"How To Catch Hot Water Smallmouth" in this month's Bassmaster magazine is an excellent read. Roger Stegall, a professional guide at Pickwick Lake, is one of three featured anglers. The bottomline is structure, which should come as no surprise.

If you are interested in catching smallmouth on a river/ lake system using artificial lures, read this article. There's nothing really new, but maybe it will help you on your next outing.

BTW, I'm going to stick with fishing live shiners BELOW the dam.

Gonna get my hands on that article.I've noticed a few 3-4lb. smallies weighed in at our tourneys.Most of them caught on a half ounce jig on ledges some of them caught on tubes.I'm guessing in 15-25 ft. of water.I've got a spot marked on my topo I was told had some smallies on it and it is in 20 ft.I fish a lake on your river chain as I think you know.I'll let you know how I do.Good Luck!