Bassmaster, Are You Kidding Me?

[roadwarrior]

I just got the October Bassmaster magazine and was wondering what your take is on the "5 Best Rivers for Smallies". Since I have not fished any of the featured rivers, I can't really comment on them. I wasn't too impressed with the fish photos, but I know numbers are important to many fishermen. I was just surprised that the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers did not make the list. Maybe that's good for me!

Have you fished any of the top five? If so, tell us a little more about them. The rivers are:

(1) New River

(2) Susquehanna

(3) St. Lawrence

(4) Snake River

(5) Columbia River

If you have another nomination for one of the top smallmouth rivers, tell us about that river, too.

[powerfish]

I live about 1 hour from both fisheries ( snake and columbia) and I think they are great.  I have seen bags of fish during tournys that are 20 plus pounds  from both rivers, five fish limits.  You can catch up to 75 and mabey more fish in a day on the snake with alot of fish in the 2-3 pound range, But you also catch alot of 1 pounders.  The columbia has bigger fish overall I think but not the numbers, for me anyway.  I dont have any other rivers to compare them to but have had very good results from both rivers.

[Kana]

rw, ive fished the columbia many times when i lived in oregon.  im with powerfish, there are some big girls but their numbers are pretty low compared to more smaller fish in sourrounding areas.  Im not surprised the columbia made the list, its a great palce to fish!

[Nick_Barr]

Although i have only fished the Columbia 1 time, i also have seen Results from tourneys there and it takes about 20 pounds to win every time. There are also some Monster Largemouth in the columbia.

[Phishn_Phool]

I was wondering if you would have a opinion on that article considering the Tennessee was not there.  As far as numbers, I had a guide service on a Missouri river that with certain fishermen and on certain days we would guarantee 100 bass or you don't pay and I never guided for free.  We never caught huge bass but 3 1/2 to 4 lb SM were common.  I don't know where they got their info from but, whenever you are rating something like that, it is pretty subjective.

                                        CPR ;D

[kbj3579]

RW, I live pretty close to the New River, it does have lots of numbers of smallies.  I have not fished it a whole lot due to it is more of a float river (John boat, trolling motor).  Don't think my Bass boat will due to well in the new.  I have floated it several times and usually catch lots of numbers as you stated.  My neighbor fishes it a lot.  I have never seen one the size of the two you have on your avtar!  

This is funny though, cause when I read that article, I immed. thought of you and knew you would have something to say on the subject.  I think you need to introduce yourself to the writers of BASSMASTERS..

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey I fish the Susquehana near Pittson PA and the fish are plentiful and small. I really like a couple of areas on the Leigh better. Less fish but a whole lot bigger!

[basser89]

I grew up about 40 miles north of Harrisburg, PA. Unfortunately, I've only fished the Susquehanna once. Caught two small smallies. Now the Juniata River which dumps in to the Susquehanna, I've fished countless times. The area I fish has a bunch of smaller smalllies but there are decent ones in the 3-5 pound range.

[basspro48]

The New River is by far the best Smallie river I have ever fished. Not just for numbers either, I have seen lunker smallies come out of there, I landed my PB smallmouth there too. Although I have never fished the other rivers the New is definetley one of the best.

[FutureClassicChamp]

i have fished the susquehanna about a dozen times or so. i always did pretty good with size and numbers. i have fished the st. lawrence once. any great lakes waters are gonna produce HOGS.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

My old neighbor moved to Pa and has begged me to come fish the susquehana with him.  I constantly recieve pics from him and there are certainly some quality smallies to be had.

[Madhouse27]

I was shocked that the Penobscot River here in Maine was not on the list.

[Bass Hammer]

RW

After thousands of people gear up to hit those rivers you'll be glad your two rivers were not named!

Hammer

[abelfisher]

It's funny you mentioned that RW.. The instant I picked it up I thought of you.  I thought you would be disappointed.  But as Basshammer said, you might be glad it wa not named.

[roadwarrior]

Wow! This is disappointing.

The big knock on fishing the Tennessee River is that water flow is controlled by the TVA and they are not concerned with fishing. So, they just posted the Saturday release schedule, 10,000 cfs. That's average which means a couple of generators for a couple of hours. Bottom line, not enougn water to go fishing.

The weather is perfect, the fish are on a tear and I can't fish. Bummer. What would be worse is if I had guests coming from outside the area. They would be all jazzed up about their big trip and I would have to tell them we can't go. Everyone thinks, "what the heck", let's go and give it a try anyhow. Well, that's not how it works: No water = no fish, period, the end.

There is a lot to be said for free-flowing rivers. Maybe Bassmaster has it right after all.

[L.D.]

I guide on the Susquehanna full time from April to December. We get high numbers of fish, but you got to know where to find the big ones, and you'll need to float 10 to 15 miles or have a jet boat to get there. Very limited access.

L.D.

[chicobass]

well here goes. I fished the St Lawrence the first week of June for 5 years in a row from 1985-1989 and returned there in 2003. My father and I still consider it to be the best. He currently lives about 20 miles from the New River and has heard that the fishing there is good too but you can't put a full size bass boat in it. I live 40 miles from the susquehana river and have only fished it a few times with sporatic success. It is a very tempermental river and most of it must be fished in a john boat with a jet drive.  ALL IN ALL...... go to thousand islands, you won't be sorry !  

[AM]

hey Phishin phool, what part of MO are you from and or which river? cuzz I live in MO and might be interested if you're close enough.

[basser89]

Hey RW,

What's the normal flow for the Tennessee? The part of the Potomac I fish, the current flow is 753cfs. It's real low and there are very few places I can put my boat on (don't have a jet).

[justtrying]

how sad is This?  ....our rivers are not listed because we have 0 - Nada - Zip - smallmouth.

but, hey, i'll trade you a few gars & bowfin for some of them there smallies! ;D

[roadwarrior]

basser89,

The Tennessee River is a commercial river maintained for barge traffic, electricity production, flood control and recreation. The system incompasses at least thirteen reserviors covering four states. The preferred flow for smallmouth fishing is 60-80,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), but we will fish 20-140,000 cfs.I don't know what would be considered average, but with all gates open, the river system moves 2.4MM gallons of water per second!

Throughout the week TVA has been releasing an average of 38-68,000 cfs everyday. Saturday and Sunday the average is scheduled to be 8,000 which means a couple of generators for a few hours. They don't care about fishermen and I can't fish this weekend as a result.

[sodaksker]

[quote author=Phishn_Phool

I had a guide service on a Missouri river that with certain fishermen and on certain days we would guarantee 100 bass or you don't pay and I never guided for free. We never caught huge bass but 3 1/2 to 4 lb SM were common. I don't know where they got their info from but, whenever you are rating something like that, it is pretty subjective.

CPR ;D

[basser89]

Thanks for the clarification RW! I never really followed current flow in the past but since I start following it on the upper Potomac, your numbers seemed really high to me. But then I was really comparing apples and oranges since the areas I fish are alot smaller. Thanks again!

[Upnorth]

To not have the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers on there is crazy.  I could not believe the Tennessee river system did not make the list.