Hi guys, I'm looking for your suggestions for the ultimate smallmouth guided trip in the lower 48.  

Criteria:

big smallmouths

lots of smallmouths

friendly and hardworking guide

great scenery

decent lodging and food nearby

prefer lake over river

where, who, and when?

What area of the country are you looking at? We have some fine fishing here in the northeast. There's Lake Champlain (VT), Quabbin Reservoir (MA), Candlewood Lake (CT), just to name a few.

Dale Hollow Lake. http://www.smallmouthspecialty.com/index.htm thats a link to one of the best guides on the lake. Field and stream did an article on him , february issue. Just check his clients photo gallery out.

In Michigan, Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie. See this guide.

http://www.greatlakesbassfishing.com/index.html

What area of the country are you looking at? We have some fine fishing here in the northeast. There's Lake Champlain (VT), Quabbin Reservoir (MA), Candlewood Lake (CT), just to name a few.

Truly no preference for location.  What months do you see the best activity in the North East?

My vote goes to Dale Hollow as well.  John is a good guy I've talked to him at the dock a few times.  I recommend Andrew Robertson or Keith Palmiero as a guide.

http://smalljaw.com/ar-guide.htm

http://smalljaw.com/smallychaser.html

Best times in the northeast start anytime after the first of May. I prefer fishing the post spawn on deep, off-shore structures myself, so my best fishing starts mid to late June, to the first of October.

No doubt Dale Hollow is a big smallmouth lake but it is my understanding from friends who fish there reguarly that it becomes a night time fishery as best as I can recall around June maybe earlier. Erie ans Champlain are both great smally lakes but if the wind blows they can be anthing from uncomfortable to dangerous.

I have fished the border lakes or Canada for close to 30 straight years and if I was going to break new ground it would be to Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods or Lac La Croix. All are border lakes but the US(MN) side of LaCroix is in the BWCA and motor power is restricted and there are no resorts. LOW is huge with Rainy smaller but still large.

LOW, Rainy and LacLaCroix are huge lakes but they have many  many islands so you can duck for cover if you want to get out of the wind.

Zup's Resort and Campbell's are on the Canadian side of LacLaCroix.The US(MN) side is in the BWCA and no motors are allowed nor are there any resorts. You can boat into Zup's but I think Campbell's is a fly-in.

We have usually stayed at a boat-in lodge which gets you away from day trippers. Rainy and LOW have thousands of US acres of water. Do a search or plug in www.fishingminnesota.com or sunsetcountry for more info. If you want shoot me a PM and I will elaborate and/or answer questions.

Very true some of Dales best smallies are caught at night during the summer into late fall.  But fish can still be caught during the other three seasons during the day.  Dale also has guides that specialize in night fishing trips like:

http://www.smalljaw.com/dusk%20till%20dawn%20guide%20service.html

What area of the country are you looking at? We have some fine fishing here in the northeast. There's Lake Champlain (VT), Quabbin Reservoir (MA), Candlewood Lake (CT), just to name a few.

Truly no preference for location. What months do you see the best activity in the North East?

I've heard that late May/early June are phenomenal for numbers on Lake Champlain, but my guide did very well last fall also, putting us on several that pushed 4#.

In Michigan, Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie.

For both numbers and size, these are currently the dream spots.

50-100 smallmouth, 4-6 lbs is possible. If it REALLY SUCKS

you might only get half that!

8-)

In Michigan, Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie.

For both numbers and size, these are currently the dream spots.

50-100 smallmouth, 4-6 lbs is possible. If it REALLY SUCKS

you might only get half that!

8-)

What months do you recommend?  Have read a lot of comments about great fishing there.  

I live 20 minutes from Dale Hollow it is not a big # of fish lake it is however a great big fish lake if you are looking for big # of fish Lake Erie is the only way to go I have fished out of the Pelee Island area of the lake several times and had great trips and it is not even the best part of the lake. Hope this helps  

CHAMPLAIN...YOU CAN'T BEAT IT