It takes three to four years for young smallmouth bass to reach the legal size of 12 inches, so anglers should not see any ill effects for at least a couple more years. It has not yet been determined how much effect the bacteria problem will have on this fishery, but to be safe, get there this spring. You do not want to miss out on this outstanding smallmouth fishing.

Special Big Bass Regulations apply to the Susquehanna River from the Snyder-Holtwood Dam upstream to the inflatable dam near Sunbury. The regulations apply to largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. From Jan. 1 through April 16 and from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, the minimum size is 18 inches and the daily creel limit is two bass of any species.

From April 16 through June 17, fishing is catch and immediate release only, and no tournaments are permitted. From June 18 through Sept. 30, the minimum size is 15 inches and the daily creel limit is four bass of any species.

For the purposes of these special regulations, power dam pools and recreational dam pools on the Susquehanna River are classified as rivers.

JUNIATA RIVER
Coming in at No. 4 is the Juniata River, the cream of central Pennsylvania's smallmouth fishing. The Juniata is a small river where it is formed by the joining of the Little Juniata, Frankstown and Raystown branches near Huntingdon and is just becoming a medium-sized river when it empties into the Susquehanna near Duncannon.

Good smallmouth potential extends up into its branches. Smallmouths are abundant in the upper reaches of the Juniata, but moving downstream the bass get bigger.

The nature of this hard-bottom river varies from riffles and pools to long slicks or calmer pools. Try stick baits and other shallow-running crankbaits if the smallmouths are aggressive, but switch to 1/16-ounce jigheads dressed with brown bodies if the bass seem finicky. Keep a rod rigged with medium-diving crankbaits for the deeper holes that may pass quickly while floating.

Unfortunately, the same bacterial problem that is impacting smallmouths on the Susquehanna River is also affecting smallmouths in the Juniata. The infection rate was 46 percent in a section surveyed by the Fish and Boat Commission. It was observed primarily downstream from Lewistown, but it should not affect spring fishing.

Big Bass Program Special Regulations are in effect on the Juniata River for 31.7 miles from the PA Route 0075 bridge at Port Royal downstream to the mouth.

ALLEGHENY RIVER
Smallmouth bass fishing at the Allegheny River certainly does not rate as highly as the Susquehanna River or the Juniata River, yet it still gets close to world class and rates a debatable No. 5 in our rankings.

Spring is the time to be here for fast action and for the biggest bass. It normally gets going by May when the water temperature rises above 40 degrees, perhaps sooner in the lower reaches, and around warmwater discharges and warmer tributary mouths in the Pittsburgh area.

Smallmouth fishing is fine on the Allegheny all the way from Warren downstream to Pittsburgh. Perhaps the best of it is from the Tidioute area downstream through Venango County. Fish and Boat Commission launches at Tidioute, Tionesta and Franklin make good take-off points.

There is also some overlooked bass fishing above the Allegheny Reservoir from the Port Allegany area downstream into New York.

Big Bass Program Special Regulations apply to the Allegheny River in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties from Lock and Dam No. 4 at Natrona downstream to and including Lock and Dam No. 3 at Acmetonia. For the purposes of these special regulations, navigational dam pools in the Ohio River drainage are classified as rivers.