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

[Champ188]

On 2/19/2026 at 9:49 AM, tjm said:

Was that before so many tournaments were held?  

That's darn sure been a factor. Sometime between 10 to 15 years ago, it got to where there were so many derbies that none of them pay worth a crap. But the fragile-ego boys get to go home and say I won even though there were only seven boats in their tournament LOL.

Wasn't worth the money anymore for me. I know a lot of others felt the same because they quit when I did. And boy do  I ever love being able to fish where I want, when I want these days. 

[Quillback]

10 hours ago, tjm said:

Doesn't Ar.  already have a 12" limit? 

No size limit on spots in Beaver Lake.  You can keep 6 of them.  They changed to the no size limit a few years back, they (AGFC) want anglers to keep spots.

[BilletHead]

8 minutes ago, Quillback said:

No size limit on spots in Beaver Lake.  You can keep 6 of them.  They changed to the no size limit a few years back, they (AGFC) want anglers to keep spots.

             Interesting Jeff. You are pretty intimate with your home waters. Has this management messed up Beaver? How many years have you fished there. I follow your reports and you are still catching some really nice spotted bass. Bill said the fishing will mess up things in three years, ozarksfishin says two years. Jeff, have you seen any changes at Beaver problem with people over the years keeping spots?  Big lakes are nothing but a big pond and need managed. You don't just release everything you catch back you harvest a few from year classes to keep it healthy. Same as deer management. 

    Another thing. There was a remark about how a kid could put a worm under a bobber with a zebco 33 and catch a limit of spotted bass. I would like to remind folks by asking a question. Just how did you start fishing? I'm betting most of not all of you started out just like that. I know I did. None of us were born fishing out of a bass boat with a high dollar rod and reel. Revisit this in two to three years maybe. Seems to be a lot of doom and gloom about this. Has anyone actually personally talked to someone at MDC and actually listened to why they are doing this?

   I know many of you don't like MDC and bash them, but we have it pretty good in this state. There is something for everyone in the outdoors not just one particular group. First thing we learned in kindergarten was to share. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 hours ago, Quillback said:

Otherwise all we are going to have is anecdotal evidence.  In other words, it will depend on who you talk to as to the results.

Wasn’t the major part of the MDCs decision based on creel surveys?    I hope it doesn’t mess with the big spot population.   They are fun to fish for and catch.   Although I only rarely catch them shallow.  

[tjm]

So if any kid can catch spotted bass off any boat dock using worms, why do real fishermen need boats and electronics to catch them? Why do people pay guides to help them catch these worm hungry boat dock fish? 

[BilletHead]

2 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Wasn’t the major part of the MDCs decision based on creel surveys?    I hope it doesn’t mess with the big spot population.   They are fun to fish for and catch.   Although I only rarely catch them shallow.  

                 They are fun to catch I agree and I also hope it doesn't mess with the big spot population. I would still like to get an answer to exactly why this was changed. 

[Quillback]

Marty - I have not seen any change in the bass population in Beaver since the no length limit went into effect.  I usually fish the lower end of the lake targeting smallmouth, which seems to have held up well.   

[Quillback]

39 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Wasn’t the major part of the MDCs decision based on creel surveys?    I hope it doesn’t mess with the big spot population.   They are fun to fish for and catch.   Although I only rarely catch them shallow.  

I don't know the whole story, and I certainly have never had anyone from MDC give me any kind of survey, but I'm pretty sure they do an annual capture of bass either by netting or maybe electro shocking.  Might be able to search the MDC website and find the results.  They capture the fish in the same location every year so they have a baseline to go by.  I believe this is one of the major influences on their management decisions.  

[tjm]

From MDC article

Quote

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.

I guess one could contact Shane Bush for further clarification. But, I'd think analyzing annual surveys over  a 50 year time span and seeing the 10% becoming 38% while determining the age of sample fish of various sizes  probably all influenced the decision and I am pretty sure they sent out emails about this months ago seeking public input, so anyone interested that had actual data related to the fishery, or even strong opinions,  could have presented it to the Commission. 

The very fact that Table Rock is considered as such a good bass fishery now illustrates the effectiveness of MDC management. 

[Quillback]

From the MDC website (Table Rock):

Annual Prospects Report

Fishing for black bass should be excellent in 2026.  Largemouth bass are plentiful throughout the lake as a result of the high lake levels in past years.  Fall 2025 electrofishing surveys revealed good numbers of largemouth bass in the 15”-18” range.  These surveys also revealed an abundance of spotted bass in the 11”-14” range, with just three percent of the spotted bass captured in the fall 2025 surveys exceeding 15”.   Due to the high abundance and slow growth rates of spotted bass in Table Rock Lake, the minimum length limit is planned to be reduced to 12” in 2026.  Anglers are encouraged to harvest spotted bass to help reduce overcrowding and improve growth.  Smallmouth bass fishing should be good in 2026 with good numbers of keeper size fish available.  Largemouth and spotted bass comprise the majority of the black bass population in the river arms, while smallmouth bass comprise a substantial segment of the black bass population in the main lake from the Highway 86 bridge to Campbell Point.  Anglers need to fish a variety of water depths and types to find bass. Outside of the spring spawning period and in the fall, bass are often found in deeper, offshore water. Extended main lake points, humps, and bluffs are productive areas. Jigs, spoons, and drop-shot rigs are effective during summer months in the 10-25 foot range or deeper, depending upon the depth of the thermocline.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass can typically be caught fishing on the bottom while spotted bass are commonly found suspended over deep water following schools of baitfish.  Good electronics can greatly increase your chances of finding suspended schools of spotted bass.