Freshwater · Sierra
Bass - Largemouth
These notes are district-general defaults. Search your lake or stream first — special waters override these rules. Full booklet: 2026 Freshwater Guide. Catch reports: Fish data.
Species group
BASS
Season
Open all year unless a Special Regulation for your water says otherwise. IMPORTANT: If your lake, river, or stream is named in the Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations (2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide), those special rules override this district default.
Season notes
Verify named lakes/rivers in the 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide.
Daily bag limit
Statewide black bass baseline is commonly 5 bass / day with a 12-inch minimum unless a Special Regulation for your water says otherwise. IMPORTANT: If your lake, river, or stream is named in the Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations (2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Guide), those special rules override this district default.
Minimum size
12-inch minimum is the common statewide black-bass baseline unless your water’s Special Regulation differs.
Gear restrictions
Follow statewide methods/gear rules and any special-water restrictions in the freshwater guide.
Identification
The largemouth bass is an olive-green to greenish gray fish, marked by a series of dark, sometimes black, blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along each flank. The upper jaw of a largemouth bass extends beyond the rear margin of the orbit. In comparison to age, a female bass is larger than a male. The largemouth is the largest of the black basses, reaching a maximum recorded overall length of 29.5 in and a maximum unofficial weight of 25 pounds 1 ounce. The fish lives 16 years on average