Black Bass

PURPOSE: This rule establishes seasons, methods, and limits for taking black bass. (1) Daily Limit: Six (6) in the aggregate, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and all black bass hybrids, except— (A) The daily limit may include no more than one (1) smallmouth bass on the Big Piney River from Slabtown Access to the confluence of the Gasconade River, the Eleven Point River from Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line, the Elk River, the Gasconade River from the Highway Y bridge (Pulaski County) to the Highway D bridge (Phelps County), the Jacks Fork River from the Highway 17 bridge to the confluence of the Current River, the James River from the Hooten Town bridge (The Loop Road at Route O) to the Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena, Joachim Creek from the Highway V bridge to the Highway A bridge (Jefferson County), Osage Fork of the Gasconade River from the Skyline Drive bridge (near Orla in Laclede County) to its confluence with the Gasconade River, and Tenmile Creek from the Highway B bridge (Carter County) to its confluence with Cane Creek; (B) The daily limit is two (2) black bass on Montrose Lake; and (C) On the Meramec, Big, and Bourbeuse rivers and their tributaries, the daily and possession limit for black bass is twelve (12) in the aggregate and may include no more than six (6) largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in the aggregate, except that the daily limit may include no more than one (1) smallmouth bass on the Big River from the Council Bluff Lake Dam to its confluence with the Meramec River, the Meramec River from the Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird’s Nest, and Mineral Fork from the Highway F bridge (Washington County) to its confluence with the Big River. (2) Methods: Pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, or jug line. (3) Seasons. (A) Streams: Black bass may be taken throughout the year from the Mississippi River, all waters north of the south bank of the Missouri River, the St. Francis River downstream from Wappapello Dam, and in that portion of southeast Missouri bounded by a line from Cape Girardeau following Highways 74 and 25, U.S. Highways 60, 67, and 160, and the west bank of the Little Black River to the Arkansas state line. In the remainder of the state from March 1 through the Friday before the fourth Saturday in May, no black bass may be possessed on the unimpounded portion of any stream, and all black bass must be returned to the water immediately after being caught. (B) Impoundments: Throughout the year. (4) Length Limits. (A) Streams: All black bass less than twelve inches (12") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from the unimpounded portion of any stream, including Pools 20–26 on the Mississippi River, except as follows: 1. On the Meramec, Big, and Bourbeuse rivers and their tributaries, there is no length limit on spotted (Kentucky) bass; and 2. On the Big Piney River from Slabtown Access to the confluence of the Gasconade River, the Eleven Point River from Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line, the Elk River, the Gasconade River from Highway Y bridge (Pulaski County) to Highway D bridge (Phelps County), the Jacks Fork River from Highway 17 bridge to the confluence of the Current River, the James River from Hooten Town bridge (The Loop Road at Route O) to Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena, Joachim Creek from the Highway V bridge to the Highway A bridge (Jefferson County), Osage Fork of the Gasconade River from the Skyline Drive bridge (near Orla in Laclede County) to its confluence with the Gasconade River, the Meramec River from the Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird’s Nest, the Big River from the Council Bluff Lake Dam to its confluence with the Meramec River, Mineral Fork from the Highway F bridge (Washington County) to its confluence with the Big River, and Tenmile Creek from the Highway B bridge (Carter County) to its confluence with Cane Creek, all smallmouth bass less than fifteen inches (15") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. (B) Impoundments: No length limits, except— 1. All black bass less than fifteen inches (15") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from Blue Springs Lake, Long Branch Lake, Longview Lake, Mark Twain Lake, Smithville Lake, or Thomas Hill Reservoir; 2. All black bass less than thirteen inches (13") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from Pomme de Terre Lake; 3. All black bass less than twelve inches (12") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool (below Mark Twain Lake dam); 4. All largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than fifteen inches (15") and all spotted (Kentucky) bass less than twelve inches (12") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from Bull Shoals Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Norfork Lake, Stockton Lake, Table Rock Lake, or Truman Lake; and 5. All black bass less than eighteen inches (18") in total length must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught from Montrose Lake. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed June 13, 1994, effective Jan. 1, 1995. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed June 11, 1997, effective March 1, 1998. Amended: Filed May 6, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed May 10, 1999, effective March 1, 2000. Amended: Filed April 24, 2000, effective March 1, 2001. Amended: Filed April 30, 2001, effective March 1, 2002. Amended: Filed July 31, 2002, effective March 1, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 9, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Oct. 8, 2004, effective March 30, 2005. Amended: Filed Oct. 2, 2006, effective Feb. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2010, effective Jan. 30, 2011. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2015, effective March 1, 2016. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 2016, effective March 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Feb. 8, 2019, effective March 1, 2019. Amended: Filed Oct. 3, 2025, effective April 30, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.