September Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report: It’s Junk Fishing Time!

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

I RECOMMEND

It’s junk fishing time, baby! Who’s ready to catch them in 1’ and in 40’???

September can be one of the best months of the year for numbers of fish on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. It can also be one of the most frustrating months when it comes to finding a consistent pattern and staying around the big ones.

We also have the dreaded fall turnover lurking around the corner.

Right now, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and stripers are schooling up heavily. There are busting fish almost everywhere, while some giant bass are roaming around in the dirt.

With school back in session and less boat traffic on Smith Mountain Lake, September is a great time to get out there. It’s also one of my favorite months for topwater fishing because that bite can sometimes last all day.

The key is understanding that the fish are moving.

When most anglers hear “September fishing,” they cringe because of everything they’ve heard about the fall transition and turnover.

Yes, fish are transitioning. Yes, bite windows may be shorter. And yes, it can be hard to stay on a consistent pattern.

But there are a few things I pay close attention to that help me stay ahead of the fish as they move.

1. Find Stained Water

The first thing I’m looking for is water color.

Turnover is coming, and even though we’ve hardly had any rain, there is still some color in the water in both the Roanoke River and Blackwater River arms of Smith Mountain Lake.

SML is known for its very clear water, but this time of year, I want as much stain as I can find.

The backs of pockets and short pockets off the main lake are great places to look for stained water right now.

Pay attention to wind direction from the day before. I’ll also watch the wind throughout my fishing day and head toward the guts of pockets that are getting hit by it.

With the low water this year, we’re also seeing some dirtier water near the bank because so much of the riprap is out of the water.

Find that dirtier water, and you may find some very shallow fish.

2. Watch the Bait Before Choosing Your Lure

The second thing I’m focused on every morning is using my LiveScope to see how high the bait is sitting in the water column.

This can tell me almost immediately whether I should pick up a topwater or something that suspends more, like a jerkbait or fluke.

If the bait is less than 10’ deep, topwater is usually the play.

Those predatory fish are going to be looking up.

Instead of cycling through a pile of different baits, let the baitfish tell you where you need to start.

3. Target Pinch Points as Bass Move

The third thing I’m looking for is pinch points.

September and early spring are two times of the year when bass are really on the move. Each day, fish can move up to the next piece of structure or push farther back into pockets.

I’m very focused on looking at tighter contour lines extending back into pockets and finding anything bass can use along the way.

And I mean anything.

It could literally be a single stump or rock.

Once I figure out how far back the fish have moved, that pattern can become very repeatable in other areas of Smith Mountain Lake.

Best Topwater Baits for September

Here are three of my favorite choices for September topwater fishing—and one of them may surprise you guys.

Megabass Dog-X

My first choice is the Megabass Dog-X.

The normal-sized Dog-X is my go-to starting bait because it helps me figure out how aggressive the fish are.

It’s a loud topwater loaded with lots of smaller beads, giving it a different sound that can really get their attention.

Megabass Dog-X Jr.

When the fish are keyed in on smaller bait, I’ll downsize to the Megabass Dog-X Jr..

The Dog-X Jr. is a BFS topwater that does a great job matching the smaller baitfish schooling up this time of year.

Some of the shad are only a few inches long.

When that’s what the fish are eating, downsizing can make a huge difference.

Acme KastMaster Spoon

And then there’s the one you might not expect—the Acme KastMaster Spoon.

Yep, a spoon.

Again, it’s all about matching the smaller baitfish from this year’s hatch that are getting eaten.

Sometimes going back to the basics works.

You can reel the KastMaster on the surface, work it suspended farther down in the water column, or jig it through schools of fish as they pass underneath you.

That is the definition of matching the hatch.

September Is Glide Bait Time Again

September is also a great time to break out the glide baits.

Bass are already starting to think about putting on weight for winter, and presenting a big bait to an early shallow fish can produce some great catches this month.

I like using a glide with a lot of chop to it this time of year to create reaction strikes.

One I really like right now is the SPRO KGB Lil Guy 120.

Work it around wood and docks that have a little more depth around them.

Don't be afraid to put a big bait around shallow cover. You might be surprised by what comes out to get it.

Cooler Weather Will Bring the Jig Bite

As we approach that first stretch of cooler September weather—lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s—the jig bite should come back hot and heavy.

It doesn’t take much to get the crawfish moving around and starting their move back up into whatever rock they can find.

This year may be a little different because a lot of the rock is dry.

But that could actually make Smith Mountain Lake easier to break down. Instead of having miles of rock to choose from, start looking for the rock that is still in the water.

I like to downsize my jig to start.

Missile Baits just dropped a new Micro HD Football Jig that should be killer this fall.

Smith Mountain Lake Striper Fishing Is On Fire

Striper fishing on Smith Mountain Lake is on fire right now, with lots of fish schooling in massive groups around islands on the lower end and mid-lake.

Fish are starting to blow up baitfish on the surface, while other stripers are still roaming around the treetops.

A heavy jigging spoon is a great way to target both groups of fish.

Reel the spoon on the surface to trigger blowups, then use that same bait to drop on fish roaming underneath you on your sonar.

Having one bait that can cover both situations makes it much easier when those schools are constantly moving.

September Crappie Fishing

Don’t forget about the crappie.

Crappie fishing should continue getting better as groups of fish begin stacking up on brush piles back in the creeks.

Something as simple as a smaller underspin rigged with a 2” swimbait can be deadly around those groups.

Look for concentrated fish around brush, and keep that bait compact to imitate the small forage they’re feeding on.

The Bottom Line for September Fishing on Smith Mountain Lake

September fishing on Smith Mountain Lake can definitely be frustrating.

Fish are moving. Patterns can change quickly. Bite windows can get shorter. What worked yesterday might not work today.

But that’s also what makes September so much fun.

Pay attention to three things:

Water color. Bait depth. Pinch points.

Find the stained water, watch where the bait is sitting in the water column, and figure out how far fish have moved into the pockets.

And most importantly, don’t be afraid to junk fish!

You might catch one bass in 1’ of water and turn around and catch the next one in 40’.

That’s September on Smith Mountain Lake.

Fishing Smith Mountain Lake—and Living Here

One of the things I love about Smith Mountain Lake is that there’s always something changing, whether it’s on the water or around the lake.

I spend a lot of time learning this lake, and that local knowledge carries over into my real estate business as well.

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling a home around Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke, or Lynchburg, I’m always happy to help.

Until next time, I’ll see you out on the water.

Thanks, and tight lines!