Anywhere to Catch Some Smallies Right Now? Lake? Guide?

And, no, I'm not looking to go to Alpena, Michigan or the NY Finger lakes. I was wanting to go somewhere and book a guide the 1st day, and fish a couple days out of my boat and target Smallmouth. But, I have more questions than answers:

1. Where to go? (within a 3-4 hour drive of Shreveport)
2. Is this the wrong time of year?
3. Smallmouth Guide recommendations

I talked to a guide at Broken Bow lake, but he told me this is the wrong time of year for smallies up there since the lake is so deep and they mainly suspend in the summer up there.

Thanks in advance

I usually catch a few at Texoma. Put in at the State park go out to the main lake and start fishing the rocks on the West side going North with shaky heads, jerk baits, top waters like pop Rs, and crank baits, you will catch a few. Bonus is we usually catch several different species including stripers doing this. Beautiful place to go camping too. Never been with a guide up there so don't have any advice that way.

I would check with James Biggs. He does instructional trips and they are worth every penny and more.

Lake Murray - Oklahoma

I live 5 minutes from Murray! I wouldn’t drive 5 hours to fish it in the middle of summer. Now in the fall, it would be worth the drive to split your time between Texoma and Murray. Would catch numbers on Murray, and a good chance at a PB on Texoma.

It wouldn't take much to beat my PB, as right now it stands at 0.00

Hot weather smallmouth fishing can be very tough. Early morning with a popper type bait is best but it is a very tight window of opportunities.

I have not been fishing anywhere with much of a smallmouth population. I like chasing Brown bass in the fall.

Go night fish the damn on grapevine.