What special fishing regulations apply at Ross Barnett Reservoir?

Ross Barnett Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Crappie (white + black) and Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "33,000-acre Pearl River Valley Water Supply District reservoir near Jackson — central-MS flagship; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central rotation venue + BASS Opens Central; largemouth harvest 14 in & under + 7 / day (bass over 14 in protected); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; trophy channel + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); Pearl River boundary water." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Ross Barnett Reservoir?

Yes. Ross Barnett Reservoir 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 Ross Barnett Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.

Do Ross Barnett Reservoir's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Ross Barnett Reservoir 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 Ross Barnett Reservoir?

Crappie (white + black) and Largemouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on Ross Barnett Reservoir, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.

Does Ross Barnett Reservoir host fishing tournaments?

Yes. Ross Barnett Reservoir is a recurring stop for BASS and MLF circuits. 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

Ross Barnett Reservoir 2026 — Mississippi Fishing Regulations

Mississippi statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Ross Barnett Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Mississippi's 2026 fishing rules — covering Crappie (white + black), Largemouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Ross Barnett Reservoir (MS) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

33,000-acre Pearl River Valley Water Supply District reservoir near Jackson — central-MS flagship; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central rotation venue + BASS Opens Central; largemouth harvest 14 in & under + 7 / day (bass over 14 in protected); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; trophy channel + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); Pearl River boundary water
Source: Mississippi special-water list

Per-species rules on Ross Barnett Reservoir

Crappie (white + black) regulations →
10 in min, 30 / day; central-MS flagship
Largemouth bass regulations →
Harvest 14 in & under, 7 / day; central-MS flagship; MLF Toyota Series + BASS Opens venue

Tournament circuit

Ross Barnett Reservoir 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.

BASSBassmaster Opens — Central Division
Largemouth bass · Spring (April – May)
33,000-acre Pearl River Valley Water Supply District reservoir near Jackson — central-MS flagship and recurring Bassmaster Open Central Division rotation venue. 14 in min largemouth + 10 / day combined supports a 5+ lb pre-spawn pattern; the dense lily-pad fields + cypress-tupelo shoreline drive a flipping + frogging event. MDWFP-managed striped + hybrid striped bass overlay produces an additional bag during bass-tournament weekends.
Official BASS schedule →
MLFMLF Toyota Series — Central Division
Largemouth bass · Spring (March – May)
Recurring Toyota Series Central stop on the Pearl River — Ross Barnett's mix of grass + timber + flooded structure produces a power-fishing tournament profile. Pearl River boundary work-up downstream not in play for typical lake events.
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 Ross Barnett Reservoir?: Ross Barnett Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Mississippi's statewide 2026 rules, covering Crappie (white + black) and Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "33,000-acre Pearl River Valley Water Supply District reservoir near Jackson — central-MS flagship; recurring MLF Toyota Series Central rotation venue + BASS Opens Central; largemouth harvest 14 in & under + 7 / day (bass over 14 in protected); 10 in min crappie + 30 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; trophy channel + flathead catfish (no statewide creel or length limit); Pearl River boundary water." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Ross Barnett Reservoir?: Yes. Ross Barnett Reservoir 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 Ross Barnett Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Mississippi rules.
Do Ross Barnett Reservoir's special rules replace Mississippi's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Mississippi's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Ross Barnett Reservoir 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 Ross Barnett Reservoir?: Crappie (white + black) and Largemouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on Ross Barnett Reservoir, each linking to its full Mississippi regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Mississippi limits.
Does Ross Barnett Reservoir host fishing tournaments?: Yes. Ross Barnett Reservoir is a recurring stop for BASS and MLF circuits. 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