fund additional public access, community angling grants and habitat improvement projects that support state birds, fish and other small game.

“CPW biologists and volunteers will soon be spawning fish to replenish our walleye and saugeye fisheries,” said CPW Aquatic Section Manager Matt Nicholl in a release. “Our hatcheries also stock front range waters with trout while water temperatures remain cool for added angling opportunities.”

CPW’s 2024-2025 fishing licenses are valid from March 1 through March 31, 2025. Regulations and pricing for annual, daily, and multi-day fishing licenses are in the 2024 Colorado Fishing Brochure and listed below. All first license purchases of the year must also include a habitat stamp.

Youth under 16 can fish with one rod for free, and CPW has classes throughout the season to learn how to fish.

Pricing is as follows:

  • Annual Habitat Stamp (nonrefundable) — $12.15

    • Only one is required per person, ages 18–64, per year buying or applying for a license.

  • Lifetime Habitat Stamp — $364.63

  • Aquatic nuisance species stamp

    • Resident — $25

    • Nonresident — $41.83

  • Licenses – Residents

    • Adult annual (18-64) — $41.83

    • Senior (65+) — $11.47

    • Youth ages 16–17 (second-rod stamp charge still applies) — $11.47

    • Small game & fishing combo — $60.05

    • Senior small game & fishing combo (65+) —$35.32

  • Licenses – Nonresidents

    • Annual — $117.14

    • Five-day — $38.19

  • Residents and non-residents

    • Second-rod stamp — $12.68

      • A second-rod stamp per year is available to anyone who has purchased a fishing license and to any youth under 16.

    • One-day fishing: residents — $16.33

    • One-day fishing: nonresidents — $19.97

    • Additional-day fishing — $7.82

Coloradans and non-resident visitors can purchase fishing licenses online, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, at a local CPW office, or from authorized sales agents statewide. All license fees include a 25-cent search-and-rescue fee and a $1.50 fee for the Wildlife Education Fund.

“Spring is around the corner, and so is the opportunity to get out and enjoy the active, outdoor Colorado lifestyle by going fishing,” said CPW Angler Education Coordinator Andre Egli in a release. “If you are new to fishing there are many classes offered around the state. Classes are available for new anglers, families, or seasoned anglers that want to learn a new technique like fly fishing.”

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The state also released the “My CPW app,” which is the official mobile app for CPW’s license and pass purchasing website CPWshop.com. Resident anglers will purchase their fishing licenses the same way they always have and receive a printed physical license, but can also display it within their myColorado mobile app.

CPW does not receive general tax dollars from the state. Fishing license sales support all statewide hatchery and fish-stocking operations.

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