Perhaps diluted, attention-wise, by the glut of fishing opportunities available in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region, Eastern Lake Erie's smallmouth bass fishery is nonetheless one of world class status.

The varied habitats — which include protected harbors, incoming creeks, and the current provided by the outflow of the Niagara River —furnish the diversity bass require to thrive. But perhaps the most significant environmental feature of the lake bottom, bass-wise, is the area's many reefs and shoals.

In an immense basin like eastern Lake Erie, such bottom structure is the key in finding smallmouth bass throughout much of the year. Recently, veteran bass guide Terry Jones (www.1stclass-bass.com) shared his insight into two of the areas more prominent structures, Myers Reef and Evans Bar.

"Myers Reef has everything a bass could want," said Jones. "It's a huge extended point that runs from the shallows well out into Lake Erie."

Jones notes that he is a believer in the structure-fishing philosophies taught by such angling icons as Al Lindner, which say that the biggest, most diverse structures will hold many of a lake's gamefish.

Myers, he claims, has shallow areas suitable for spawning, rock piles that hold summer fish, and sharp drops off its outside edge that collect fish in both the early spring and late fall.

Smallmouth bass spawn on the shallows of the reef, said Jones, which has the added attraction of a sizable creek in the form of Eighteen Mile Creek.

Myers Reef will hold smallmouth throughout the summer months. Its rock piles in the 30 to 40 range are perfect for collecting summertime smallies, and lend themselves to tactics such as drifting while trailing a drop-shot rig or tube jig. There are a couple major inside turns on the Buffalo side of the structure.

This reef is located a few miles west of Buffalo. Jones said the area is easy to identify from the lake by watching for the high cliffs/high banks on the lake shore.

Hardcopy maps like those produced by Fishing Hot Spots and Sportsman's Connection show its location. A good mapping chip like Navionics' Premium or Platinum (Northeast Region) is a significant asset in finding structures like Myers Reef.

Evans Bar is found further to the west, just a bit past Sturgeon Point. Whereas Myers Reef is more of a huge point, in that it's shoreline connected, Jones said Evans Bar is a detached hump.

"There is an assortment of little creeks that enter the lake near Evans Bar," explained Jones. "Creeks like Little Sister, Big Sister and Delaware."

Jones sees the presence of creek mouths as being a significant one during the springtime, as he believes the majority of bass spawn on flats adjacent to these creeks.

"Evans has shallower water than Myers," he said.

Indeed, Evans tops out in the five-foot range. It also features a lot of 25 to 35 foot depths, with those quick breaks, that attract summertime smallies. It is located off shore of the Bennett Beach Recreation Area.

As good as structures like Myers Reef and Evans Bar are at collecting big Erie bronzebacks, they won't be covered with fish. Prior to dropping a bait, Jones scopes out the structure on his Lowrance sonar's screen. Only when he has located fish does he begin fishing for them.

When it comes time to drop down to the fish, Terry relies on two basic presentations: tube jigs and drop shot rigs. For tubes, he prefers a 3/8-ounce football-style head with a body such as a Poor Boys' 3.5 or 4-inch tube. He likes the football head, feeling it provides the same profile as a goby, a common staple on an Erie smallie's diet.

For drop shot rigging, he baits up with either a 3-inch Gulp! Alive! minnow or a Poor Boys Darter.

Erie smallies tend to bite best when there is some wind. A wind not only activates fish, but allows anglers to cover water by drifting across these sizeable structures while dragging a high-percentage offering like the previously described tube jigs and drop shot rigs.

Both Myers Reef and Evans Bar are within a few miles of the major access areas leading out of Buffalo Harbor. This includes both the Buffalo Small Boat Harbor and the Erie Basin Marina, both located near the downtown section of the city. The Sturgeon Point Access Area is located down lake, in between Myers Reef and Evans Bar.

When high winds and waves prevent bassin' on the big water, the many corners and crannies of Buffalo Harbor provide an excellent backup spot. Wind will funnel water through the breakwalls that form the outside harbor edge. Biting smallies typically stack up in eddy areas formed by such currents.

Jeff Knapp is a fishing columnist for the Butler Eagle.