Small creeks and streams literally flow all over the country. From California to Maine and everywhere in between you'll find them ... and chances are, that little creek that you drive past pulling your bass rig on the way to your local reservoir is full of hard-fighting smallmouth and panfish that rarely - if ever - see a bait. So the next time you start grumbling about the pressure on your local lake, grab an old pair of tennis shoes and head for that creek or stream and get ready to get rocked!

What you need to know:

For starters, lighter tackle and smaller lures is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you have to forget everything you know about bass fishing. You call still put to use the buzzbait, crankbait and jig for fast action. But most importantly, you have to use some common sense and really dial in on the right times to go. As the summer months warm the waters on lakes and reservoirs, your local creek or stream will still be much cooler and much more oxygenated than a non-current flow body of water, which essentially means the fish will be more active, and more apt to bite, than just about anywhere else.

Look for deeper pools and channel bends; especially those close to a gravel shore and chances are you'll find smallmouth. Plus, be sure to fish when the water level has been stable for a few days. Rising water usually turns fish off, and falling water raises stress levels in fish, so they will be less apt to bite. So pick the right time when the water has been stable, usually a day or two after a good downpour, and chances are you'll find unpressured fish ready to feed.

And it's perfect for kids, too. With the fast action usually found in pan fishing, you won't have to worry about keeping the children interested. Just watch your footing and always wear a life preserver when you're around water with the young ones.