How much does a pay lake cost?
Most pay lakes charge $10 to $40 for a day of fishing, based on 89 day prices published by 85 lakes.
Prices come from each lake's own website. The middle half of prices is shown so a single unusual lake does not skew the range.
| How you pay | Most lakes | Lowest to highest | Prices seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day pass | $10 to $40 | $2 to $400 | 89 |
| Half day | $10 to $30 | $5 to $185 | 10 |
| By the pound | $7.25 to $14.95 | $1.30 to $40 | 38 |
| By the hour | $10 to $20 | $5 to $50 | 20 |
| Night or 24 hours | $15 to $75 | $2 to $247 | 43 |
| Extra pole | $5 to $40 | $1 to $150 | 19 |
| Season pass | $60 to $300 | $25 to $300 | 4 |
Day prices by state
- California $25
- Colorado $80
- Florida $21
- Georgia $20
- Illinois $20
- Indiana $10
- Michigan $6
- Mississippi $134
- North Carolina $15
- Ohio $40
- Pennsylvania $10
- Texas $7
- Utah $150
- Washington $14
Median day price in each state with at least two published prices.
What changes the price
Pay by the pound lakes, mostly trout farms, charge for the fish you keep instead of your time. Day pass lakes charge for time, and some add a fee for each fish kept or each extra pole. Night fishing and tournament entries usually cost more than a day pass. Kids often fish for less.
See prices for catfish pay lakes and trout pay ponds, or find pay lakes near you.