DELAWARE RIVER
We will give the Delaware River the No. 6 ranking because there is quite a bit of it and it can be float-fished, making it accessible by boat throughout. A long stretch flows through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Bass fishing is allowed year 'round in the Delaware River through reciprocal agreements. A change last year to align regulations with New Jersey rules is more conservative with respect to harvesting bass during the spawning period.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has adopted amendments regarding the New Jersey-Pennsylvania portion of the river (downstream of I-84) that imposes a catch-and-immediate-release season from the first Saturday after April 11 and extends through 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11. It provides an opportunity for competitive anglers to have catch-measure-immediate-release tournaments during the catch-and-release season.

ALLEGHENY RESERVOIR
One lake which does not get its due respect for smallmouth fishing is the Allegheny Reservoir. This 12,000-acre lake has plenty of smallmouths, so we will rate it No. 7. It is temperamental, though. Cold fronts can really shut down the fishing.

Do not expect huge smallmouths, but there are some fish taken here that weigh over 4 pounds.

Start your mornings on Allegheny Reservoir by casting surface lures. If the smallmouths are not looking up, go after them with deep-diving crankbaits or soft-plastic twitching minnows. Try slender crankbaits with silver finishes or silver in combination with blue. White soft plastics are also effective.

This is a great place for a camping and fishing vacation. There are several developed campgrounds bordering the lake along with some less developed campgrounds that are accessible only by boat or by hiking.

SHENANGO LAKE
Shenango Lake is better known for largemouth bass and other game fish, but it is also a fine smallmouth bass lake. We will rank it No. 8 because we need another lake and because access is excellent. This is a U.S. Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir.

This lake is reasonably fertile and grows all fish to good sizes. A Fish and Boat Commission survey in June 2005 found smallmouths up to 16.7 inches, with a good number over 12 inches. They get bigger than this.

While fishing during spring, if you cannot get them on surface lures, try firetiger color crankbaits up the Shenango River arm. As anywhere when pursuing smallmouths, look for the rocky cover, but do not overlook stumps or other wood cover. CLARION RIVER
Any list of best smallmouth bass waters must reflect varied fishing environments and for this reason No. 9 goes to the Clarion River.

This small river draws its headwaters from Elk County and then flows southwest through Jefferson, Forest and Clarion counties. Above Piney Dam it has all of the characteristics of a perfect smallmouth river with riffles, pools, long fast runs and plenty of rocky rubble on the bottom. However, the surroundings make it really special. The densely forested Allegheny Highlands surrounds the steep valley. Human population is sparse.

Float-fishing is a great way to approach Clarion River smallmouths. It may be floated down from Ridgway to Cook Forest State Park, or farther down to Piney Dam and other take-out points. Or it may be waded in many places. Be sure to wear good gripping soles; the river's rocks are slippery.

Typical smallmouths here will be as large as 3 1/2 pounds, though there are larger specimens. Be sure your tackle box includes stick baits, other shallow-diving crankbaits in natural colors and plenty of jigs. Fly-fishermen will love it here. Try not to be disappointed should the occasional trout take your smallmouth flies.

YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER
No. 10, and this required a lot of difficult thought, goes to the Youghiogheny River. Famous for its whitewater rafting and well known among anglers as a trout fishery, the Yough becomes a fine smallmouth bass river before it is finished.

While there are smallmouths throughout Pennsylvania's portion of the river, the fishing starts improving below Ohiopyle State Park. The stretch below Connellsville is best known as smallmouth water.

For more information about fishing for bass in Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000; or call (717) 705-7800.

For more travel information, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, Room 404, Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120; or call (717) 232-8880 or (800) VISIT-PA.