Smith Mountain Lake December Fishing Report - Fishing Tips for December, A Yearly Recap, Best Baits of 2025 and Christmas Gift Cards!!!

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BAIT SHOP FOR ALL THE WINTER TACKLE

I RECOMMEND

What another great year of guiding! Tons of new clients, lots of new families and plenty of my repeat guys made the year fly by. A few fish getting into the 7lb class range, lots of 6lbers and countless 5lbers. The overall fishing this year felt a little different then the last few years with water temps staying low for a lot longer in each season and having large jumps up and back down happening very quickly.

We had a fantastic spawn this year with the majority of fish finishing up their deal after all the tournaments were already gone. This lead to a killer fry hatch, one of the best I have honestly ever seen in my life. This should make for a killer class of fish in the next two to three years. Summer lead to a super quick change from shallow fishing to off shore dragging, but it took a strange turn right back to shallow almost all summer long. I ended up focusing on bluegill eating fish with clients for almost all of late June to July with some tanks caught on some new baits. I was able to win the BassKings event doing just that with a solid 20+ lb bag all super shallow. Looking back I attribute the fish staying shallow to the lake never really been pulled lower. August lead to some great topwater action off shore and the fluke bite was on fire for most of the summer. September brought the start of a super funky fall with the water being pulled low super fast and throwing a massive curve ball on the bait and fish. Fall fishing was pretty tough over all with very low water, super clear water and a longer turnover on most of the lake. As we roll into true winter fishing i’m starting to see fishing come back on track with true winter fishing techniques. We have already had two substantial snow storms that have cooled the water temps and grouped fish together on deep structure.

For December fishing look for bass in three types of areas. Longer creeks with skinny ditches, under bait balls near the backs of pockets and on main lake rock. I like to take the time to down scan and side scan to find those pockets that are loaded with bait to start. Lots of bass will group in wolf packs under those bait balls moving slow enough to track with FFS and drop baits right into them. My go to is a Damiki rig. I use a 1/8oz jig head with a 2/0 hook for smaller baits or a 1/4oz head with a 3/0 for medium sized baits. My choice of baits is between a Megabass Haze ST, a Mooch Minnow or a Deps Sakamata shad depending on the size of the bait around. My second choice is a blade bait like the Megabass Dyno Response in 1/4oz. Last is a A rig set up like the Shanes Baits Domin8tor.

For bass that are object related like rock I lean heavy on the weather to decide what to try first. If it’s super windy my go to is a Megabass Z2 in green or red craw or a Storm Wiggle Wart Phantom Brown Craw. I toss it on the Megabass Lavante Flatside Special with a shimano DC reel with 10lb Seaguar AbrazX.

Striper fishing has been great up the rivers in the main channel in that 50 foot range with schools of fish being in the hundreds . A 1/0oz jig head with a fluke is the best way to get on size and numbers. I like to add scent like bait pop or smelly jelly.

Crappie fishing is amazing this time of year. There are single giant ones roaming near lay downs and large schools of good eater sized fish on bluff walls with lay downs or brush piles back in pockets in 20-30 feet.

Jumping to the best baits of 2025! It was a cool year with some staple baits producing some good fish and some fun new baits that I put into rotation with clients to get some killer bites shallow. I am going to break them down by month with links!

January: VMC Mooneye head with a Mooch Minnow.

February: Megabass Dyno Response

March: Megabass Vision 110 Jr

April: Megabass 5” Magdraft

May: Zoom Fluke

June: Black Label Balsa Prop Bait

July: Megabass Sling Shad

August: Missile Baits Magic Worm Neko or Dropshot Rigged

September: Whopper Plopper

October: Megabass v9 double willow spinnerbait

November: Megabass Trick Darter X80

December: Missile Baits Eye roll 1/8oz 2/0 with a Mooch Minnow

Lastly, just a reminder that I offer gift certificates for fishing trips. If you know anyone or have anyone in your family that is looking to get out it’s an awesome gift idea!

Tight lines and be safe out there!