Annual License fees 2026-2027

tombraider said:
I see many vehicles with expired tabs every time I go some place, back to 2022.
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If you look for this, it's kind of crazy how many are out there, at least around my area. And not just back to 2022. I've seen some vehicles on the road that apparently have not been licensed for decades, just drivin' around. Out of state plates, too. Or how about license plate covers that are so dark it's impossible to see anything on the plate? It does make one question "the system."
 
Long_Rod_Silvers said:
Pay more, get less - that's the issue. If it were pay more, get the same - that's understandable. But when you pay more for something and get less, that's not inflation. That's getting screwed, camouflaged as "inflation".
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My point exactly! It's not $20.. it's the fewer access points and fewer services.. like disgusting porta potties.. and virtually no enforcement! Comical!!
 
Brian Miller said:
At least for now, Thankfully the endorsement is only for Salmon & Steelhead. When I do fish for salmon it's in PS, and I stopped harrassing Steelhead in the late 1990s.
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The Combo increase for those of us with a (VA) Disability rating is about $4.60, but the Discover Pass to get close to the DNR creeks I fish went up a whopping 50% :eek:, and the road to my favorite creek was trenched a mile from my access point :cry:. I'll have to think twice about that one this year.
 
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Given the constraints at Pass growing longer along with additional system closures, I’m thinking heavily of foregoing this upcoming season to focus purely on more angler friendly western states.
 
Scottybs said:
Given the constraints at Pass growing longer along with additional system closures, I’m thinking heavily of foregoing this upcoming season to focus purely on more angler friendly western states.
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Bye..
 
Matt B said:
If you look for this, it's kind of crazy how many are out there, at least around my area. And not just back to 2022. I've seen some vehicles on the road that apparently have not been licensed for decades, just drivin' around. Out of state plates, too. Or how about license plate covers that are so dark it's impossible to see anything on the plate? It does make one question "the system."
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The system seems to have no problem finding me if I'm one day out of date with my tabs. I once got a ticket for expired tabs while I was in the office getting my new tabs. I went straight to the judge and showed the time on my receipt and the time on the ticket were within minutes of each other. They cut the fine in half. Jerks.
 
Mossback said:
The increase in license cost isn't even equal to inflation over the period since the last increase...
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I have zero issue with the price. A combination fishing license with 2-pole endorsement for $97 is less than a day of skiing or a round of golf at a nice course. I spend more than that almost every time I go to the fly shop. It worked out to less than $2/day spent on the water for me last year and it's one of the best deals going in recreation. The way the state spends their our money...that's a whole other conversation...
 
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adamcu280 said:
The system seems to have no problem finding me if I'm one day out of date with my tabs. I once got a ticket for expired tabs while I was in the office getting my new tabs. I went straight to the judge and showed the time on my receipt and the time on the ticket were within minutes of each other. They cut the fine in half. Jerks.
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Lame. But maybe you are hanging in the wrong places for a scofflaw. Come hide in the cesspool amongst the scruffy ne’er do wells of an s hole county and you’ll blend in.
 
In the olden days, state fish and wildlife agencies were self supporting primarily through license sales and Federal excise tax dollars (Pittman Robertson and DIngell Johnson). I'm sure Washington is facing the same things that California was when I retired. Declining license sales, increase demand on dwindling DJ and PR dollars, unfunded legislative mandates, deteriorating infrastructure, increased costs due to salaries, benefits and overhead. To mitigate, a larger proportion of the CA DFW budget was funded through general fund dollars which makes it vulnerable to annual budget cuts. Plus a taxpayer base that for the most part doesn't care about fish and wildlife. It's a pretty grim outlook...
 
Scottybs said:
Given the constraints at Pass growing longer along with additional system closures, I’m thinking heavily of foregoing this upcoming season to focus purely on more angler friendly western states.
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Indeed, just got my 2026 Montana Annual Resident license with AIS and Conservation license included for $17.10. That included a $.60 fee for purchasing online. Less than the price of a medium Pizza at Papa Murphys.
 
Guy Gregory said:
There was no ability online for the WA Columbia River Trib endorsement. Is it wrapped into the regular license?
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Yes, you can purchase your Columbia River endorsement online. I just checked and it's a bit convoluted. I took two screen shots. In the first screenshot below, you will see a link called "View Category" to the right of Fishing. Click on the view category.

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Another page will come up after clicking on view category. This screenshot shows the Columbia River endorsement. You need to scroll to the bottom of the page to find it.

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Bruce Baker said:
Yes, you can purchase your Columbia River endorsement online. I just checked and it's a bit convoluted. I took two screen shots. In the first screenshot below, you will see a link called "View Category" to the right of Fishing. Click on the view category.

View attachment 179866


Another page will come up after clicking on view category. This screenshot shows the Columbia River endorsement. You need to scroll to the bottom of the page to find it.

View attachment 179867
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Ah, well, that makes it easy.
 
The main advantage for a fisherman living in Washington in the mid 2020s is proximity to great fishing in Alaska, offshore Pacific, northern Rockies, B.C. Fishing opportunity deflation in Washington has been brutal the past 30 years. I'll still buy my WA licenses as usual of course, but really miss the year round fisheries Washington once boasted. Still there are many enjoyable niche opportunities to catch native fish out there. What Washington anglers and hunters urgently need are more politicians who will advocate for them in the state legislature. Run for political office! Then we'll have a direct voice in the budget process.
 
You guys are really bumming me out….this May I’ll be 70 and thought finally old enough fart to get a reduced $ license……but our current license is up at the end of this month. We should have a reduced license cost for C&R!
 
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