The planning and searching for new places to fish is a big part of the fun of fly fishing. When it comes to discovering a new species, look closely at fishing for smallmouth bass on rivers, lakes, and ponds near you. Smallmouth bass fishing is exciting because of the fish's aggressive nature and fighting spirit when hooked. We've used our hundreds of thousands of places to fish in the United States to give you the countries top places to fish for smallmouth bass. And, read this list carefully because some of these places may be places to fish close to your home.

St. Lawrence River in New York. The St. Lawrence River is famous for its clear waters and healthy smallmouth bass population. The river’s structure, with its numerous shoals and islands, provides excellent fishing opportunities.

John Day River in Oregon. This free flowing high plains river is home a plentiful and rambunctious population of smallmouth bass. As perhaps the only river in the United States on which anglers can pursue smallmouth bass on secluded overnight fishing and camping trips, fishing the John Day River for smallmouth is a special experience.

Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Susquehanna River is celebrated for its shallow waters, rocky outcrops, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing, particularly in the sections near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee and Kentucky. This large lake is known for producing the world record smallmouth bass, Dale Hollow Lake offers a combination of deep, clear water and abundant rocky structures ideal for smallmouth bass.

Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota. Lake Mille Lacs is a premier destination for smallmouth bass anglers. The lake’s diverse structure, including rocky reefs and sandy flats, supports a robust smallmouth bass population.

Niagara River in New York) The Niagara River, particularly the lower section near Niagara Falls, offers excellent smallmouth bass fishing with its strong currents and rocky habitat.

Lake Erie in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Michigan. Lake Erie is the largest body of water on this list. It is often considered one of the top smallmouth bass fisheries in the world. The rocky reefs and abundant forage make it a prime habitat for large smallmouth bass.

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Once you know the best place to catch smallmouth bass near you, wth the right gear, techniques, and knowledge of smallmouth bass behavior, you can enjoy a special fishing experience that is often overlooked by many anglers.

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