2026 regulation year
Kansas Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus salmoides
Last updated
Kansas largemouth bass fishery centers on the 24 major USACE + Bureau of Reclamation federal reservoirs across the prairie + flint-hill physiographic regions — the species is the statewide tournament + recreational target. Kansas raised the statewide black-bass minimum to 15 inches — largemouth, smallmouth and spotted (Kentucky / black spotted) bass share a combined 5-fish daily aggregate. The flagship reservoirs (Milford Lake — Kansas's largest, recurring Bassmaster Opens Central + MLF Toyota Series + FLW Tour venue; Wilson Lake — clearest water in KS; Cheney Reservoir — Wichita municipal supply; El Dorado Reservoir — south-central flagship) all run the 15-inch statewide minimum. A band of trophy-managed reservoirs steps the minimum up to 18 inches (Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder), while Big Hill Reservoir runs a 15–21-inch protected slot and most State Fishing Lakes run a 13–18-inch protected slot. Open year-round statewide — March – May pre-spawn + spawn is the densest fishing window of the year. Kansas state-record largemouth bass 11 lb 12.8 oz (private pond, 1977). KDWP stocks Florida-strain + intergrade largemouth selectively on quality-management reservoirs to support trophy potential. The southeastern KS Mined Land Wildlife Area (Cherokee + Crawford Counties — 14,500 acres of reclaimed strip-mine pits, KDWP-managed) carries one of the densest largemouth + crappie pond complexes in the state.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round statewide; March – May pre-spawn + spawn densest fishing window; no spring spawning closure (unlike VT + NJ).
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted)
- Possession
- 15 in possession (3× the daily creel — KDWP standard)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in min statewide; 18 in min on Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder + Bone Creek; 15–21 in protected slot on Big Hill; 13–18 in protected slot on most State Fishing Lakes
- Trophy rule
- Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder run an 18 in trophy minimum + 5 / day combined; Big Hill 15–21 in protected slot; KS state-record largemouth 11 lb 12.8 oz private pond 1977; KDWP Florida-strain stocking on the flagship reservoirs supports trophy potential
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
- Snagging prohibited for black bass
- Florida-strain + intergrade largemouth stocked by KDWP on quality-management reservoirs
- KS Fishing Licence required ages 16+ ($27.50 res / $52.50 NR annual)
- Confirm current-year KDWP Fishing Regulations Summary for special waters list
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Kansas waters:
Tuttle Creek Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined; Big Blue River impoundment north of Manhattan
Perry Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined; Topeka-area urban-accessible reservoir
Clinton Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined; Lawrence-area urban-accessible reservoir
Hillsdale Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined; suburban Kansas City reservoir
Marion Reservoir
18 in min, 5 / day combined
Glen Elder Reservoir / Waconda Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined
Milford Lake
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide); recurring Bassmaster Opens Central + MLF Toyota Series + FLW Tour venue
Wilson Lake
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide); clear-water reservoir
Cheney Reservoir
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide); Wichita-area sport-fishing flagship
El Dorado Reservoir
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide); south-central KS flagship
Pomona Lake
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide)
Council Grove Lake
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide)
Big Hill Reservoir
15–21 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 15–21 in); USACE reservoir near Cherryvale
Melvern Reservoir
18 in min, 5 / day; USACE Marais des Cygnes River reservoir S of Topeka
La Cygne Reservoir
18 in min, 5 / day; Evergy power-plant cooling lake — year-round warm water grows trophy largemouth
Bone Creek Reservoir
18 in min, 5 / day; SE-Kansas reservoir near Girard
Crawford State Fishing Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; Crawford State Park
Middle Creek State Fishing Lake
18 in min, 2 / day; SFL S of Louisburg
Lyon State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); SFL N of Emporia
Woodson State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); SFL E of Toronto
Douglas State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); SFL near Baldwin City (Lawrence area)
Miami State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); SFL near Osawatomie
Montgomery State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); SFL S of Independence
Chase State Fishing Lake
13–18 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 13–18 in); Flint Hills SFL W of Cottonwood Falls
Official source
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Kansasfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
Visit official Kansas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Kansas trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is largemouth bass season in Kansas?
- Kansas 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 Kansas bag limit for largemouth bass?
- The Kansas daily bag limit for largemouth bass is 5 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted). The possession limit is 15 in possession (3× the daily creel — KDWP standard). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size largemouth bass can you keep in Kansas?
- The Kansas size rule for largemouth bass is 15 in min statewide; 18 in min on Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder + Bone Creek; 15–21 in protected slot on Big Hill; 13–18 in protected slot on most State Fishing Lakes. Trophy rule: Tuttle Creek + Perry + Clinton + Hillsdale + Marion + Melvern + La Cygne + Glen Elder run an 18 in trophy minimum + 5 / day combined; Big Hill 15–21 in protected slot; KS state-record largemouth 11 lb 12.8 oz private pond 1977; KDWP Florida-strain stocking on the flagship reservoirs supports trophy potential.
- Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Kansas?
- Yes. Kansas 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 Kansas license — compare resident and non-resident Kansas fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Kansas?
- Yes. In Kansas, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Snagging prohibited for black bass; Florida-strain + intergrade largemouth stocked by KDWP on quality-management reservoirs; KS Fishing Licence required ages 16+ ($27.50 res / $52.50 NR annual); Confirm current-year KDWP Fishing Regulations Summary for special waters list.
- Do specific Kansas waters have different largemouth bass rules?
- Yes. 24 named Kansas waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Tuttle Creek Lake, Perry Lake, Clinton Lake, and 21 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.