Do you find it exciting exploring new creeks/rivers looking for the current breaks and structure you know will be holding smallmouth?

[Ohioguy25]

Now that I’ve learned how to locate them, I find it fascinating exploring new bodies of water and looking for these elements, and the excitement when I see them and know that there are almost certainly active fish there.
 

The fact that these conditions are naturally occurring (as opposed to low head dams and manmade reservoirs) and that the fish have likely been feeding there for decades.

 

Do you get on Google Maps and just look for new spots? When you wade do you just randomly pick a spot with easy road access and jump in?

[HookInMouth]

I use google maps a lot to locate new spots on shallow rivers but I'm exploring with a kayak so I can cover a little more water than what I would typically wading. Although I do get out and wade a bit. 

[TnRiver46]

I’m old so I used to experience this phenomenon. Nowadays  I’ve already fished all the rivers and hit all the rocks 

[roadwarrior]

37 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m old so I used to experience this phenomenon. Nowadays  I’ve already fished all the rivers and hit all the rocks 

Yesterday I hooked-up with a few you missed.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, roadwarrior said:

Yesterday I hooked-up with a few you missed.

I sent them downstream just for you! 

[PaulVE64]

The aging result of exploring the same 30 miles of river + larger tributaries is knowing the shelves at low and high water.

I went from catching a few fish a trip to 5 or 6 on every trip. Still get skunked though.

[Bluebasser86]

I love wading creeks for smallmouth. Unfortunately, there's none within 2 hours of me.