12 inch limit on spotted bass to go into effect April 30

[Quillback]

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A new regulation change is being implemented this year and will hopefully improve fishing for anglers who enjoy catching spotted bass at Table Rock Lake.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced that the new minimum length limit for the spotted bass (also called Kentucky bass) will lower from 15 inches to 12 inches. This new minimum length regulation will go into effect April 30.

This regulation change only affects spotted bass in Table Rock Lake. The minimum length limits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass will remain 15 inches. The current daily limit of 6 bass per day and 12 in possession (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass combined) will also remain the same. 

Table Rock’s previous 15-inch minimum length limit for spotted bass dated back to 1976, when the regulation was adopted for all three black bass species (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted) in the lake. At that time, spotted bass comprised approximately 10 percent of Table Rock Lake’s black bass population.

However, recent MDC sampling shows spotted bass now comprise 38 percent of Table Rock’s black bass population and many never reach 15 inches before the end of their life.

“Our surveys indicate that both the largemouth and smallmouth bass populations remain very healthy in Table Rock Lake. Increased angler harvest of smaller, slower growing spotted bass should help to improve the populations of all three species of black bass in the lake” said Fisheries Biologist Shane Bush.

MDC’s Regulations Committee reviewed public comments, and the Commission approved the regulation change in Feb. 2026. 

This regulation change will also simplify spotted bass regulations among other lakes in Missouri as well as the Arkansas portions of Table Rock Lake, all of which have a 12-inch minimum length limit for spotted bass currently in place.

Learn more about fishing opportunities at Table Rock Lake and elsewhere in Missouri at

[Flysmallie]

Gonna be a blood bath. And a whole lot of fisherman that, all of a sudden, can’t tell them apart. 
 

I hope it works. 

[mosebass]

Terrible change by MDC

We’ve been blessed to have an abundance of 15 to 18 inch kentuckies in Table rock for decades.

This change will limit the quality size we have enjoyed for future fishing.

3 and 4 lb spots are so much fun

feel sorry for the younger anglers as my generation was fortunate to fish for quality bass in the 70’s 80’s 90’s

 

 

[tjm]

12 minutes ago, mosebass said:

my generation was fortunate to fish for quality bass in the 70’s 80’s

Was that before so many tournaments were held?  

[mosebass]

No, there were tournaments, but not the number that we have now

The difference back then was they had charity benefit tournaments that drew hundreds and hundreds of boats a couple times a year

 

 not the number of circuits that there are today

definitely needs to be regulated

[cheesemaster]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

Gonna be a blood bath. And a whole lot of fisherman that, all of a sudden, can’t tell them apart. 
 

I hope it works. 

I was going to say the same thing. Some people don’t know the difference between a spot and a LM. 
On the bright side - I might be able to catch a keeper sized fish now!! lol. 

[Dock-in-it]

Regarding the MDC statement that some of the spotted bass do not reach 15 inches before the end of their life.

This would appear to be a genetics issue or very lazy bass. 

During the cold weather months I routinely see tons on shad with no bass in sight. I also see bass that do not take full advantage of shad schools within very close proximity. I routinely have fish suspended under the boat in prime feeding window(s) and they appear to care less about feeding. 

In reality I think this change will have minor impact on the spotted bass, with that said I hope the guides utilize some common sense.

[tjm]

45 minutes ago, Dock-in-it said:

This would appear to be a genetics issue

It seems that is what the fisheries people believe, it seems to be their reasoning for lowering the length limits. 

[Alex Heitman]

They missed on this one. All the other lakes with 12 inch limits do not compare to what table rock has 

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Alex Heitman said:

They missed on this one. All the other lakes with 12 inch limits do not compare to what table rock has 

 

True that.  A 15"+ Kentucky is pretty rare anywhere else in the state.