When is largemouth bass season in Arkansas?

Arkansas 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 size largemouth bass can you keep in Arkansas?

The Arkansas size rule for largemouth bass is No statewide minimum on most waters; 15 in LM/SM on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock (12 in spotted); 13 in LM on Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork (12 in SM); 12 in LM/SM on Greers Ferry; 14 in min on the Arkansas River + listed flowing waters. Slot limit: No slot limits — Arkansas manages largemouth via straight minimum-length limits plus the statewide 10 / 6 daily structure (the old 'trophy slot lake' framing was not an AGFC rule). Trophy rule: Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock 15 in min; Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork 13 in min; AR state-record largemouth 16 lb 4 oz Mallard Lake 1976 (a non-Florida-strain record standing for decades).

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

Yes. Arkansas 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 Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Arkansas?

Yes. In Arkansas, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; flipping + pitching dominant tournament tactic; Snagging prohibited for black bass; Trotlines + yo-yos + jugline NOT permitted for black bass; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual); Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for per-lake length + daily limits.

Do specific Arkansas waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 14 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Lake Ouachita, Bull Shoals Lake, Beaver Lake, and 11 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Micropterus nigricans

Last updated June 8, 2026

Arkansas largemouth bass fishery is anchored by the central Arkansas Ouachita Mountain reservoir tier (Lake Ouachita 40,100 acres + Lake Hamilton 7,200 acres + Lake Catherine 1,940 acres + Lake DeGray 13,800 acres + Lake Greeson 7,260 acres + Lake Maumelle 8,900 acres), the four major Ozark reservoirs on the White River system (Bull Shoals + Beaver + Norfork + Greers Ferry), the two Arkansas River navigation-pool reservoirs (Lake Dardanelle 34,300 acres + Ozark Lake), Millwood Lake (29,500 acres on the Little River in the southwest), and the eastern Arkansas Delta oxbow tier (Lake Chicot — the state's largest natural oxbow). The AGFC statewide black-bass daily limit is 10 fish combined (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted), reduced to 6 / day combined on the major Ozark / Ouachita reservoirs (Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray and Lake Greeson — on the latter three only 2 may be smallmouth, with 10 spotted bass allowed above the combined limit). Black-bass length runs a 15-inch largemouth + smallmouth minimum on Beaver, Bull Shoals and Table Rock (12-inch spotted), a 13-inch largemouth minimum on Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray and Norfork (12-inch smallmouth), and a 12-inch largemouth + smallmouth minimum on Greers Ferry. Most other reservoirs and ponds carry no statewide largemouth minimum, while the Arkansas River and many listed flowing waters require largemouth to be at least 14 inches to keep. Lake Conway — historically the state's premier flooded-cypress crappie + largemouth reservoir — has been DRAINED since November 2023 for a 5-year rebuild and does not currently exist as a fishery. AR state-record largemouth 16 lb 4 oz (Mallard Lake, 1976). Open year-round statewide; no spring spawning closure.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window; no spring spawning closure.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; reduced to 6 / day combined on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray + Lake Greeson
Possession: Triple the daily limit in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum on most waters; 15 in LM/SM on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock (12 in spotted); 13 in LM on Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork (12 in SM); 12 in LM/SM on Greers Ferry; 14 in min on the Arkansas River + listed flowing waters
Slot: No slot limits — Arkansas manages largemouth via straight minimum-length limits plus the statewide 10 / 6 daily structure (the old 'trophy slot lake' framing was not an AGFC rule)
Trophy rule: Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock 15 in min; Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork 13 in min; AR state-record largemouth 16 lb 4 oz Mallard Lake 1976 (a non-Florida-strain record standing for decades)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; flipping + pitching dominant tournament tactic
Snagging prohibited for black bass
Trotlines + yo-yos + jugline NOT permitted for black bass
AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual)
Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for per-lake length + daily limits

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arkansas waters:

Lake Ouachita
13 in min largemouth, 12 in smallmouth; combined 6 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth) + 10 spotted bass
Bull Shoals Lake
15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 12 in spotted; combined 6 / day; White River Border Lakes Licence
Beaver Lake
15 in min largemouth + smallmouth; combined 6 / day; recurring BASS Elite Series + MLF Toyota Series venue
Norfork Lake
13 in min largemouth + smallmouth; combined 6 / day; White River Border Lakes Licence
Greers Ferry Lake
12 in min largemouth + smallmouth; smallmouth daily limit 6; no white-bass limit
Table Rock Lake
15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 12 in spotted; combined 6 / day; White River Border Lakes Licence (AR portion)
Lake DeGray
13 in min largemouth, 12 in smallmouth; combined 6 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth) + 10 spotted bass
Lake Greeson
12 in min smallmouth; combined 10 / day (only 2 may be smallmouth) + 10 spotted bass
Lake Dardanelle
14 in min largemouth (Arkansas River impoundment); statewide 10 / day
Ozark Lake
14 in min largemouth (Arkansas River impoundment); statewide 10 / day
Lake Chicot
15 in min largemouth, 10 / day; Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake
Millwood Lake
Largemouth 6 / day; premier southwest-Arkansas flooded-timber fishery
Blue Mountain Lake
15 in min largemouth
Arkansas River
Largemouth shorter than 14 in must be released immediately; McClellan-Kerr Navigation System

Official source

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arkansasfishing 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 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)'s official largemouth bass regulation page.

Visit official Arkansas fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Arkansas?: Arkansas 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 Arkansas bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Arkansas daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 10 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; reduced to 6 / day combined on Beaver, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Lake Ouachita, Lake DeGray + Lake Greeson. The possession limit is Triple the daily limit in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Arkansas?: The Arkansas size rule for largemouth bass is No statewide minimum on most waters; 15 in LM/SM on Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock (12 in spotted); 13 in LM on Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork (12 in SM); 12 in LM/SM on Greers Ferry; 14 in min on the Arkansas River + listed flowing waters. Slot limit: No slot limits — Arkansas manages largemouth via straight minimum-length limits plus the statewide 10 / 6 daily structure (the old 'trophy slot lake' framing was not an AGFC rule). Trophy rule: Beaver + Bull Shoals + Table Rock 15 in min; Lake Ouachita + Lake DeGray + Norfork 13 in min; AR state-record largemouth 16 lb 4 oz Mallard Lake 1976 (a non-Florida-strain record standing for decades).
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Arkansas?: Yes. Arkansas 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 Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Arkansas?: Yes. In Arkansas, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; flipping + pitching dominant tournament tactic; Snagging prohibited for black bass; Trotlines + yo-yos + jugline NOT permitted for black bass; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual); Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for per-lake length + daily limits.
Do specific Arkansas waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 14 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Lake Ouachita, Bull Shoals Lake, Beaver Lake, and 11 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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