Missouri regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Missouri 2026
Missouri smallmouth bass 2026 open seasons vary by 39 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 6/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from Conservation.
Rules (55)
All Ozark StreamsIn season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Possession
- 12 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Big Piney River - Slabtown Access To Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Big Piney River From Slabtown Access To The Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Big River - Council Bluff Lake Dam To Meramec River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Big River From The Council Bluff Lake Dam To The Meramec River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Big River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Blue Springs Creek
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Bourbeuse River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Courtois Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Dry Fork Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Eleven Point River - Thomasville Access To Arkansas Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Eleven Point River From Thomasville Access To The Arkansas Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Elk River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Gasconade River From Highway Y In Pulaski County To Highway D In Phelps County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Huzzah Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Jacks Fork River From Highway 17 To The Current River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
James River - Hooten Town Bridge To Highway 413/265 Bridge
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
James River From Hooten Town Bridge (The Loop Road At Route O) To The Highway 413/Highway 265 Bridge At Galena
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Joachim Creek From Jefferson County Highway V Bridge To Highway A Bridge
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Meramec River - Highway 8 To Bird's Nest Railroad
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Meramec River From Highway 8 Bridge To The Railroad Crossing At Bird’s Nest
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Meramec River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Mineral Fork From Highway F In Washington County To The Big River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Mineral Fork Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Osage Fork Of The Gasconade River - Skyline Drive To Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Osage Fork Of The Gasconade River From Skyline Drive Bridge Near Orla In Laclede County To The Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Tenmile Creek From Highway B In Carter County To Cane Creek
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Other Missouri fish regulations
Other regulated species in Missouri with current rule pages — same Conservation source, same verification cadence.
- Crappie (Black & White)27 rules
- Largemouth Bass20 rules
- Walleye18 rules
- Blue Catfish15 rules
- Channel Catfish6 rules
- Flathead Catfish6 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)4 rules
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Missouri.
Frequently asked questions
When is Smallmouth Bass season in Missouri?
Smallmouth Bass season in Missouri runs from May 23 to Feb 28 per Conservation.
What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Missouri?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Missouri is 12 inches in All Ozark Streams, per Conservation. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Missouri?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Missouri is 1 fish/day in Big Piney River - Slabtown Access To Gasconade River, per Conservation.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/missouri/fishing/special-waterbody-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/missouri/fishing/fishing-regulations
- https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/seasons/black-bass-ozark-streams
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with Conservation before keeping a catch.