If catching river and stream smallmouth bass is your passion, or perhaps an activity you might like to undertake, "In Pursuit of Trophy Smallmouth Bass: My Like in a Kayak" is a must read.

In this 128-page softcover book, author Jeff Little explains various aspects of catching bronzebacks from flowing waters. Though the book delves into the fishing-from-a-kayak component, a wealth of information on fishing for river smallmouth bass is also imparted.

For the angler considering buying a fishing kayak, this book is indispensable. Kayaks are gaining popularity as fishing vehicles.

Little's experience and expertise informs the reader about differences between kayaks designed for fishing and those made for handling whitewater. He explains the features of fishing kayaks best suited for lakes, as well as those that take on streams and rivers. Safety and training are a huge part of kayak fishing and are well covered in the book.

But even if fishing from a kayak is far from your mind, Little's book is a great source of information for the angler who targets smallmouth bass in creeks and rivers.

He covers all four seasons — yes, smallmouth bass can be caught year round. In fact the late fall and early winter are the best times to catch really big river smallmouths.

Little's book lays out many tactics that specifically target the biggest brown bass a river has to offer. The book can be ordered from Woods & Waters Publishing, 540-894-5960. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the website: www.blueridgekayakfishing.com.

Last week. I spoke with Al Woomer, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission fisheries manager.Based in Tionesta, Woomer is responsible for the management of many lakes and rivers in northwestern Pennsylvania. If Woomer's observations this year on the Allegheny River are indicative of what's taken place on other waters, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about the fishing in the near future.Woomer said reproduction on the Allegheny was exceptional this year. Recently sampling found young-of-the-year smallmouth bass and walleyes were numerous. Baitfish production was also outstanding, with many species of minnows and darters being present."The weather was cool through late April and into early May," said Woomer. "But then things warmed up by mid- May and continued a gradual warming trend into the summer."Most springs, it seems we get that spell of hot 80-something degree weather in April, which gets fish's reproductive cycle going. And then the cold weather returns, shutting the fish down. Then they have to reattempt to spawn later, which is likely not as productive."But not this year. This year things went well," he added.The value of abundant baitfish is illustrated by the number of smallmouth bass in the 10- to 11-inch range currently in the river.Woomer said these bass are from the 2005 year class, and that they were only in the 8-inch range earlier this year.But with lots of bait in the river, the fish grew 2 to 3 inches over the summer.