FLW Bass Fishing Magazine Editor Emeritus Colin Moore recently posted a feature story at StepOutside.org – The 10 Best Bass Waters Off The Beaten Path. Moore showcased a few fisheries around the United States that may take some work to get to, but they are true hidden gems that few people fish.

Preview courtesy of StepOutside.org:

The names of some bass fisheries resonate with anglers on a national scale: Okeechobee, Kentucky Lake, Guntersville, Havasu, Clear Lake, Lake Fork, Falcon – and so on. They’re famous for producing big bass, lots of bass, or both. They deserve the accolades, but there are other, smaller fisheries around the country worthy of a bass fisherman’s attention, too.

Typically, these waterways are hidden gems. Some of them are snubbed because they take some work and time to access, or they’re surrounded by so many well-known larger fisheries that they stay in the background. But they’re all bass fishing meccas that few people fish and deserving of your attention if you’re ever in the neighborhood.

1. ST. REGIS RIVER, NEW YORK

Photograph Courtesy Mohawk Trail Guides

The St. Regis River and neighboring waterways are teeming with hungry smallmouth bass like these. Some of the best fishing can be experienced where the St. Regis flows through Hogansburg, N.Y., in the heart of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

The St. Regis flows out of the Adirondacks into the St. Lawrence River and is a hidden gem among Northeast bass fisheries. In fact, it shares that distinction with two other nearby St. Lawrence feeders, the Raquette River and the Grasse River.

Though the St. Regis can’t be described as remote, its best fishing lies within the boundaries of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation – part of the larger Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. Those who fish with a tribal member or tribal guide aren’t required to purchase the $40 annual permit; otherwise, the permit is available through the St. Regis Mohawk Council Conservation Program. Contact Conservation Officer Taylor Mitchell at 613-575-2250 Ext. 2412 for more information.

Fishing season begins right after ice-out on the reservation, with smallmouths – and lots of them – available in the shoal waters of the St. Regis. Downstream, at the mouth of the river where it meets the St. Lawrence, largemouths predominate. Expect to catch a few northern pike and perhaps even a muskie while casting the standard bass baits.

There are plenty of places to stay and eat in Hogansburg, which is the home of a popular casino. The best bet is to book a local fishing guide such as William Clute of Mohawk Trails (518-358-4373) before setting out on the St. Regis…

To see the other fisheries that made the list and read the rest of Moore's feature story – The 10 Best Bass Waters Off The Beaten Path, visit StepOutside.org.