Smith Mountain Lake February Fishing Report - Warming waters and wondering bass
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BAIT SHOP FOR ALL THE EARLY WINTER TACKLE I USE
Well that cold water lasted all of 10 days LOL. Looks to be setting up that we are getting another warmer spring with rising water temperatures. This is a good and bad thing depending on how you look at it. The good is that a lot bass are already starting their movements back into pockets and pinch points near spawning areas. They are also setting up suspended in ditches looking for bait that is sure to move back quicker than normal this year. The bad is a lot of these warmer days turn into transition days that bass are less interested in eating and more interested in swimming to their next stopping stop. Now is a good time to cover water quickly again as the fish are going to scatter. As well, this is the best month in my opinion to catch the fish of a lifetime at Smith Mountain Lake.
It’s time to also start getting out the big baits. Both largemouth and smallmouth are going to want to eat bigger and more often as we lead into early pre-spawn. Large swimbaits, oversized jigs, Alabama Rigs and glide baits are a great idea for fishing those transition spots.
Largemouth are going to be moving out of the main river channel and into large main lake pockets to start as they move back to find spawning areas. Look for steeper banks that pinch into wider areas with structure close by like a laydown or dock. Bass will hold to these areas for a while as they wait for the water too warm even more. Keeping up with the bass movement can be a hard task now, so keep moving down those banks until you get a bite and repeat in other similar areas.
Smallmouth on the other hand have been out suspended over tree tops and in very deep water, but are quickly moving up on to humps and flats. Remember smallmouth are vision eaters so throwing baits that have some color this time of year is a good choice to get their attention. Chartreuse, pinks and purples on swimbaits can be killer as well as trying some off the wall jerk bait colors. Look for smallmouth suspended over those main lake humps and points even on bright sunny days with low wind.
Here is what I would have on to target larger green fish. A large paddle tail swimbait around gizzard shad and bass is one of the best ways to get the bigger bite. The Megabass Magdraft is a staple in the paddle tail category and everyone should have a few. I throw a 6” version on a Dobyns 764 Champ XP rod and 18lb Sunline Sniper. For the 8” Magdraft I use a Dobyns 795 Champ XP and up my line to 20lb.
A jig bite this time of year can be a monster fish. I like to start upsizing for those larger prespawn fish using a Missile Baits Headbanger jig paired with a Missile Baits Twin Turbo trailer. For stained water try something with some color like PB&J and for clear water try Green Pumpkin or Bamer Craw
Although Alabama rig fishing isn’t my favorite you have to throw it this time of year. Rigs can get expensive quick so I like to keep it simple. I have been throwing a Hog Farmer Tactical Bassin Mini Flex Rig 4 with Hog Farmer A Rig Heads and either Megabass 3” spark shads with a Megabass 5” spark shad in the center or Keitch Easy Shiner baits. I do like to throw a random color in the rig like chartreuse or pink.
If you’re new to glide bait fishing this is the time of year to build some confidence with it. Baits can get expensive quick so here are some cheaper options to start.
Baitsanity Antidote Chimera Shad
If glides are part of your everyday fishing and you are looking for something higher end check these bad boys out.
The striper bite is still on fire right now. Most main lake points that have timber off the ends are loaded with extremely large schools. A spoon, hairjig or swimbait is all you need. Look for fish on the breaklines and drops that dump into the main river channel. You can also run into the back of most major creek arms like Gills, Becky’s and Betty’s or Yacht club and find schools pushing bait in the backs. Also, be sure to start looking for bait in the backs of pockets as the stripers will move quickly this time of year to find their food.
The Crappie and Yellow Perch fishing has also been lights out. Crappies are loaded on docks up the rivers on the main channel with depths of 15-25 feet of the ends of the docks and yellow perch seem to be taking over a lot of brush piles in that 10-15 feet range. Minnows is still your best choice but if you need to go artifical a little grub is all you need.
Tightlines and stay safe out there!! Also be sure to check out the BAITSHOP for all the baits i’m throwing this month!