It’s the toughest time of the year to be a smallmouth angler. Fish that were so willing to bust topwaters and chase spinnerbaits over shallow flats and points in May and June have all but vanished. On many lakes in smallmouth country, so have the fishermen. Too bad. Chasing smallmouth bass in reservoirs this time of year may be tough, but catching a few isn’t impossible. The most dedicated anglers are out there right now. And they are catching plenty of fish.