When is largemouth bass season in Arizona?

Arizona keeps largemouth bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Arizona bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Arizona daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) no statewide minimum; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined black bass (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Arizona?

Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Arizona?

Yes. In Arizona, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Live bait permitted on most waters; live-bait restrictions on listed Apache trout + Gila trout recovery waters; Snagging prohibited for black bass; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014; Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific limits.

Do specific Arizona waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 6 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Canyon Lake, Lake Havasu, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Arizona Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus salmoides

Last updated June 8, 2026

Arizona largemouth bass fishery is the country's premier desert canyon reservoir bass system — anchored by the Salt River chain of four desert canyon reservoirs upstream of Phoenix metro (Theodore Roosevelt Lake 21,500-acre — USBR Roosevelt Dam built 1911 the oldest federal reservoir in the country still in operation + recurring BASS Open + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue; Apache Lake 2,568-acre Horse Mesa Dam 1927; Canyon Lake 950-acre Mormon Flat Dam 1925 — AZ state-record largemouth 16 lb 7.68 oz Canyon Lake 1997, one of the largest state-record largemouth records in the desert SW outside CA + TX; Saguaro Lake 1,250-acre Stewart Mountain Dam 1930) — the Salt River chain produces 6-10 lb largemouth routinely on the pre-spawn February – April pattern with 13+ lb fish landed annually. Lake Havasu (19,300-acre Colorado River reservoir on the AZ/CA boundary — USBR Parker Dam built 1938 + recurring BASS Elite + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue) carries the country's premier dual largemouth + smallmouth desert reservoir fishery — Lake Havasu largemouth produce 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually on the spring pre-spawn pattern. Lake Powell (161,000-acre Colorado River reservoir on the AZ/UT boundary) carries a secondary largemouth fishery alongside the dominant striped + smallmouth fishery. Lake Mead + Lake Mohave (Colorado River reservoirs on the AZ/NV boundary) carry largemouth alongside the dominant striped fishery. San Carlos Lake (19,500-acre Gila River reservoir — the largest reservoir wholly inside Arizona by surface area — San Carlos Apache Tribe Reservation jurisdiction) carries trophy largemouth alongside crappie + channel catfish on tribal-jurisdiction waters. Patagonia Lake (Santa Cruz County southeastern AZ — 250-acre Sonoita Creek reservoir — Patagonia Lake State Park) carries a small reservoir trophy largemouth fishery with 10+ lb fish landed annually. The 2024 AZGFD simplification retired the former Theodore Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon 13-16 in slot rules — black bass are now a single statewide 6 / day combined limit with no statewide minimum, except Lake Havasu retains a 13 in minimum and Lake Powell splits 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; March – June pre-spawn through post-spawn densest fishing window on Roosevelt + Havasu + Powell + Mead + Salt River chain.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) no statewide minimum; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split
Possession: 12 in possession combined black bass (2× daily)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum (2024 AZGFD simplification retired the former reservoir slot rules); Lake Havasu 13 in minimum
Slot: No statewide slot — the former Theodore Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon 13-16 in slot was retired in the 2024 AZGFD simplification; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split limit
Trophy rule: AZ state-record largemouth 16 lb 7.68 oz Canyon Lake 1997 (one of the largest state-record largemouth records in the desert SW outside CA + TX); Salt River chain Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro produce 6-10 lb largemouth routinely with 13+ lb fish landed annually on the spring pre-spawn pattern; Lake Havasu country's premier dual largemouth + smallmouth desert reservoir fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually); Theodore Roosevelt Lake country's longest-tenured BASS Open + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue + Roosevelt Dam built 1911 the oldest federal reservoir in the country still in operation

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Live bait permitted on most waters; live-bait restrictions on listed Apache trout + Gila trout recovery waters
Snagging prohibited for black bass
Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual)
Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014
Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific limits

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arizona waters:

Theodore Roosevelt Lake
6 / day combined no min (former 13-16 in slot retired in the 2024 simplification); country's longest-tenured BASS Open + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue
Canyon Lake
6 / day combined no min; AZ state-record largemouth 16 lb 7.68 oz Canyon Lake 1997
Lake Havasu
6 / day combined 13 in minimum; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact; 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually
Lake Powell
5 largemouth / day (20 smallmouth / day separately); UT/AZ joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
San Carlos Lake
San Carlos Apache Tribe Fishing Permit required (tribal jurisdiction supersedes AZGFD on the reservation)
Patagonia Lake
6 / day combined no min; trophy largemouth with 10+ lb fish landed annually

Official source

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizonafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The largemouth bass rules on this page are sourced from Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)'s official largemouth bass regulation page.

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Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Arizona?: Arizona keeps largemouth bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Arizona bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Arizona daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) no statewide minimum; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split. The possession limit is 12 in possession combined black bass (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Arizona?: The Arizona size rule for largemouth bass is No statewide minimum (2024 AZGFD simplification retired the former reservoir slot rules); Lake Havasu 13 in minimum. Slot limit: No statewide slot — the former Theodore Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon 13-16 in slot was retired in the 2024 AZGFD simplification; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum; Lake Powell 20 smallmouth / 5 largemouth split limit. Trophy rule: AZ state-record largemouth 16 lb 7.68 oz Canyon Lake 1997 (one of the largest state-record largemouth records in the desert SW outside CA + TX); Salt River chain Roosevelt + Apache + Canyon + Saguaro produce 6-10 lb largemouth routinely with 13+ lb fish landed annually on the spring pre-spawn pattern; Lake Havasu country's premier dual largemouth + smallmouth desert reservoir fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually); Theodore Roosevelt Lake country's longest-tenured BASS Open + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue + Roosevelt Dam built 1911 the oldest federal reservoir in the country still in operation.
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Arizona?: Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Arizona?: Yes. In Arizona, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Live bait permitted on most waters; live-bait restrictions on listed Apache trout + Gila trout recovery waters; Snagging prohibited for black bass; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); Colorado River boundary-water privilege (Lake Havasu + Lake Mohave + Lake Mead) is bundled into every Arizona license — no separate Colorado River Stamp has been required since 2014; Confirm current-year AZGFD Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific limits.
Do specific Arizona waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 6 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Theodore Roosevelt Lake, Canyon Lake, Lake Havasu, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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