The only river feature that possibly rivals a good old eddy is an inlet. Creek inlets, storm drains, and regular runoff areas draw significant attention from feeding fish. Any river fish having a staple diet of baitfish, i.e. smallmouth bass and walleyes, are no strangers to inlets. Creek inlets attract fish throughout the open water season, although spring and fall are preferred because of increased baitfish numbers. Storm drains and runoff areas see their finest moments during the first couple of hours following a rain shower.
Smallmouth bass are more synonymous with lesser rivers than any other freshwater species.
And even though they're comfortable working in current, smallmouth bass prefer waiting to ambush. Pools and eddies are the chief locations to engage smallmouth during daytime hours. Do not ignore any current break area if you're primary interest is smallmouth bass. Rock bars, windfalls, weed beds, and shoreline boulders are all attached to favorable pools. Mid stream boulder fields also regularly play host to smallmouth bass.