I’ve just returned from fishing several fisheries in the northern U.S. that are pretty much dominated by smallmouth bass. Most of the fisheries in that region of the country vary from ours, because they are natural lakes. The northern U.S. is littered with these natural lakes, some very large, like the Great Lakes that are much like oceans, and some smaller, like the Finger Lakes in upstate New York.

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to fish several of these fisheries and, over time, have improved as a smallmouth angler, despite having deep fishing roots in the South where smallmouth populations are slim to none. Part of the reason I have improved is my ability to visualize current (flowing water).