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

[tjm]

10 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

Seems weird to me that the survey was done in the fall.  Electrofishing is only effective in shallower water.  Are the spots that shallow when the survey was conducted?  Up here they shock the local lakes in the Spring just prior to spawn when the fish are shallow.

I don't think we know when they did the surveys. The term used was "recent" and that could be two or three years ago or last week, or three times per year for the past five years. I doubt the rule change was based on a single survey or on two surveys. I'm kinda familiar with MDC's studies of furbearers and of upland birds and those all take years of data collection to support even minor conclusions. I do know that in the past MDC has been very open to trapper suggestions regarding furbearer seasons and rules. That makes me think they would have heard all these complaints, speculations and anecdotes and considered them prior to the rule change, if they had been brought up.   

[olbasser]

Shane Bush responded to my email regarding the basis of the length change.  My initial concern was what data was used to make this decision.  His response provided a large dataset on fish population, size, etc.  He indicated that this data was plugged into a fisheries management model which lead to the length limit. At least it seems that this change was based on objective data.

It would seem to me that this fisheries management model would then project what the outcome of length change has on the population.  Should we expect a size increase in spots, a change in largemouth populations, etc.  Sent another email with these questions and will post response.

[DADAKOTA]

The report Quillback posted says, "Fall 2025 electrofishing surveys..." 

[Bill Babler]

This will be my last post on the subject as most of my post get continuously misconstrued.  

As I’ve stated sub-legal or immature spotted bass ( under 15”) are available under most commercial docks. They are schooling fish and a lot of times, not all, they will school with similar size of the same species. 
And yes, at times there are mature spots on docks, that’s why they are targeted there.  Docks however are for the most part a nursery or safe haven with cover for the juveniles  

There is a caveat.  Mature spotted bass are open water predators and almost constantly on the move   One day there can be 100 on a transition and the next day but a few or none  

I have been enthralled with spotted bass since the early 70’s on TRL when tutored by the late great Rex Grady.  He called the big ones “Grey Ones” usually 18” to 20 plus inches.

Since that time I have spent 1000’s upon 1000’s of hours strictly fishing for spotted bass and following their 4 season migration and adaptations. 

There are dozens of locations that spotted bass spawned in the 80’s and 90’s even the early to mid 2000’s, that hold very few if any breeding pairs in season.  In conjunction there are locations that in the past that showed no spawning K’s that are loaded with spawning fish in season. 

By repeated study of spawning locations I sincerely hope the biologist are taking this pattern movement into consideration. 

The bounty I mentioned is not a monetary bounty it’s one the bass will pay with their lives. 

As far as seasonal surveys, I personally have not seen the survey checkers out in the past and I’m guessing here last 7 years. After the fish kill they were out in force years ago. 

My concern is not only harvesting spotted bass prior to them reaching their potential but also the harvest of both LM and SM that are sub-legal. 

In my 30 plus years of guiding magnificent clients on TR, maybe 10 out of a hundred knew the difference between a LM and a K.  
Maybe 50% knew the difference between a SM a carp or a walleye. 

These are the folks that fish 8 or 10 days a year but come to the resorts and fish off the docks or hire a guide for a day on the water. 

Someone mentioned they don’t think there are many bass harvested. I believe with the new reg’s there will be as MDC is saying by this measure we want the numbers reduced. 
By harvesting 12” to 14” fish it truly diminishes the number that can get to that 18/20 inch mark that has made TR one of the top 10 spotted bass fisheries in America. 

In the past most guides were in  protection mode and the 15” limit helped in the preservation allowing the bass to help reach potential. 
With the new reg’s with MDC wanting harvest that takes the arrow out of the quiver.  It will be virtually impossible if the client desires to not harvest 12” under 1pound fish. 

I respect everyone’s opinion on this topic, but mine comes from spending a lifetime in the study and pursuit of these marvelous scrappy unpredictable creatures God has blessed us with.  I!d hate to see they’re demise or ability to be truly magnificent as they currently are on Table Rock Lake. 











 

[Smithvillesteve]

Great post Bill. Dont give up the fight. I can respect everybody's opinion on this topic but i sure give more credence to a man that has spent most of his life fishing and guiding on this lake. All i know is that i catch more big spots on Table Rock than any of the other lakes. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, Bill Babler said:

This will be my last post on the subject as most of my post get continuously misconstrued.  

As I’ve stated sub-legal or immature spotted bass ( under 15”) are available under most commercial docks. They are schooling fish and a lot of times, not all, they will school with similar size of the same species. 
And yes, at times there are mature spots on docks, that’s why they are targeted there.  Docks however are for the most part a nursery or safe haven with cover for the juveniles  

There is a caveat.  Mature spotted bass are open water predators and almost constantly on the move   One day there can be 100 on a transition and the next day but a few or none  

I have been enthralled with spotted bass since the early 70’s on TRL when tutored by the late great Rex Grady.  He called the big ones “Grey Ones” usually 18” to 20 plus inches.

Since that time I have spent 1000’s upon 1000’s of hours strictly fishing for spotted bass and following their 4 season migration and adaptations. 

There are dozens of locations that spotted bass spawned in the 80’s and 90’s even the early to mid 2000’s, that hold very few if any breeding pairs in season.  In conjunction there are locations that in the past that showed no spawning K’s that are loaded with spawning fish in season. 

By repeated study of spawning locations I sincerely hope the biologist are taking this pattern movement into consideration. 

The bounty I mentioned is not a monetary bounty it’s one the bass will pay with their lives. 

As far as seasonal surveys, I personally have not seen the survey checkers out in the past and I’m guessing here last 7 years. After the fish kill they were out in force years ago. 

My concern is not only harvesting spotted bass prior to them reaching their potential but also the harvest of both LM and SM that are sub-legal. 

In my 30 plus years of guiding magnificent clients on TR, maybe 10 out of a hundred knew the difference between a LM and a K.  
Maybe 50% knew the difference between a SM a carp or a walleye. 

These are the folks that fish 8 or 10 days a year but come to the resorts and fish off the docks or hire a guide for a day on the water. 

Someone mentioned they don’t think there are many bass harvested. I believe with the new reg’s there will be as MDC is saying by this measure we want the numbers reduced. 
By harvesting 12” to 14” fish it truly diminishes the number that can get to that 18/20 inch mark that has made TR one of the top 10 spotted bass fisheries in America. 

In the past most guides were in  protection mode and the 15” limit helped in the preservation allowing the bass to help reach potential. 
With the new reg’s with MDC wanting harvest that takes the arrow out of the quiver.  It will be virtually impossible if the client desires to not harvest 12” under 1pound fish. 

I respect everyone’s opinion on this topic, but mine comes from spending a lifetime in the study and pursuit of these marvelous scrappy unpredictable creatures God has blessed us with.  I!d hate to see they’re demise or ability to be truly magnificent as they currently are on Table Rock Lake. 











 

@Bill Babler  I sure wish you wouldn't stop posting on this due to a couple people who question you, that don't even fish the Rock.  In fact, they don't post any reports from anywhere, but have replied on this thread numerous times.  

[dwiebenga]

@Bill Babler Exceptional post with much logic and reasoning.  Thank you for your insight

[Champ188]

On 2/23/2026 at 8:23 AM, Flysmallie said:

Beaver has never been and never will be the lake that Table Rock is. You can’t compare the two. 

There's one major difference in Beaver and Table Rock ... stripers. Say what you will but personally, I've never fished a striper lake that was worth squat for bass. 

[Champ188]

18 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

@Bill Babler  I sure wish you wouldn't stop posting on this due to a couple people who question you, that don't even fish the Rock.  In fact, they don't post any reports from anywhere, but have replied on this thread numerous times.  

They're info poachers ... often tournament guys trying to find a way to beat the guys who can run their business off the front deck of a bass boat.  Would I read this site if I was a visitor headed here? Of course I would! But I wouldn't show my appreciation by picking a fight with a guy who has spent more time on the water than most of us put together. That's the head-shaker for me. 

[Champ188]

OK, like Bill, this will be my last post on this topic. Just want to suggest one other line of thinking. 

Why won't MDC study the LM population in TR? I've spent a fair amount of time myself on TR over the last 25 years and have seen my LM catches steadily trend downward while little spots have been at darn near pest level. 

Yes, river spots tend to run smaller than lower-lake fish. And we are now seeing the results of strong spawns in recent years. However, spots under 12" rule the roost --- from shallow to deep water above Shell Knob in the White River arm.

Granted, the Kings and James rivers can turn out good numbers and size of LM, primarily because the water is a bit dirtier, which LM like.  

Seems to me this is just another MDC decision made by out-of-touch officials who need to put money into proper research efforts before passing laws that will likely ruin a nationally renowned fishery. Do the creel surveys --- no one can tell you more than the anglers themselves. Reach out to the guides and invite them to coffee and discussion --- i.e., do something besides hand down rules that seem to be another concession to the meat eaters.