Fishermen's tales are often wrought with embellishment, but after an excursion with Appalachian Bronzeback Adventures, anglers might not have to do much fibbing back on shore. Owner and guide Rob England shares more than 30 years of experience with groups, leading them through Appalachian rivers in pursuit of trophy-worthy smallmouth bass.

• The Main Catch: the smallmouth bass, a rough-and-tumble anglers' favorite that splashes the water's surface as it aggressively fights the hook
• The Rivers: the Upper James, Maury, and New Rivers in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley; the French Broad River near Asheville, NC; and the Broad River near Blacksburg, SC
• The Sights: Each river snakes through the majestic Appalachian woodlands, which includes such nationally renowned locales as the George Washington, Jefferson, and Pisgah National Forests.