We cannot overlook the Nolichucky River, which I consider to be the granddaddy of all smallmouth rivers in Tennessee. It's definitely a numbers destination, but I've seen more than a handful of 6-pound-plus brown fish taken from this famed river water. Over the last four or five years, quality fish were hard to come by on the Noli, but this spring and summer, the quality fish have rebounded, and this river destination is back on track for the time being. It should be a place you visit in your smallmouth travels. The grub fishing on the Nolichucky is unequalled anywhere. And the topwater action from Tiny Torpedoes is excellent in September and October.

Henegar said he knows of only one river smallmouth regulation that'll change this year. He said we do not have any major regulation changes on tap for 2009. The only thing we have is the inclusion of the South Fork Holston River from the confluence of the North Fork Holston River to Fort Patrick Henry Dam in the 13- to 17-inch Protective Limit Range. The summertime topwater action at South Holston is something you just have to behold. I've seen days there even in August when the fish will hit a topwater plug like a Pop'N Image Jr. all day long. The Holston River system is also one of the better spinnerbait rivers in the country.

You don't have to live in Tennessee to know that we've had some major drought issues over the past few years. Henegar said the drought has had some effect on the numbers of larger fish in some of unregulated rivers that depend heavily on rainfall. In these situations, the lack of rainfall reduced flows and restricted the available habitat for larger fish. The lower flows did create more adequate nursery habitats for young-of-the-year smallmouth bass. And, he added, they are seeing greater numbers of young-of-the-year fish in their surveys of the streams most affected by drought last year.

The waters where the smallmouth populations were most affected were in those that experience problems with water quality and sedimentation during a normal year. In these cases, Henegar said the drought could have drastically intensified the existing issues.

Drought or not, there are still some quality smallies to be caught in Tennessee's moving waters. If you live anywhere close to any of the above mentioned smallmouth streams, you owe it to yourself to go. If not, get in the truck and go anyway -- you'll be glad you did.

ACCESS TO SOME OF THE BEST SMALLMOUTH FISHING
Dale Hollow Lake: Good summer and winter fishing can found by putting in at the ramp at Horse Creek Dock near Celina.

South Holston Lake: The TWRA Ramp at the Hwy. 21 bridge provides good access year 'round.

Norris Lake: The ramp near the dam on the lower end offers good winter fishing, as well as the access found at Hickory Star Marina on up the lake year 'round.

Tims Ford Lake: Easy year-round access can be found at Tims Ford Marina and Holiday Landing Resort.