Caught my first Columbia River backwater smallmouth of the spring this morning.
The fish were in fairly shallow water near a rocky ledge -- of course -- and whacked rubber-legged Woolly Buggers.
This cold spring has slowed all this down, but the smallmouth seem to be finally moving into the shallows. I've watched some hardcore bass guys fishing shallow water near The Dalles for the past two or three days.
More on my blog....

With the warm weather that is forcasted, the smallies will be moving shallow big time.

Get them whil you can, the bigger fish wont be shallow long.