Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - I’M BACK! Water levels, The off shore push and bluegill eaters!

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

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Guys! I am so back!!! Thanks for everyone that was patient while I took some time off to welcome our newest family member little man Shepherd Gray Kohls. Taylor did another amazing job with birth and everyone is healthy and happy. Charlotte loves her new brother and they will be fishing in no time! Thank you again to everyone that reached out in the last few months! Now that the family is rocking and rolling it’s time to get back on these fishing reports and helping you guys understand where the bass are and what’s happening this year with the lower water levels, the water clarity and the boat traffic.

If you take a look back at last years June fishing report you may see some of the same info, but this year we have some of the lowest water levels we have had in over a decade. Most of our spring has been cooler than the past few years and that has created a very interesting late spring pattern. For example, bluegill has yet to really start spawning like they have in years past. Also, I am finding a large number of fry guarders still close to spawning areas which lets me know that there was a very late spawn this year. On top of the cooler water temps we had some very low water in May that created a quick transition to off shore. I was already finding bass in off shore spots as early as the first week of May that I would normally be looking for in July and August. The water level has now stabilized around that 790.5-791.5 and I am seeing fish move back towards docks and pockets looking for bluegill to eat. It’s been fun to see some schools off shore this early allowing for some great topwater action and fluke bites with fish being very aggressive.

As a quick side note. I never really did find a great shad spawn bite this year on the mid lake and lower areas. Due to the water level a lot of the riprap banks that normally hold shad were dry. Not sure how up the rivers did, but overall it was a lack luster shad spawn. We will see how that effects the fall bite but for now the fish are on herring spawn and off shore.

Stripers are also really starting to load up on main lake points in both the mid lake area and up to Gills creek. The spoon bite is firing off as well as a weighted fluke. I am finding schools as large as 50-100 fish on some points if the bait is around.

If you’re looking to get a young kid out fishing now is the time to hit the docks with the bobber and worms. The bluegills should be on most docks in the coming weeks and its a great time to introduce the young ones to reeling in some fish.

For baits most are still the staple SML early summer baits but I am also going to throw in a mid depth crankbait this year. I have been smashing them on cranks running in that 9-15 foot range burning it through brush and rock.

Topwater lures are probably everyones favorite way to catch them so let’s start there. I always have two tied on and test the size of the fish want each day. For my smaller bait I am loving the Megabass Karashi 80 on a baitcaster in colors like Mat Shad or GG Gin Flash. This is a sub surface topwater that can be run on the surface or suspended right on top of schools of fish. I have been catching a lot of bass behind other anglers by showing the fish something suspending right in their faces. For the larger bait I go bigger. I want something that creates a bigger profile for getting a largest fish to bite. The Megabass Dog-X Diamante Sonic Side is almost 5” long and creates a lot of noise to call them up. It walks extremely easy and the roll is perfect to show off the great colors MB makes. I throw Ito Clear Shad on sunny days and SH Stain Reaction on cloudy days.

For my mid depth baits I am looking for something with speed as the main factor. A lot of our off shore fish are dialed in on the herring and those buggers swim super duper fast. A lot of my trips are spent really explaining to folks that they need to be fishing their baits a lot more erratic here. On top of the fish getting a lot of pressure we have very clear water this year so speeding up is key to not giving the bass much time to see your baits. Number one of course is a fluke style bait. For a lot of folks a Zoom Fluke is a great option, however as we get into the heat of summer I like to find a fluke style bait that is a softer material than Zoom makes. Megabass re-released the Sling Shad last year which is a very soft plastic bait and runs extremely well on a Core Tackle Scamper head. Although they are not the cheapest the extra soft plastic makes that bait look different than a Zoom Fluke and in my opinion is showing the fish something different. Secondly would be some form of a jointed bait like the Berkley Magic Swimmer or a triple jointed glide like the 6th Sense Mini Trace. These baits can be burned right under the surface to create some killer strikes.

For my crankbait deal I am also wanting to focus on speed and a more aggressive bait. I have been catching a lot of bass using the Megabass Deep-X 300 series in Sexy Ayu and the OSP Blitz Max DR in Numeri Shad which is a silent crankbait. I am focusing on secondary rock in 10-20 feet and brush piles that I can burn these baits right over the tops on. This bite has been either super good or not working at all, but on the days it’s working its getting bites all day long no matter the conditions. Make sure you have a plug knocker handy to get these out when they snag.

Bottom baits are always a key player this time of year as we end up getting some hot stretches of days which can draw those schooling fish towards the bottom. Still very catchable fish, you just need to understand what you see on your fish finders to know when its time. As a general rule the school fish will bite for the first few hours each day but by 9am it’s very common to have a worm out dragging around. A 6” Missile Baits Magic Worm is my go to on a dropshot or shaky head. Alabama Bream and Blueback Secret work great one SML. Lastly I throw a wobble head a lot with a bigger worm or creature bait. A Strike King Bull Worm is a great oversized worm option or a Missile Baits D Stroyer.

If you plan to keep any fish in the livewell please take care of them as the water temps start to rise. Ice in the livewell or some G-juice can do wonders for bass. Stay safe out there and slow down when the boat traffic starts to get rough.

This months highlighted sponsor is Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate. As some of you know I am also an active Real Estate Agent on the lake helping clients find their dream lake homes or sell their current properties. This lake is growing and values are still great for getting into the Short Term Rental market or getting that retirement home you are looking for. I specialize in helping folks that are from outside the area by having the most extensive knowledge of the lake from being on the water almost every day. If you are looking at buying or selling or have anyone you know talking about coming to check out this amazing lake please keep me in mind!