Smith Mountain Lake December Fishing Report - Lock jaw
Wow fishing has been super tough this year. With the lack of rain, low water and unusually warm air temps we are still stuck in a late fall pattern of fishing. The stripers are FINALLY stacked up and can be pretty easy to catch on points and super deep chasing bait but the largemouth and smallmouth are harder to convince. With the extended forecast calling for no rain or snow and warming weather this month could be a hit or miss for bass fishermen.
Stripers are grouping up on most main lake points in schools of 15-30 fish. A ball head with a fluke, a jerk bait or a smaller Swimbaits are great choices for getting the schools to react. If you have front facing sonar just take the time to find the schools and rotate your spots. Your other option for stripers is fishing deep above the bride on the Roanoke side. Bait seemed to skip heading to the backs of the pockets this year and decided to stack up in 60-100 feet of water. A spoon is about the only thing you can toss at those fish but you can get some bigger bites.
The crappie are all over brush in 12-20 feet. If you have piles on the main river on either side they should be holding good fish right now. Live bait is always easiest or just a smaller gulp minnow can make it happen.
Smallmouth seem to be eating better then largemouth right now with a lot of tournaments have at least one smallie over 3lbs in a limit. On windy or cloudy days head to the lower end and focus on natural rock or long points. A jerkbait is your best bet until that water gets into the mid 40’s.
Largemouth are either eating a Crankbait or jerk bait great or not at all. Having a shaky head ready is key to getting some bites. A smaller jig is also an option. Fish very very slow in the rocks. Some bigger fish are coming off deeper docks on the main channel but you are having to cover a lot of water and fish slow which makes it tough.
This lake is an amazing fishery and with the fish being lock jawed for most of December it’s only a matter of time before pandoras box is opened. Keep an eye on the weather and if we get a 3-4 below freezing nights that may kick the fish into eating.
Smith Mountain Lake November Fishing Report - Pray for colder weather
Wow did that weather take a turn from October to November. We were on a path to have another great fall bite with some super cold nights in October that sent the water temp into a free fall but that all changed when 60-70’s decided to show up for a few weeks. Fishing is a little more tough right now. Bass and Stripers are still up chasing bait but the bait is a little confused on if it should head shallow or stay out suspended over the main and secondary points. Covering water is key right now to find the large groups of bait and those active eating fish. You can catch some good ones on a lot of different baits but when that water temp keeps rising mid day the fish seem to be getting lock jaw pretty bad.
Stripers are starting to make their way up both the rivers and into the pockets where bait is going. Take time to use your electronics and find bait or drive around looking for surface activity. I’ve seen some reports of stripers eating very large bait so don’t be afraid to up your lure size. A spoon is also a great option right now. Find the bait balls and let the spoon fall underneath the school. It’s only a matter of time before they are all stacked in the shallows of back pockets I just don’t see it happening yet.
Largemouth and Smallmouth are scattered and big fish are somewhat hard to come by. It’s taking around 17-19 lbs to win tournaments with teams only having one big kicker. With the colder weather our bags are much bigger. Bass are suspended on the bait and have a short bite window until the weather is blowing and cloudy. Covering water with a buzz bait, tossing a jig around or throwing a drop shot seem to be getting bites but you have to fish a lot of water to find a big one. Again, colder weather will bring a MASSIVE wave of big ones as I think they are just staged and waiting.
Crappie are loaded in brush from 14-25 feet in most pockets. LiveScope of course makes crappie fishing fun and much easier, but traditional sonar can still find the same structure. a bobber and a minnow make for endless bites or a small spoon or jig. The size is pretty good right now in the upper blackwater river.
Whatever your faith, just do us all a favor and start praying for some colder weather so we can knock the fins off these fish that are just patiently waiting to put the feedbag on.
Smith Mountain Lake October Fishing Report - Fall is here!!!
Bring on the big fish! It’s about to get very good out on Smith Mountain Lake as we turn from late summer into early fall for the region. Fish are starting to move around a lot more, the bait is moving shallower and the cold nights are driving the fish to be more active and start feeding. Early October is completely different then late October so going into the month be prepared for some slower days and having to cover a lot of water. However, after we have a few days in a row of colder nights (anything 40-50 degrees) those temperatures will cause the fish to start eating quickly. Keep power baits on the deck like a jerk bait, Crankbait, topwater or spoon to cover water and see where the fish are located.
This is the time of year where you will have to start breaking down how far along the fish are in their fall transitions. A great tip is to start in the mouth of a pocket and work each point going back until you either catch a few or see signs of life such as bluegills or shad on the surface. The predatory fish will be moving with those bait fish for food. Using a lure that covers water is key to finding those active eating fish.
Once you’ve located fish its a good idea to slow down and focus on what they are eating. Stripers will be chasing bait so keep a Swimbait and spoon close to mimic the small fall bait fish. a Kietech 2.8 is hard to beat.
Largemouth and Smallmouth will also be chasing the shad around but will also be heavily eating crawfish that are moving shallow to burrow for the winter. Riprap banks and rock are a great place to toss around a jig or Shakey head for some big bites. These bass will also be roaming the banks looking for bluegills to eat. A buzz bait or whopper Plopper are a great cover water lure that allows you to find those big single fish moving around shallow.
Crappie are starting to stack up on brush up the rivers in 15-25 feet and will be moving into shallower brush as the bait fish move back into the pockets.
Stripers can be found on main lake humps, points and will be in the backs of the pockets by late October. A topwater, spoon and hair jig are great tools to catch numbers and size. Look for birds chasing bait and the stripers won’t be far behind.
Smith Mountain Lake September Fishing Report - Small bait, schooling fish and covering water
Chilly mornings, lots of fog and cooling water temps are going to get things moving this September. Each year is different with how the weather will advance the move to the shallows, but this year is getting a kick start with lows in the 50’s right at the start of the month. The fish are going to be schooling for the next few weeks before moving to the backs of creeks and into the riprap to chase crawfish.
Striper fishing should be great this month. The fish are already schooling, but now will get even tighter together as they make their way from the main deep channel to the main lake points and secondary points in the pockets. The bait has been high in the water column for a few weeks now and that has made for some great fishing. Keep a topwater or fluke handy for when the fish decide to start coming up.
The largemouth are a little scattered in September on Smith Mountain Lake. You can catch them from 2 feet on a buzz bait to 30 feet on a jig and everywhere in between. Take your pick on how you want to target them. It’s fairly easy to find schooling fish similarly to the stripers but harder to find the size you may be looking for doing that. I always have a shaky head ready this time of year for dragging around stumps and brush on transition spots to the backs of the pockets. Also, its super fun to run around with a buzz bait. It can produce a large fish, but you must cover water quickly and a good amount of it. Look for rocky shallow banks where bluegills may be hiding.
The smallmouth should start chewing this month on the lower end. Like every fishing report I write a small Swimbait is key on this lake and September is no different. Look for long rocky points on the lower end or choke points where the fish have to travel through. Topwater can be great on the lower end of the lake this time of year.
Panfish are back on the banks and some docks with brush can hold some giants this time of year as they start to feed up.
Crappie are starting to move from the main channel back to under the docks and on brush as well.
Smith Mountain Lake August Fishing Report - It’s hot and the fishing can be too.
August is here. It’s going to be HOT and the fishing can be hot as well….. if you spend the time looking for them. School is out for the kids but the fish are all about hanging out together. Schooling is when the fish bunch together based on their species and size. There are exceptions of course but this is the time of year where if you catch a good one from a school they are all generally the same size.
Using your electronics is key this time of year. You have to spend the time to find the bait, the schools and the locations they are holding too and you have to stay on the move. The fish are actively chasing the bait and that means they can be somewhere at the start of the day and an hour later be gone. Do yourself a favor and scan main lake points and humps until you see bait and fish together. Once you have found your school back the boat off the area and make super long cast. The fish can be spooked easy this time of year so distance away is a good idea.
Stripers are schooled up and eating like crazy. Just like last month a spoon is a great tool if you plan to throw artificial. 3/8oz and 1/2oz on 15lb line is a great set up to get bites and still hold the bigger fish on. Also, have a swimbait with a smaller bait on it 3.3” or smaller. The shad they are chasing is smaller this time of year so tricking them into biting requires smaller baits. Have a topwater ready for when they decided to bust the shad at the surface.
Smallmouth are harder to find this time of year. Yes they are schooled but with bluebacks being in the lake they are harder to target. Keep an eye for busting fish WAY off longer points into the main river channel. Sometimes these fish can be suspended over 60-80ft of water. Front facing sonar like Livescope is really the best way to target these fish.
Largemouth are chewing this time year. A Carolina rig with a large bait on it can get you some monster bites. Try throwing a Missile Baits Destroyer or large brushhog. It’s also big worm season. 10-14” worms Texas rigged or rigged on a shaky head worked down the points is a great way to catch a giant. If you have good electronics I would try to focus on the 20+ ft range and find some rock or brush. This is also the best time to be night fishing on the lake.
If you do plan to night fish please be extremely careful. always have a life jacket on at night and know what the lights mean. Also, if you plan to catch fish deeper grab a fizz needle from Dewayne at Captains Quarters and learn how to fizz a fish. This happens when you catch a fish deep and bring they up too fast. If you do this it will kill our bass. If you have questions on how to fizz check out this video link. Being a good conservationist to our waters is what makes this lake great so learn how to do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2jls62ZG8Q
Smith Mountain Lake July Fishing Report - Smaller bite windows but lots of fish
July is a funky month some years. The fish are moving out to the summer holding patterns and can be finicky when and what they want to eat. Most fish are chasing shad style baits as the smaller fish are also moving out to the deeper oxygen rich waters. However, it’s always worth a look up super shallow for those bluegill eating largemouth and smallmouth.
Stripers are starting to school up together on main lake points, ditches and humps. A spoon is your best friend this time of year to get the school activated. A simple hopkins 3/8 or 1/2 spoon on 15lb line is all you need. Find your schools of fish and rip that bait through them. Once one commits to the bait the rest of the school will follow. It’s also worth having a topwater at the ready when they bust the surface. A fluke can also be good.
Smallmouth are also schooling very similarly to the stripers. A walking topwater is key to catching them when they decide to come up. A smaller swimbait like a Kietech 2.8” or 3.3” in a light hitch or shad pattern on a Dobyns 1/4 or 3/8oz head on super light line (7lb sunline sniper) can get any fish to bite. Remember most the bait is going to be rather small for the next few months from the shad spawn that happened earlier this year.
Largemouth are both deep and shallow. The larger numbers of fish will be out deeper on the main lake. Check depths of 20-35ft. A dropshot, Carolina Rig and a big worm get it done this time of year. Work your baits SLOW. The fish are active, but can be funny about biting. There are still some good sized largemouth up shallow that a lot of people over look. Its few and far between but they can be giants. These bass are eating bluegills that are wrapping up their spawn. Look for super shallow pockets and honeycomb bluegill nest. Throwing a popper, propbait or flip a beaver can be a great way to get the bite.
If you’re down here with the kids it’s still a fantastic time to go bream fishing. Live bait from the tackle shops and a bobber are you best friend off the docks.
Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - Topwater or bottom baits? You choose
The weather is out of this world nice right now in south west Virginia. Lows in the 50-60’s each morning and highs in the mid 80’s is keeping the fishing exciting and fast paced. If you can get up early enough the topwater bite for both largemouth and smallmouth is fantastic and the stripers are almost everywhere. The water temperatures are going to jump up quick so getting out this month is key to having some good numbers and size for your catch. If topwater isn’t your thing than grab a shaky head, dropshot or carolina rig and drag bottom. Fish are moving out to their deeper summer spots and cutting them off on the points is the best way to catch them.
The stripped bass are all over the points on the lower end of the lake. Pick up a fluke, walking topwater or a popper and work it as fast as you can. If you’re lucky to have a boat to get out sit the boat off the ends of longer points near the dam and Witcher creek. The shoals around Craddock Creek are also great places to start. Once the sun is up grab a smaller swimbait like a 2.8 or 3.8 keitech on a dobyns 1/4oz head and go to town on them. These fish won’t move off the points as the bait is stuck there for now. Keep you rod ready for schoolers that decide to come up within a casting distance and hang on.
The largemouth are starting to be STACKED in the brush anywhere from 6-15 feet. Take the time to use your electronics on secondary points and find their stopping spots. A big worm is a great choice to get a bigger bite right now. 10”-13” worms are big but these monster largemouth can eat that easily. If the bigger bait is not your thing pick up a shaky head or a dropshot and target those same piles. If you are out early enough you can also throw a topwater over the shallow piles and get some big fish to commit. Secondly, there are still plenty of largemouth up super shallow eating bluegills that are spawning. Tossing around a prop bait or popper on the hard shad lines is a great choice if you can stay quite and sneaky. If you think your shallow…. go shallower. There are giant bass that will be in 6” of water right now waiting for their moment to nab a fat bluegill.
The smallmouth are super post spawn right now but are eating up like crazy. It’s hard to beat a 2.8 swimbait. These fish will chase down a bait from very far away right now. The lower end holds most of the smallmouth so take the time to point hop until you find some. The schools are around 3-8 fish together so don’t be looking for massive groups.
The bluegill are still in a full spawn and taking a kid out there is super easy to catch some. A bobber with a wax or nightcrawler worm is a 100% change at catching. Remember to put the bluegill back so they can do their business and keep the population up for our bass to eat.
Crappie are starting to be in the brush in deeper water. Small jigs or live bait are the go to.
Smith Mountain Lake May Fishing Report - Pre-spawn, Spawn and Post-spawn
What a great time to be at Smith Mountain Lake. The fish are biting, the birds are signing and everyone is out enjoy what this amazing place has to offer. The fish has been great with good numbers and a few big fish per trip. The lake is still a bit stain from the bad pollen we had earlier this month but it turning the corner to clearing up. Quick tip: If you are coming down to visit and thinking of renting a boat from one of the great marinas on the lake do it soon since they tend to book up quick.
The largemouth and smallmouth are in all three stages of the spawn and it’s really dependent on the area of the lake you choose to fish. The upper Roanoke River above the bridge and above Gills creek on the Blackwater side seem to be mostly post spawn at this time. The topwater bite is great right now. My go to bait in the mornings is a Tackle HD world wide buzzer and can catch some giants. Also toss around a walking bait on the points for the fish that are on their way back out to deeper water.
The middle sections of the lake are spawning and quickly turning over to post spawn. A shaky head is a great bait for this area. Drag it around rock and near stumps for bedding fish. Remember to be quick on your hook set since most fish will be moving your bait away from their beds.
The lower end of the lake is pre-spawn and spawning. A swimbait 2.8, 3.3 or up to a 3.8 is a great choice to cover water and see what pockets are fish around. The shaky head still does really well in that area. This is also the best time to catch spawning smallmouth. Focus on rock points on the main lake and hold on they are super aggressive when baits get near their beds.
The bluegill are everywhere so its a great time to get the kids out on the dock. Night-crawlers and a bobber are impossible to beat.
The stripers are starting to school over main lake points all over the lake. A fluke is a great choice to get the school to rise. Keep an eye out for massive schools of fish over deep water that come up if you are close enough cast into the blowing up schools and enjoy the fight.
Lastly, the shad are in full spawn so if night fishing is your deal its now or never. Fish are biting from 11:00pm-2:00am and again from 3:30am-sunrise. Thundersticks is all you need.
Smith Mountain Lake April Fishing Report - It’s bedding time
The fishing is going to out of this world good this month. The lake is at its peak with big fish moving around and eating heavily. Stripers are pushing back into most creek arms chasing the bait that is running to the warm shallow water. Some early topwater is right around the corner this month. Tossing around a fluke weighless is a great way to catch them and get some super aggressive strikes. A jerkbait and swimbait are also great options for getting them to bite. Try a Dobyns 1/4oz or 3/8oz swimbait head with a Tackle HD swimmer.
The largemouth and smallmouth are in a transition period for the next few weeks while they decide where they want to bed. This is SENKO season. Whacky rig a senko and hit as many docks and you can and you will have some of the highest numbers days of the entire year. Focus on finding fish in the back half of the pockets with spawning flats towards the backs. If you get some wind blowing toss around a chatter bait or the swimbait to find those aggressive prespawn fish. By late April there could be a topwater bite with a buzzbait or popper.
When you find a bass on a bed try flipping in smaller profile baits on a texas rig like a beaver, Missile baits D-Bomb or a small brush hog.
Bluegill will be on the docks in almost any section of the lake soon so if you have kids grab some worms from the local tackle shops or gas stations and tie up a hook and bobber and have a blast. Crappie are on the move to spawn so keep an eye on the shallows for large schools spawning together.
Please practice catch and release with most spawning fish. This is what keeps Smith Mountain Lake one of the best lakes in the south east right now.
Smith Mountain Lake March Fishing Report - Change is here!
This lake is insanity. I spent a a week in AZ fishing with a few friends since the home waters was fishing tough for most and man was that a mistake. Now, for the second weekend in a row Smith Mountain Lake has kicked out a 28lb bag of largemouth to win a tournament. This lake may see a 30lb bag this year! On top of that the stripers are everywhere right now and BIG. It’s one if not the best time of the year to get out for a chance at a true giant. The crappies are loaded on lots of deep docks too. It’s just an exciting time at the lake.
The lakes water temperature is actually still a little behind with the upper Black Water and Roanoke Rivers getting to about 53 on a warm day. The lower end is still 45 in the mornings. This is very different then last year.
The Largemouth and Smallmouth are on the move and you can find fish much fast in the 8-15 foot range. An A-rig is still catching monster bags up lake, but if that’s not your thing a jerkbait is a quick second. Working the bait in different cadences is the key to success. Try fast with little pauses but also short movements with longer pauses (4-10 seconds). Lastly, the crankbait bite is starting to heat back up. Focus on that depth range mentioned above and hold on.
The stripers are chasing whats left of the smaller bait fish and are being found on main lake points as well as all the way in the back of the pockets if the bait is present. Jerkbaits, A-rigs, bucktails and spoons are great baits to get the school activated and eating.
Crappie are LOADED on deeper docks right now. If you have front facing sonar like Garmin Livescope they are easy to find. Look for schools of fish that are stacked vertically under docks and don’t move very much. To catch crappie drop a very small jig down with a Gulp Alive shad or dropshot nose hook the same bait. No joke some docks have 50+ fish under them.
Things are changing and changing quick here. The lake is easily the best lake in all of Virginia, but I think we are close to being considered a national powerhouse for large bags of tournament fish with how consistent these giant bags are.
Smith Mountain Lake February Fishing Report - Tough bite
Sorry for the delay on this report everyone, I took a long needed vacation after the busy year of guiding. I didn’t get to spend a ton of time on the water but what I did was down right tough. I’ll shoot you straight on these reports with what I experience and it was one of the hardest months of fishing I have experienced.
The bass tend to be bunched up this time of year and it takes some moving around to find them. Covering water is your best friend, but can be tough to do when its below freezing at dawn. Remember to focus on main lake structure like rocks, docks and lay downs, but don’t spend to much time on dead banks. Good bait choices are a jerkbait, a rig and a swimbait. Keep a jig handy to drag if the fish seem to be sticking close to the bottom.
The crappie fishing reports have been great with lots of fish being caught up lake on the Roanoke side near docks and lay downs in 10-20 ft. A gulp minnow on a light jig head is all you need to bring home some slabs.
Stripers seemed to be stacked on main lake humps with standing timber and rock. Throwing an A rig through the school is almost a guarantee for a strike.
Smith Mountain Lake January Fishing Report - Please get colder
Well just like in 2020 the start to 2021 is not shaping up like it should be. Virginia is experiencing another super mild winter with nightly temperatures barely tapping on the freezing mark. This has kept the shad alive for much longer and it’s keeping some of the bigger fish from being caught as they have SO much food to eat at their fin tips. Most of the water temperatures in the lake are varying from the low 40’s in the upper ends of both the rivers to almost 50 degrees on the lower end of the lake. This can make it challenging to know how reactive fish will be in both areas and can require an angler to switch baits and presentations based on the area they choose to fish. Pray we get some big cold snaps in the next few weeks because spring time will be here before you know it.
Bass fishing has been a little tough. Most the tournament weights are in the mid to high teens (which is still an awesome day of fishing) but not as big as some winter bags could be. Weather plays a big role in a monster bag of winter bass, but more important is a shad stun event. This happens when the water temp snaps and the smaller shad that were born this year start to die. That is the dinner bell to large fish of call kinds. Most all of our fish are coming on either a 2.8-3.3 swimbait on a very light Dobyns lightwire swimbait head (1/8,3/16,1/4) or an Alabama rig rigged with 1/8 heads and 2.8 swimmers. Take the time to find the bait in the pockets before casting it will pay off.
Striper fishing is great right now. I am finding most of my fish in the standing timber along points that start at the mouth of most creeks. Again, a swimbait, Alabama rig or a spoon are killer for getting them to react. Look for fish in the 25-60 foot range hiding in the standing timber and either cast and count it down or drop the spoon right on their head. This is where knowing how to use your electronics is key. Front facing sonar like Garmin Livescope is a great tool when fishing that deep and for schooling fish, but also being able to use traditional 2D sonar with the A-scope is great. If you’re looking to learn more about your electronics book an electronics training class with me here.
Crappie fishing is also lights out right now. I am finding massive schools of them in 14-25 feet of water in most boat marinas. Again if you find the bait check most the marina areas for dock slips that are stack. Get right on top of them with a small shad bait and have a blast!
Like always if you’re heading out alone please let someone know the area you are going and always wear a lifejacket.
Smith Mountain Lake December Fishing Report- It’s Game Time
Winter is finally here showing up a few days before Christmas. The bigger fish are finally starting to eat to fatten up and our water temperatures are falling. Currently most of the lake is in the high 40 to low 50’s with some of the upper parts of the Roanoke and Blackwater rivers being close to low 40’s. This can allow an angler to fish a few different ways to their strengths but can also help get the fish stacked up in certain areas. Paying attention to bait fish movements and if the shad are stunned/dying is the key to have a great day on the water. If you can bare the cold, getting out right after a super cold night usually will cause a shad stunning event and lead to a great day on the water.
Bass Fishing is still really good right now. Believe it or not there are still fish shallow on the main lake. If you get out on a windy day don’t over look main lake rock in 2-8 ft of water with a crankbait, shallow jerkbait or a swimbait. You may not be around numbers but big fish are roaming looking for a solid meal. If shallow doesn’t feel right focus on much deeper water. The 18-30 foot range can hold large schools of bass chasing shad. Throwing a deep diving jerkbait, a blade bait, spoon, hairjig or damiki rig can make for one hell of a day out deep. Keep on the move with the bait because the bass will follow.
Striper fishing is on fire this month. The same as the largemouth and smallmouth, the stripers are following the massive schools of bait over deep water. Use your boat electronics to scan long points that lead into the river channel. Scan enough points until you find a good amount of bait. A great go to winter bait is a heavier blade bait like a 3/4-1 oz. Another good option is a 1/2 ball head with a zoom fluke. Let the bait sink to the bottom and just slow reel the lure back through the school of bait fish. Those stripers are looking for the single fish out of the school to eat up.
Crappies are loaded in the brush. Focus on brush in 10-18 ft. Small jigs or live bait are a great call. Fishing can start slow but once you get the school fired up in can be fish after fish.
Yellow perch…. I have caught more yellow perch this year than any other year I can remember. Also, like the crappies they can be loaded in the brush, but even better is finding deeper rock. The schools are holding tight to the deep cover and waiting for schools of shad to come by.
DRESS WARM: Don’t forget your hand warmers, wear you life jacket and have your throwable life jacket close incase an emergency happens. Stay safe as the water temps drop.
Smith Mountain Lake November Fishing Report - Things are starting to happen
November is already half over and the weather just decided to change. We have had yet another fall of warm temperatures well into the mid days of November. This has caused a big delay in the water temps dropping and it seems to be holding the fish off from moving into the backs of the pockets to feed up. A few times throughout the day you can find that pocket full of bait and full of fish, but it seems to be every 4-6 pockets not every 1-3 like a true mid fall pattern. However, this week is calling for very low overnight temps and good wind to shake things up. I’m hopeful the fish will really start to stack up mid to late this week.
On another note - we just had our 3rd major flood event at the lake this year, this one being the highest and longest lasting. I know lake homeowners get frustrated by the management from AEP and of course there is always a better way to handle things after the fact, but a lot goes into how the lake level is managed. On the fishing side i’m A-ok with some rising water, color stain and the post flood water pull that will happen. The fish will be super active this week while AEP pulls water through the dam. Keep an eye on the leaves to see if they are pulling current or run down to the dam to check with you own eyes.
If I was coming to the lake for a day trip I would approach the lake as a late summer early fall pattern, The majority of the fish are still on main lake points, and secondaries. It’s hard to find large numbers of fish in the way backs of the pockets. Largemouth and smallmouth are eating a lot of shad and crawdads so a Dobyns 3/8oz swimbait head matched with a shad swimbait 3.3” - 4.5” are a great choice for covering water. If you’re a jig fishermen hitting the rocks with a Missile Headbanger jig in green pumpkin orange it’s a great choice. The topwater bite doesn’t seem to be great just yet but this week could change things.
The stripers are still stacked up the river and the guides and fun fishermen seem to be catching! If you’re a bass guy and wanting to give it a try its hard to beat reeling in a fluke or throwing a topwater up the river for some fun.
Crappies are stacked in brush 10-20 ft on the river sides and up both ends. Bobbers and minnows are always a go to.
Please be safe if you head out this week since there will still be logs and junk floating down from the floods.
Smith Mountain Lake October Fishing Report - Tough conditions
Fishing is tough :)
Keep your head on a swivel these next coming weeks and keep a lot of rods on the boat deck, it’s a true junk fall fishing kind of month. We are catching bass from 6” of water all the way in 30 feet. Some days you can run topwater and catch them all day and the next you have to drag a shaky head extremely slow. If you’re new to fishing the lake or new to fishing in general now is a great time to get a guide and learn how to break down new water or when to move to a different area. The water temperatures start around 64 in the mornings and rise to 72 in the afternoons depending on how hot the air temp is and how much wind we get. Wind is your FRIEND this month as it helps shake the crawfish loose and pushes the bait fish into the banks.
If you are bass fishing target large points going into pockets first and see if you can find active schoolers, if not move into secondary smaller points that may concentrate more fish in a tighter area. Keep moving back into major creek arms like Becky and Bettys, Craddock or Gills. Last check as far back in pockets as you can. If you find bait there will be fish around.
Target aggressive eaters with chatterbaits, a Dobyns spinnerbait and Spro MD crankbaits. If you notice fish busting on the top (which could also be stripers) grab your favorite topwater walking bait and fire into the schools.
For neutral and negative fish picking up a shaky head with a Missle Baits Missle Craw or their new Quiver worm or dropshot with any Roboworm is a great tool. Fish this very slow on rocky points or deeper docks.
A huge tip this year is if you catch a bass slow down in the same area. Fish will be stacked together and you can have a great time fishing for a school and getting a lot bites.
If you can plan ahead pick a day with wind and cloud cover to make the fish be more aggressive.
For the striper guys, up the Roanoke people are having good luck with fish moving up the river. Target channel swings and the back or beaver dam with flukes and topwater baits for some explosive action.
The Crappie are starting to stack up in brush 10-18 feet in most pockets.
Smith Mountain Lake September Fishing Report - Fall turnover
Early fall brings lots of moving fish and covering water is by far the most important approach to have a great day on the water. Each day can change which fish will be active and there are fish in all areas of the lake at this point. Keep an eye on up coming cold fronts and changing weather to hit the water pre-front. This is a great time to throw a topwater around points and rock transitions. A crankbait or jerkbait while windy is also a great tool during the changing weather. Don’t be afraid to head to the way backs of creeks early to check for early arrivers looking to eat shad moving back.
Striper fishing is still good on main lake points and river edge rock. A fluke, topwater or jerkbait are a great way to catch some. Watch for birds and fishing school and get your boat just within casting distance.
Largemouth and Smallmouth are moving daily and setting up for their fall patterns. Fish can be found on the main lake, secondary points and in the backs of pockets. Base you location on wind. A squarebill crank on riprap is a good start, a buzzbait or whopper plopper are good topwater options and a jig flipped into rock transitions should have all fish around.
Here are some great baits to check out squarebills crankbaits buzzbaits whoppers jerkbaits
Smith Mountain Lake August Fishing Report - Summer bite windows and suspended fish
We are at the peak of summer now. Water temps are ranging from 83-87 degrees depending on how hot we get during the day. The fish are moving and schooling up and can be hard to locate. Keep moving around and using your electronics to find schools. If you’re interested in a electronics class click here. If you are fishing over multiple days keep in mind that one day a school of fish may be there and not the next. Bait around is key to finding good areas to fish. Check depths as deep as 30 feet, but don’t completely ignore the 5-10 foot range either.
Stripers are schooling on the lower end of the lake on most main lake points and channel swings. Trolling seems to be the best way to get bites. For artificial baits try dropping spoons or drop shots with minnow imitating baits right into the school for some aggressive strikes.
Largemouth and smallmouth are keying on rock in 8-20 feet and brush piles. Pulling a Carolina rig is a great go to bait this time of year. Not the most fast paced way to fish, but it will put numbers in the boat. Always have a drop shot, Ned rig or shakey head ready on the deck. If you are able to fish on cloudy days moving baits are still getting chewed. Smaller swimbaits, underspins or crankbaits are a good choice.
Grab some Missile Baits ned bombs, bomb shots and Missile craws for your finesse stuff or some baby destroyers for your Carolina rigs.
Smith Mountain Lake July Fishing Report - Dog days and deep fishing
Summer is finally here! Air temperatures are mid 80’s to mid 90’s almost everyday, thunderstorms roll in almost every evening and the fish are BITING!!!
Most fish off all species are heading for the deep water for the rest of the summer to stay cool and now is the perfect time to cut them off at the points and secondary points. The only fish that is sticking it out shallow is the big bull bluegill and bream.
Stripers are on most main lake points, shoals and schooling in the standing timber. If you get out early throw a topwater or swimbait. Good topwater choices include walking baits like a Zara spook, Strike King sexy dog or a Lucky Craft gunfish. A Missile Baits shockwave or something similar for a swimbait is a awesome starting bait as well. Keep an eye out for big schools coming to the surface and fire your bait right in there.
The smallmouth are back and have attitude! The lower end of the lake holds the most so look for rocky points and steep dropoffs. Topwater in the morning is a great choice but as the sun comes up switching to a dropshot, or a Ned rig with a Ned bomb will bring more fish to the boat.
The largemouth are still getting gathered together on the points. Check secondary points with crankbaits (DT10, DT16, 6xd, Spro little John MD and DD’s) or drag around a worm. We are still a few weeks out from fishing being stacked on the points, but its close. Also don’t be afraid to go check super shallow as some largemouth stay back in the cuts to chew on bluegill and bream. It may not be great numbers, but you could find yourself a monster back there.
As always check in with Captains Quarters for any baits your need. Tell Dewayne I sent ya :)
Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - Post Spawn and F1 Tiger Bass
The post spawn is here! Fishing has been off an on and each day brings something new. Weather is a good indicator to how the bite will be. Bright post front sunny days will push the largemouth and smallmouth under docks for shade or slightly deeper (15ft+). Fish are eating topwater early. Use walking baits like gunfish, spooks or poppers back in pockets. Dropshot and a texas rig lizard are a great way to catch fish off deeper docks near the main lake.
Bream beds everywhere. If you fancy catching monster bull bream head to the back of any pocket and look for those honeycomb beds. Keep an eye out for a lurking largemouth and is snacking on them all day long. A bobber and corn is hard to beat for bream.
Stripers are loaded on most shoal markers on the lower end of the lake early. Swimbaits and topwaters are a great way to get some bites. Don’t be nervous to try smaller swimbaits like a Kietech 2.8 or something up to 6” long. 1/2oz swimbait heads are a good standard to get your bait deep. Be sure to work your topwater faster to get those explosive strikes.
The shad spawn is still going on but the late night topwater bite is getting later and later into the evening. If you plan to hit the night bite starting around 11:30-midnight is a goods start time. Most parts of the lake still have them spawning.
The best news on the lake this week is that the lake got a huge stock of F1 tiger bass. These are hybrid largemouth bass that are going to make this lake a true fishing destination in the years to come. Here is a link to the stocking program for more info.
Smith Mountain Lake May Fishing Report - Spring time is the best time, but cold weather brings changes
Fishing has been great for weeks now, but these big cold fronts are making each day different. If you can pick your fishing days come out the second or third day after the front has moved through and the weather is warming up.
The smallmouth and largemouth bass are well on their way to finishing their spawn. You can still find some on beds but its few and far between. You can find smallmouth out on most shoals now and catch them dragging dropshots, shaky heads or top water if the wind is low. Largemouths are still pretty shallow and some are still protecting their fry. Throw poppers if the wind is low or floating lizards/flukes. If the wind is blowing focus on secondary points with crankbaits and spinnerbaits for shad eaters.
The shad spawn is behind now with the cold weather. We had a few good nights of fishing, but the water temps have dropped around 60-62 and need to be higher for it to be in full swing. You can still find some banks loaded at night up the black water and Roanoke rivers but we are still a bit away from a full blown shad spawn.
We are catching stripers in the mix on the shoals throwing topwater and swimbaits. A missile baits shockwave on a dobyns swimbait head are a great choice to throw around and get lots of bites.