What special fishing regulations apply at Bay Springs Lake?

Bay Springs Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass. One of them reads: "6,700-acre Tenn-Tom Waterway impoundment; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central stop on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; 10 / day combined black bass (no statewide minimum length); upper Tenn-Tom smallmouth; 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; channel + flathead catfish." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Bay Springs Lake?

Yes. Bay Springs Lake is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bay Springs Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.

Do Bay Springs Lake's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bay Springs Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Bay Springs Lake?

Smallmouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Bay Springs Lake, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

Does Bay Springs Lake host fishing tournaments?

Yes. Bay Springs Lake is a recurring stop for MLF circuit. Typical windows and the official schedule links are in the Tournament circuit section above; exact 2026 dates are confirmed on each circuit's official schedule.

2026 regulation year

Bay Springs Lake 2026 — Mississippi Fishing Regulations

Mississippi statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Bay Springs Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Mississippi's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

6,700-acre Tenn-Tom Waterway impoundment; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central stop on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; 10 / day combined black bass (no statewide minimum length); upper Tenn-Tom smallmouth; 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; channel + flathead catfish
Source: Mississippi special-water list

Per-species rules on Bay Springs Lake

Smallmouth bass regulations →
10 / day combined black bass (no statewide minimum length); upper Tenn-Tom smallmouth

Tournament circuit

Bay Springs Lake is a recurring stop on one of the pro / semi-pro tournament circuits — BASS and MLF freshwater bass series, FLW (now MLF Toyota Series), or the IFA Redfish Tour inshore-saltwater divisions. Schedules shift year to year — typical-window guidance below, with the official circuit schedule linked for current 2026 confirmation.

MLFMLF Toyota Series — Central Division
Largemouth bass · Spring (March – April)
6,700-acre Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway impoundment in northeast Mississippi — recurring Toyota Series Central rotation venue. The Tenn-Tom canal system creates a multi-pool structure unlike traditional reservoirs; tournament strategy mixes the main-lake ledge fishery with the long canal-arm pattern. 15 in min largemouth + 10 / day combined keeps the daily-weights high.
Official MLF schedule →

Browse all tournament-circuit venues →

Official source

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks publishes the authoritative 2026 Mississippi fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Mississippi fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Mississippi trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Mississippi

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Bay Springs Lake?: Bay Springs Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass. One of them reads: "6,700-acre Tenn-Tom Waterway impoundment; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central stop on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway; 10 / day combined black bass (no statewide minimum length); upper Tenn-Tom smallmouth; 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; channel + flathead catfish." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Bay Springs Lake?: Yes. Bay Springs Lake is in Mississippi, so a valid Mississippi fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bay Springs Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.
Do Bay Springs Lake's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bay Springs Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Bay Springs Lake?: Smallmouth bass has a water-body-specific rule on Bay Springs Lake, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.
Does Bay Springs Lake host fishing tournaments?: Yes. Bay Springs Lake is a recurring stop for MLF circuit. Typical windows and the official schedule links are in the Tournament circuit section above; exact 2026 dates are confirmed on each circuit's official schedule.

← Back to Mississippi regulations overview