OutdoorNebraska

Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted) Location Species Length Limit Bag Possession Inland Waters, and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Snyder Bend and Lake Yankton Black Bass 15-inch minimum; One 21 inches or longer 5 in aggregate 10 in aggregate EXCEPTIONS: Selected areas listed in Public Fishing Areas section and on private waters leased in Open Fields and Waters and PATH Fishing programs Black Bass 21-inch minimum 1 10 Missouri River between Nebraska and Iowa/Missouri Black Bass 12-inch minimum; One 21 inches or longer 5 10 Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota Black Bass No minimum; One 21 inches or longer 5 10 Nebraska Public Power District Canal from Sutherland Reservoir outlet to confluence with South Platte River, including Lake Maloney Smallmouth Bass No minimum; One 15 inches or longer 5 a 10 b Big Elk Lake, Portal Lake Smallmouth Bass 12-inch maximum 2 a 10 b a still included in aggregate black bass bag limit (5 fish) b still included in aggregate black bass possession limit (10 fish) Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass OutdoorNebraska.org | 13 Possession Limit – The total number of fish that a person may possess in portable coolers, home freezers, registered in their name in a commercial cold storage locker, or in any way under their control. Fish or aquatic animals placed in public storage or transferred must be labeled with the owner's name, address, phone number, date of birth, signature, date taken, species and numbers, and the name of recipient, if transferred. How to Measure a Fish – Lay the fish on its side with its mouth closed and the tail lobes pressed together. With a yardstick or tape measure under the fish, measure the length from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail. Do not follow the contour of the fish. Minimum Length Limit – A fish must be equal to or longer than the defined length to be legally harvested. Maximum Length Limit – A fish must be shorter than the defined length to be legally harvested. Protected Slot Limit – A range of lengths of a particular species that may not be harvested legally. For instance, a 20- to 28-inch protected slot limit on walleye means that only walleye less than 20 inches in length or greater than 28 inches may be harvested. One-Over Length Bag Limits – For some species, the number of large fish that may be harvested may be limited on some or all waters. For example, while it may be legal to harvest four black bass more than 15 inches from a given lake, statewide regulations prohibit an angler from harvesting more than one black bass 21 inches or longer each day from any waters. Therefore, for lakes with a 21-inch minimum length limit on black bass, the daily bag limit becomes one fish.

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