To tell you the truth, I’m always leery of labeling some as the best. Why? It’s simple; someone will always come along and say this thing or that place is superior to that which I’ve chosen. And you know what? I’m all right with that because you see, what’s best can differ from individual to individual, depending upon – well, depending upon a whole lot of things.
Take smallmouth bass fishing, for instance. To one angler, the nation’s best smallmouth fishery might come to reality in the form of early October on Lake Erie – tube jigs, live crawdads, the whole ball of wax. To Angler Two, however, the best is defined as Oregon’s John Day River, where here just a year ago, he caught and released 154 smallies in a single day. And to Angler Three…well, you see where I’m going with this.
The best, then it seems, is all in the eye of the beholder. It’s true to an extent. If you happen to be a rabid smallmouth fanatic, there’s little denying the waters about to be discussed here are without question some of the finest the country has to offer in terms of smoking hot bronzeback action. Here, you’re going to find size, quality and quantity, all in varying degrees and in some cases, all offered up by the same monumental body of water. So whether you enjoy skittering a Zara Pooch across the surface, bulging a big spinnerbait, or slowly crawling a Livin’ Legz tube jig along the rocks, there’s definitely something here for you. In fact, it just might be the best you’ve ever seen.
The John Day River (Oregon)
Located in north-central Oregon, the Wild and Scenic John Day River – a tributary of the Columbia – is not only one of the most visually spectacular waters I’ve fished, but to many is the premier smallmouth fishery in the nation.
Steve Fleming of Fossil, Oregon, owns Mah-Hah Outfitters, specializing in float trips on the John Day. Each year, Fleming will lead from 25 to 40 of his clients to 100-fish days on the river. Mind you, that’s 100+ smallies out of a 5.5-mile stretch of stream. As if that weren’t enough, these lucky anglers will also account for from 30 to 40 smallmouth over 20 inches.
The Summer of 2007, says Fleming, a meticulous keeper of records, was one of his best to date. “One gentleman caught and released 254 smallmouth in one morning,” said Fleming. “And we’ve had more fish this year between 21 and 22 inches than we’ve had in the past.” Contact Mah-Hah Outfitters at www.johndayriverfishing.com.
The Columbia River (Washington-Oregon
I won’t spend a lot of time on the Columbia, but suffice it to say that if you’re in the neighborhood and you enjoy smallmouth fishing, give Oregon guide, Ed Iman, a jingle. A 40-year veteran of the Big River and one-time Oregon state walleye record holder, Iman knows smallies–and the Columbia has plenty in the 3- to 5-pound category. Contact Ed Iman at 541-298-3753
Lakes Sharpe and Oahe (The Missouri System, South Dakota)
In talking to Lee Harstad of Pierre, South Dakota –Harstad, by the way, is the editor of Dakota Outdoors Magazine–the young man is hard-pressed to choose between lakes Sharpe and Oahe when it comes to smallmouth.
“If I were pushed,” Harstad said with a grimace, “I’d pick Sharpe for size, and Oahe for quantity, but Oahe has the size, too. It’s a tough decision.”
I sympathize. I’ve fished both waters, and both are absolutely fantastic smallmouth fisheries, not to mention walleyes, white bass, channel cats, and northerns. If you choose Oahe, though, I’d suggest giving Steve Fahey of Cherokee Charters a call. The kid’s good. Contact Steve Fahey at 605-280-1902.
Bass Islands, Lake Erie (Ohio)
Lake Erie is called The Walleye Capital of the World, and with good reason. However, the big lake’s Bass Islands–North, Middle, and South–are just as aptly named. Located north and slightly east of the mainland town of Port Clinton, the Bass Islands provide incredible smallmouth during Spring and Fall. Tube jigs, softshell crawdads, and blade baits like the Heddon Sonar or Reef Runner Cicada are the ticket here. Contact the Ottawa County Visitor’s Bureau at 800-441-1271.
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