Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Pound for pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in North America, smallmouth bass thrive in clear rocky lakes and rivers from the Great Lakes to the Ozarks and across the Northeast. Legendary for their acrobatic leaps and dogged resistance on light tackle, they are a top-tier gamefish wherever they swim.
Seasonal Activity
Best Techniques
- tube jigs on rocks
- drop-shotting
- crankbaits
- topwater
- fly fishing rivers
Top Baits
- tube jigs
- crayfish imitations
- live crayfish
- jerkbaits
- drop-shot minnows
Fishing Regulations
Season dates and limits for Smallmouth Bass, by state. This list may not cover every state yet — always confirm current rules with your state's wildlife agency before you fish.
Alabama 1 zone
Combined 10 black bass daily limit. Found mainly in northern Alabama rivers and streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: outdooralabama.com
Arizona 1 zone
Combined 6 bass daily limit. Smallmouth found primarily in Verde River system and some reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: azgfd.com
Arkansas 1 zone
Minimum length 14 inches. Combined with largemouth and spotted bass for daily bag of 6.
Effective 2025 · Source: agfc.com
California 1 zone
Open year-round. 12-inch minimum size limit. Combined with largemouth bass for daily bag limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.ca.gov
Colorado 1 zone
12-inch minimum. Found in rivers and reservoirs. Combined with largemouth bass in the daily limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: cpw.state.co.us
Connecticut 1 zone
Open season from the third Saturday in June through November 30. Catch-and-release from December 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: portal.ct.gov
Delaware 1 zone
Combined 6 bass daily limit with largemouth bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov
Georgia 1 zone
Minimum size 12 inches. Included in black bass aggregate daily limit of 10. Found primarily in north Georgia streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: georgiawildlife.com
Hawaii 1 zone
Smallmouth bass found in some reservoirs. 10 per day combined with largemouth bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: dlnr.hawaii.gov
Idaho 1 zone
No minimum size. Found in Snake River system. Liberal harvest encouraged.
Effective 2025 · Source: idfg.idaho.gov
Illinois 1 zone
Open year-round. Combined daily bag with largemouth and spotted bass of 6 total. Good smallmouth fishing in Kankakee River, Rock River, and other stream systems.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.illinois.gov
Indiana 1 zone
Open year-round. Combined daily bag with largemouth and spotted bass of 5 total. Good smallmouth fishing in Wabash River and other stream systems.
Effective 2025 · Source: in.gov
Iowa 1 zone
Minimum length 14 inches. Combined with largemouth bass for daily bag of 5.
Effective 2025 · Source: iowadnr.gov
Kansas 1 zone
Minimum length 15 inches. Combined black bass daily bag of 5.
Effective 2025 · Source: ksoutdoors.com
Kentucky 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 6. Excellent fishery in Kentucky and Green Rivers.
Effective 2025 · Source: fw.ky.gov
Maine 1 zone
Open season June 1 through September 30. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted year-round in waters open to fishing.
Effective 2025 · Source: maine.gov
Maryland 1 zone
Open year-round statewide. Popular in the Potomac River and western Maryland streams. Five fish daily creel limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.maryland.gov
Massachusetts 1 zone
Open season from the first Saturday in July through the last day of February. Catch-and-release from March 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: mass.gov
Michigan 1 zone
Possession opens Saturday before Memorial Day. Combined 5 fish daily limit with largemouth. Catch-and-release runs year-round.
Effective 2026 · Source: michigan.gov
Minnesota 1 zone
Same regulations as largemouth bass. Combined daily bag of 6 bass total. Catch-and-release opens with walleye season. Harvest season begins Memorial Day weekend.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.state.mn.us
Missouri 1 zone
Minimum length 15 inches. Combined black bass daily bag of 6.
Effective 2025 · Source: mdc.mo.gov
Montana 1 zone
Found in Yellowstone and Missouri river drainages. No minimum size.
Effective 2025 · Source: fwp.mt.gov
Nebraska 1 zone
Combined 5 bass daily limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: outdoornebraska.gov
Nevada 1 zone
12-inch minimum size, combined 5 bass daily limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: ndow.org
New Hampshire 1 zone
Open season from June 15 through March 31. Popular species in New Hampshire lakes and rivers.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.nh.gov
New Jersey 1 zone
Open season from second Saturday in June through March 31. Catch-and-release from April 1 through day before the open season.
Effective 2025 · Source: nj.gov
New Mexico 1 zone
Combined 5 bass daily limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.state.nm.us
New York 1 zone
Regular bass season. Catch-and-release season runs from December 1 through the Friday before the third Saturday in June.
Effective 2025 · Source: dec.ny.gov
North Carolina 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 5. Found in mountain and piedmont streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: ncwildlife.org
North Dakota 1 zone
Combined 5 bass daily limit.
Effective 2025 · Source: gf.nd.gov
Ohio 1 zone
Open year-round. Combined daily bag with largemouth and spotted bass of 5 total. Excellent smallmouth fishing in Lake Erie and Ohio River tributaries.
Effective 2025 · Source: ohiodnr.gov
Oklahoma 1 zone
Combined 6 black bass daily limit with largemouth and spotted bass.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlifedepartment.com
Oregon 1 zone
No minimum size statewide. Found in rivers including the John Day, Umpqua, and Columbia tributaries.
Effective 2025 · Source: myodfw.com
Pennsylvania 1 zone
Open year-round but catch-and-release only from mid-April through mid-June. Combined bass daily bag with largemouth of 6 total. Pennsylvania has world-class smallmouth fishing in the Susquehanna River, Delaware River, and Allegheny River.
Effective 2025 · Source: fishandboat.com
Rhode Island 1 zone
12-inch minimum, combined 5 bass daily limit with largemouth. Catch and release only December through February.
Effective 2025 · Source: dem.ri.gov
South Carolina 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 5. Found in upstate rivers and streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.sc.gov
South Dakota 1 zone
Combined 5 bass daily limit. Smallmouth bass found in Black Hills streams and some reservoirs.
Effective 2025 · Source: gfp.sd.gov
Tennessee 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 5. Excellent fishery in Tennessee rivers and streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: tn.gov
Texas 1 zone
Combined daily bag of 5 with largemouth bass. Minimum length 14 inches.
Effective 2025 · Source: tpwd.texas.gov
Utah 1 zone
Liberal limits. Harvest encouraged as they are invasive in some waters. Found in Flaming Gorge and others.
Effective 2025 · Source: wildlife.utah.gov
Vermont 1 zone
Open season from the second Saturday in June through November 30. Catch-and-release from December 1 through opening day.
Effective 2025 · Source: vtfishandwildlife.com
Virginia 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 5. Excellent populations in Shenandoah Valley and mountain streams.
Effective 2025 · Source: dwr.virginia.gov
Washington 1 zone
Liberal limits. Found in the Columbia and Snake River systems. No minimum size.
Effective 2025 · Source: wdfw.wa.gov
West Virginia 1 zone
Included in black bass aggregate limit of 6. Outstanding fishery in New, Greenbrier, and Potomac rivers.
Effective 2025 · Source: wvdnr.gov
Wisconsin 1 zone
Same season and limits as largemouth bass. Combined daily bag of 5 bass (largemouth and smallmouth). Catch-and-release season open all year on most waters.
Effective 2025 · Source: dnr.wisconsin.gov
Wyoming 1 zone
Found in Flaming Gorge and Bighorn River system. No minimum size.
Effective 2025 · Source: wgfd.wyo.gov
State Records
Official rod & reel records by state. Log your catch to see how you compare.
| State | Weight | Length | Angler | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN | 11.94 lb | — | D.L. Hayes | 1955 | Dale Hollow Reservoir |
| NC | 10.13 lb | — | — | 1951 | Hiwassee Reservoir |
| MI | 9.98 lb | 23.1 in | — | 2016 | Indian River |
| CA | 9.81 lb | — | Harold Hardin | 2007 | Pardee Reservoir |
| OH | 9.5 lb | — | Randy Van Dam | 1993 | Lake Erie |
| WI | 9.06 lb | — | Leon Stefoneck | 1950 | Indian Lake |
| NY | 9 lb | — | Dante Piraino | 2024 | St. Lawrence River |
| WA | 8.75 lb | — | Ray Wonacott | 1966 | Columbia River |
| PA | 8.5 lb | — | Robert T. Steelman | 1997 | Scotts Run Lake |
| VA | 8.06 lb | — | Donald S. Eaton Jr. | 2003 | New River |
| MN | 8 lb | — | — | — | West Battle Lake |
| TX | 7.93 lb | — | Timothy Teague | 1998 | Lake Meredith |
| IN | 7.25 lb | — | Dana Yoder | — | Twin Lake |
| IL | 7.2 lb | — | Joseph Capilupo | 2019 | Lake Michigan |
| GA | 7.13 lb | — | Jack Hall | 1973 | Lake Chatuge |
| MO | 7.13 lb | — | Kevin S. Clingan | 1994 | Stockton Lake |
Caught a Smallmouth Bass?
Log your catch and see how it stacks up against state records.
Log a CatchReport an issue
See something wrong, missing, or out of date? Let us know — we read every report.