fee costs in your state

[detroit1]

Michigan: All fish except trout- $16. Additional $16 for trout stamp. Boat trailers are a permanent (1 time) fee (don't remember but less than $100), boat registration $12 for 3 yrs. Most of the lakes i fish have no launch fee, and those that do charge are never more than $6 a day. Some of these lakes you can buy a yearly sticker for $20.

[DawsonH]

Here in Texas its $28 for a license for basic freshwater fishing, 50/ year for boat trailer and $35? every two years for a boat.

[bige610]

i am a disabled veteran here in illinois and i just recieved a lifetime hunting and fishing license through the va for free. boat launch fees out here are kinda crazy depending were you go. i live right by the chain and it ranges from 15-30. there are a lot of lakes that you have to be a resident to fish on so that sucks too.

[Fish Chris]

Okay, in CA, "with the two rod stamp, and Bay Delta Stamp", our license are about $60. I know that's a lot for guys that don't get to fish very much..... but for somebody who fishes as much as I do, that's the best $60 I spend ALL year ! {I certainly feel better about my $60 fishing license, than I do about the $455 registration bill for my truck :-(}

As far as paying to launch / fish, it ususally works like this;

Their is almost always a seperate charge for fishing, then launching, then parking. The couple "pay lakes" I go to add up to $15.50 and $19. Of course the $15.50 one requires a $6 bridge toll, before I even get to the lake..... and then their is the gas in the truck and the boat for the trip....

Put it this way, depending on where I fish, a day of fishing (in my economy 14ft aluminum) usually costs me $35 to $60 a day.

Now here's the thing, for those of you from other states who say > I'd never pay to launch my boat / and or day use fees < Hmmm. Okay.

You should understand that their are a few places I could fish (and sometimes do) which have free launches, and no day use fees. But if you have a specific goal, to catch a giant 19lb + Largemouth, or 9lb+ Smallie, you will either "pay to play" or just flat knock yourself right out of the running.

One more thing to keep in mind.... A guy could fish one of those free lakes in another state, and that lake could be right next to his house..... But if he fishes out of a high performance bass boat, he will still spend more (just in gas for his boat), than myself, traveling 100 miles, and then paying a $19 launch and day use fee.

In any case, yea, fishing is expensive, but it's what I LOVE to do, so therefore, I don't feel as bad paying for it. The stuff that kills me is stupid expensive groceries, insurance bills, registration bills, etc, in other words, stuff I have no choice about paying. They just know they have you by the b####, and I guess that makes it okay for them to rip you off :-(

Fish

[ROCbass]

In NY $68 for a "super sportsman" license gets you:

Fishing -$19 by itself

Big and small game hunting-$19 by itself

muzzleloader permit-$16 by itself

bowhunting permit-$16 by itself

turkey permit- $5 by itself

total if purchased separately $75

I don't know about launch fees because I only have a canoe and every car top launch I've been to is free

[bass or bass ?]

In Arizona basic license is $23.50. 2 pole stamp is $6.00. Admission to lakes I normally fish is $5, and $2 per watercraft. No launch fees.     Happy fishing.

~B.A.S.S.~N.A.F.C.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

[Hammer 4]

Fish Chris, I sorta agree, if you think 455.00 is alot, my 03 duramax went up to over 500.00 this year.. >, still our lic fees are higher than everyones..my opinion is that the folks in charge make too much $$$ in our state, thus we up the ying yang for stuff others pay much less for, just my take..sorry for the rant..

[BassnMan Mike]

In any case, yea, fishing is expensive, but it's what I LOVE to do, so therefore, I don't feel as bad paying for it.

^^^^^ Yet another Californian that agrees 100%

Besides that everyone knows that Cali has the biggest bass

[BassnMan Mike]

Fish Chris, I sorta agree, if you think 455.00 is alot, my 03 duramax went up to over 500.00 this year.. >, still our lic fees are higher than everyones..my opinion is that the folks in charge make too much $$$ in our state, thus we up the ying yang for stuff others pay much less for, just my take..sorry for the rant..

Put on a camper shell with a bed rug, register as non commercial and subtract at least $100.00 off of your registration. Trust me, I speak from personal experience.

[Btech]

Here in NC, I paid nothing for my fishing liscense this year the guy forgot to ring it up, my small boat (see avitar) was $30 for 3 years.

I avoid ramps that charge, usualy $12 to launch at them with free ones a mile away. STUPID!

Liscense I believe is $15 / freshwater $5 / trout.

[Fish Chris]

Hey Bassnman Mike, yes, you are correct about the camper shell deal...... But I spent $1300 on a fiberglass Snugtop bedcover (I love it) because I like to keep the truck look / shape...... + the better visibility from the cab + better security (out of sight, out of mind) factor.

I do think its pretty stupid though, that my truck is "automatically" considered a commercial vehicle :-(

Btech

I avoid ramps that charge, usualy $12 to launch at them with free ones a mile away. STUPID!

Again, I would agree..... "but only if" the free waters you fish have as good of fishing... for either numbers, or quality, or monsters.... Whatever your goals were for the time being.

I just wouldn't waste my time on a "free" lake, that didn't have the fish I was after.

Peace,

Fish