When is smallmouth bass season in District of Columbia?

Year-round on DC non-tidal Potomac + C&O Canal + Rock Creek; statewide standard rule. Those are the 2026 District of Columbia dates; always confirm against District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the District of Columbia bag limit for smallmouth bass?

The District of Columbia daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) — DC standard. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size smallmouth bass can you keep in District of Columbia?

The District of Columbia size rule for smallmouth bass is 12 in min DC standard. Trophy rule: DC non-tidal Potomac smallmouth 3-5 lb come from the rocky pools + drop-offs between Chain Bridge + the Maryland line; trophy fish more common upstream in MD + WV sections.

Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in District of Columbia?

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

Are there gear restrictions for smallmouth bass in District of Columbia?

Yes. In District of Columbia, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64; NPS regulations apply on Rock Creek + C&O Canal sections.

Do specific District of Columbia waters have different smallmouth bass rules?

Yes. 3 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Potomac River — upstream of Chain Bridge, C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections, Rock Creek + Rock Creek Park. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

District of Columbia Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus dolomieu

Last updated May 28, 2026

Smallmouth bass is the secondary DC bass fishery, found in the non-tidal upstream-of-Chain-Bridge segment of the Potomac River (the small DC-jurisdiction segment between Chain Bridge + the Maryland line at Little Falls), in the C&O Canal sections within DC, and seasonally in Rock Creek's larger pools. The non-tidal Potomac upstream of the fall line is one of the East Coast's premier smallmouth fisheries — though DC's segment of that fishery is small relative to the Maryland + Virginia stretches between Brunswick and Whites Ferry. DC standard rule is a 12-inch statewide minimum + 5-fish combined daily aggregate across largemouth + smallmouth. The C&O Canal sections in Georgetown + Glover-Archbold Park host the smaller-scale canal-pond smallmouth fishery alongside largemouth + sunfish + carp.

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Season

Year-round on DC non-tidal Potomac + C&O Canal + Rock Creek; statewide standard rule.

Jan 1 – Dec 31Non-tidal Potomac upstream of Chain Bridge + C&O Canal + Rock Creek
Open year-round under DC standard rule

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) — DC standard
Possession: 10 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 12 in min DC standard
Trophy rule: DC non-tidal Potomac smallmouth 3-5 lb come from the rocky pools + drop-offs between Chain Bridge + the Maryland line; trophy fish more common upstream in MD + WV sections

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64
NPS regulations apply on Rock Creek + C&O Canal sections

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific District of Columbia waters:

Potomac River — upstream of Chain Bridge
12 in min, 5 / day combined; DC fall-line + non-tidal pool tier
C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections
12 in min, 5 / day combined; smaller-scale canal-pond smallmouth + largemouth
Rock Creek + Rock Creek Park
12 in min, 5 / day combined; seasonal smallmouth in larger pools downstream of Pierce Mill

Official source

District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division publishes the authoritative 2026 District of Columbiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official District of Columbia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Smallmouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment's emergency-order feed — check it before any District of Columbia trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is smallmouth bass season in District of Columbia?: Year-round on DC non-tidal Potomac + C&O Canal + Rock Creek; statewide standard rule. Those are the 2026 District of Columbia dates; always confirm against District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) — Fisheries and Wildlife Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the District of Columbia bag limit for smallmouth bass?: The District of Columbia daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth) — DC standard. The possession limit is 10 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size smallmouth bass can you keep in District of Columbia?: The District of Columbia size rule for smallmouth bass is 12 in min DC standard. Trophy rule: DC non-tidal Potomac smallmouth 3-5 lb come from the rocky pools + drop-offs between Chain Bridge + the Maryland line; trophy fish more common upstream in MD + WV sections.
Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in District of Columbia?: Yes. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia license — compare resident and non-resident District of Columbia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for smallmouth bass in District of Columbia?: Yes. In District of Columbia, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; DC Fishing Licence required ages 16-64; NPS regulations apply on Rock Creek + C&O Canal sections.
Do specific District of Columbia waters have different smallmouth bass rules?: Yes. 3 named District of Columbia waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Potomac River — upstream of Chain Bridge, C&O Canal — Georgetown + Glover-Archbold sections, Rock Creek + Rock Creek Park. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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