When is smallmouth bass season in Arizona?

Arizona keeps smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass?

The Arizona daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass no statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed natives); Lake Powell 20 / day; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum. 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 smallmouth bass can you keep in Arizona?

The Arizona size rule for smallmouth bass is No statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive — encourages harvest of smallmouth in Lower Colorado River + Salt River chain to protect native ESA-listed Colorado River fishes); Lake Havasu 13 in minimum. Trophy rule: AZ state-record smallmouth 7 lb 1 oz Theodore Roosevelt Lake 1988; Lake Havasu country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually) — recurring BASS Elite + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue; Lake Powell country's premier desert canyon-structure smallmouth fishery on the upper-third of the reservoir at Bullfrog + Hite + Lake Powell-deep arms (20 / day); AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest framework — no statewide bass minimum + 6 / day combined — deliberately structured to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed Colorado River natives from smallmouth predation pressure.

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

Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass in Arizona?

Yes. In Arizona, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; 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 reach-specific exceptions.

Do specific Arizona waters have different smallmouth bass rules?

Yes. 5 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Havasu, Lake Powell, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

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Last updated June 8, 2026

Arizona smallmouth bass fishery is centered on the country's premier desert smallmouth reservoir system: 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 — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery, 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually) + Lake Powell (161,000-acre Colorado River reservoir on the AZ/UT boundary — UT/AZ joint reciprocal compact — country's premier desert canyon-structure smallmouth fishery on the upper-third of the reservoir at Bullfrog + Hite + Lake Powell-deep arms — 20 / day on the Powell main stem) + Theodore Roosevelt Lake (Salt River reservoir — AZ state-record smallmouth 7 lb 1 oz Roosevelt 1988) + Apache Lake + Canyon Lake + Saguaro Lake (Salt River chain). AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest framework: no statewide bass minimum + 6 / day combined black bass — AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest deliberately structured to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed Colorado River native species from smallmouth predation pressure. This contrasts sharply with traditional smallmouth-managing states (NY + WI + MN + KY + TN) that ship 14-18 in min trophy-protection rules; Arizona's smallmouth-management framework explicitly encourages harvest of smallmouth in the Lower Colorado River + Salt River chain reservoirs to protect ESA-listed native species — Lake Powell carries a 20 / day smallmouth limit reflecting that encouraged-removal posture. 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 Havasu + Powell + Roosevelt + Apache + Saguaro.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined black bass no statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed natives); Lake Powell 20 / day; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum
Possession: 12 in possession combined black bass (2× daily)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive — encourages harvest of smallmouth in Lower Colorado River + Salt River chain to protect native ESA-listed Colorado River fishes); Lake Havasu 13 in minimum
Trophy rule: AZ state-record smallmouth 7 lb 1 oz Theodore Roosevelt Lake 1988; Lake Havasu country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually) — recurring BASS Elite + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue; Lake Powell country's premier desert canyon-structure smallmouth fishery on the upper-third of the reservoir at Bullfrog + Hite + Lake Powell-deep arms (20 / day); AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest framework — no statewide bass minimum + 6 / day combined — deliberately structured to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed Colorado River natives from smallmouth predation pressure

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
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 reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arizona waters:

Lake Havasu
6 / day combined 13 in minimum; AZ/CA joint reciprocal compact; 4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually — country's premier desert smallmouth fishery
Lake Powell
20 / day; UT/AZ joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (encouraged-removal posture on the Powell main stem)
Theodore Roosevelt Lake
6 / day combined no min (former 13-16 in slot retired in the 2024 simplification); AZ state-record smallmouth 7 lb 1 oz Roosevelt 1988
Apache Lake + Canyon Lake + Saguaro Lake
6 / day combined no min (former slot rules retired in the 2024 simplification)
Lake Mead
6 / day combined no min; AZ/NV joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir

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

Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass season in Arizona?: Arizona keeps smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass?: The Arizona daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass no statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed natives); Lake Powell 20 / day; Lake Havasu 13 in minimum. 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 smallmouth bass can you keep in Arizona?: The Arizona size rule for smallmouth bass is No statewide minimum (AZGFD-distinctive — encourages harvest of smallmouth in Lower Colorado River + Salt River chain to protect native ESA-listed Colorado River fishes); Lake Havasu 13 in minimum. Trophy rule: AZ state-record smallmouth 7 lb 1 oz Theodore Roosevelt Lake 1988; Lake Havasu country's premier desert smallmouth fishery (4-6 lb fish routinely with 8+ lb fish landed annually) — recurring BASS Elite + MLF Toyota Series tournament venue; Lake Powell country's premier desert canyon-structure smallmouth fishery on the upper-third of the reservoir at Bullfrog + Hite + Lake Powell-deep arms (20 / day); AZGFD-distinctive aggressive smallmouth harvest framework — no statewide bass minimum + 6 / day combined — deliberately structured to protect native razorback sucker + Colorado pikeminnow + bonytail + humpback chub ESA-listed Colorado River natives from smallmouth predation pressure.
Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in Arizona?: Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth 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 smallmouth bass in Arizona?: Yes. In Arizona, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; 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 reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Arizona waters have different smallmouth bass rules?: Yes. 5 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Lake Havasu, Lake Powell, Theodore Roosevelt Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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