Smith Mountain Lake September Fishing Report - Early cool temps running fish shallow

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BAIT SHOP FOR ALL THE EARLY FALL TACKLE I USE

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BAITSHOP FOR MY EARLY FALL LURE LIST.

 It’s an El Niño weather pattern this year and we are already seeing the effects on the fishing, water temp and how they are biting. Bring it on!!!!! I’m ready for some big changes in the fish this fall as we have had a much slower than normal transition. El Niño should have us getting a wetter and cloudy fall and winter. We had such a delayed Spring and Summer that I don’t really think many bass went super deep. As I am writing this the 10-day forecast is already calling for evenings in the 50’s. This is good to see this early and should keep the fish shallow and eating for the time being. However, the dreaded turnover is on its way.

A quick recap on what turnover is. As the water heats up in the summer it becomes stratified. This means that the water above is warmer than the water below and a thermocline is created. This is the area in the water that is the most oxygen rich and draws a lot of baitfish to those depths. As we start to see these low evening temps and much shorter daylight hours the upper layer of warmer water is going to cool below the cooler water that is below and the lake with turnover. This chases a stressful event for fish and can lead to some tougher fishing days on the water. Keep an eye on the watercolor this time of year or the bubbles you see on the water left from say a topwater. If you notice the water is stained more than normal even though it has not rained you could be in a turnover area of the lake. Not all the lake is going to turn over at the same time so keep moving until you find normal looking water or run up either of the river sections to get into some current areas. This should only last a week or so until things will normalize, and the fish will start to really eat again.

The largemouth and smallmouth are doing somewhat similar things in different areas of the lake. Schooling is still the best approach for numbers and if you can find the right sized schooling fish you can put a great bag together. The lower end is starting to see lots of smallmouth activity while the upper rivers are holding a lot of largemouth schools. Topwater in the morning on sunny days are a great way to get the schools fired up. A walking bait or popper are a great tool this time of year to see if they want something moving fast or something slowed down. Burning a smaller swimbait is also a great morning bite as the predatory fish are looking up to feed. Focus on main lake and secondary points that are close to the river channel and main lake. If you must slow down this time of year a jig is key to getting some bigger bites. The crawfish are starting to move around a lot and targeting rocky transitions can lead to some bigger bites. I throw a Missile Baits Head Banger jig trimmed up with a Missile Baits twin turbo trailer to get lots of action out of the bait. This is also the time of year to really start getting out the bigger baits. Glide baits are a live or die way of fishing, but the bass know the weather is changing and they need to start feeding up for the incoming change. Keep an eye out for good transition docks that may old some very large fish this time of year.

Stripers are still deep as of this week. I am finding lots of schools on main lake points or off the points in the standing timber. A spoon or jig head with a fluke is still the first choice to get some bites. Keep a topwater close by or a weightless fluke incase the school decides to come up on the bait. If you can time your trips id focus on a calm and cloudy day for the best action.

The crappies are stacked on the channel swing banks in brush up both rivers right now. Focus on that 15–25-foot range with your jigs and smaller spoons to get those packs fired up.

The last term I’ll use on this report is junk fishing. September is known as the junk fishing month for bass, and it holds true every year. You could catch a fish on a moving bait, a jig, a dropshot, topwater in the middle of the day, it’s just random sometimes this month. Try not to get discouraged this time of year and keep covering water and breaking down the structure you’re fishing.

As always, I have my BaitShop tackle list here that you can see what I will have tied on this month for myself and my guide trips to catch bass. If you have any questions on the list shoot me an email.

Tightlines and stay safe out there.

Smith Mountain Lake August Fishing Report - Timing and bite windows, bait size and covering water

August is one of my favorite times to fish out here. That might seem against the grain since most fishing handbooks tell you summer time fishing is tough, but I love solving the puzzle daily. Water temps are now back on track with what they have been the last few years with morning temps right around the 80-82 mark and 84-85 durning the evening window. This can change with a few cooler mornings or a few super hot days, but the heat has stabilized the water to where the fish don’t care too much. As the title suggest this time of year is about bite windows. Keep that idea in your head as you put the boat in the water. The fish have the fastest metabolism of the entire year right now and that creates a unique fishing situation. A bite window refers to when the fish will be actively eating vs having to force them to react. This is where the fun lies… if you can get onto a school of fish, doesn’t matter if it’s bass or stripers and be in an ative bite window you can catch numbers and size very easily. However, this can also be the time of year where you have to check the same school of fish one, two, hell even five times until you land on them when they are eating. Your best bet at having a fun fish catching August is to spend some time graphing to find these high percentage areas of main lake schoolers…. but don’t forget about those shallow bass either :)

Just as I mentioned last month the largemouth are are in two different places right now. A good part of the population did their normal fish movements out to the main lake points, into brush piles and around channel swings, but some of the bigger fish turned right around to focus on eating bluegills way back in the pockets in the super hot water. The main lake schoolers have one goal and this is to push bait up to the surface (even during the middle of the day) to ambush. On a topographical map you need to find areas with main lake channel near, points with longer tapers and some possible structure under the water. A stump field is a great starting spot for shad chasing schoolers. That applies to both bass and stripers. Just like last month an early morning topwater bite is on for the first hour of light or longer if you get a cloudy day. Here are some amazing schooling style baits to have on. A Missle Baits Shockwave 3.5 or 4.5 rigged on a 1/8oz ball head. Play with the weights of the lead head to find what is working each day. Some days they may want a slower fall rate and others something very fast. Use the countdown method if you don’t have front facing sonar. Another great bait is a jerkbait. I always start by working the piss of out this style of bait this time of year. Literally no pauses at all. These fish are conditioned to chase right now and they will catch it trust me. Lastly is a topwater, this can be personal preference. A walking bait like a Spro Walking Haint is the general rule, but don’t shy away from a popper like the Spro Essential Series E Pop 80 out over open water for something different. Keep a close eye on the size of the bait that the fish are bringing to the surface and match as close as possible. As the summer progesses you will start to notice the bait getting smaller and smaller so make sure you adjust.

For shallow bass it’s pretty straight forward this time of year. Focus on rounded back pockets that hold bream beds and target structure close by. This can be a dock, laydown or even a random stick. Texas rigging a bluegill style bait is a good bait to have. A D-bomb is hard to beat. Next would be a stick style bait like the Missle Baits 48. A shaky head is key but think smaller. Grab you some of the new Missile Baits 4” mini magic worm to try or the Spro Pin tail for something slightly bigger. Lastly is a frog like the new Spro Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 70. This is a bigger and heavier frog for getting those really big fish to commit.

Stripers are everywhere on main lake points and shoal humps just like they were last month. A fluke, topwater or 3.3 swimbait are killing it right now. Low light hours seem to be the best for targeting those fish. There are also fish starting to stack on the tree tops on the main lake channel parts of the Roanoke and Blackwater rivers. I typically use a spoon on those deeper fish once I find a big school.

Crappie are loaded in the brush in 10-20 feet of water still. I am seeing large schools getting together and make for easy fishing when you find a pile loaded up. Focus on the river areas with little guts or large lay downs near the main river channel. Small grubs or minnows will always work.

Tip of the month is take is slow once the boat traffic gets busy. Everyone is going to be out enjoying the lake as they should be but don’t take a beating on your boats. Respect everyones space both pleasure boaters and fishermen. Good luck fishing at Smith Mountain Lake!

Smith Mountain Lake July Fishing Report - Big schools, bluegill eaters and night time brush pile fishing

July bring on the heat baby!!!!! We have had one strange spring but we are finally getting some super hot days (heat index over 100) and that is putting the fish back on track to where they should be. The bass fishing is getting really good, the stripers are back in the tree tops and the bream and crappie fishing is loaded up. July gets a lot of slack for being a hard time to fish, but once you locate the schools it can be lights out for good numbers and some big fish.

Largemouth are are in two different places right now. A good part of the population did their normal fish movements out to the main lake points, into brush piles and around channel swings, but some of the bigger fish turned right around to focus on eating bluegills way back in the pockets in the super hot water. Spend some time this month graphing main lake points to find good areas of hard bottom, brush piles and rocks for schooling fish. An early more topwater bite is one for about the first hour or light or a long if you get a cloudy day. Focus on areas with deep water near by and structure anywhere from 12-20 feet deep. It’s also time to get out the big guns and start big worm fishing. Texas rigging a big worm is a great way to have a chance at a giant one. On the other side of this a dropshot shines this time of year. Shad style baits like the Missile Baits Bomb Shot and straight tail worms like the Missile Baits Magic worm are great options on the end of a dropshot. For the bluegill eaters a Missle baits 48 or a texas rigged D-bomb are hard to beat around those bream beds.

Smallmouth are roaming in schools right now off main lake points, red clay banks and near channel swings. They are heavy on chasing bait so a fluke style bait is a good call. Also a swimbait should always be tied on. A Missile Baits shockwave on a ball head is all you need. Focus on the lower end of the lake around rock for the bigger sized fish. Another great call for smallies and largemouth is running a mid or deep diving crankbait through schoolers. My go to is a Spro Little John DD 60 for anything around 10-14 feet and a Spro Little John DD 90 to get to those deeper fish.

Stripers are everyone on main lake points and shoal humps. A fluke, topwater or 3.3 swimbait are killing it right now. Low light hours seem to be the best for targeting those fish.

Crappie are loaded in the brush in 10-20 feet of water. I am seeing large schools getting together and make for easy fishing when you find a pile loaded up. Focus on the river areas with little guts or large laydowns near the main river channel. Small grubs or minnows will always work.

The shad spawn is all but done at this point now that the water temps have reached close to 80 degrees.

Always check local fishing regulations and obtain any necessary permits before fishing. Pay attention to weather forecasts and adjust your techniques accordingly. Good luck fishing at Smith Mountain Lake!

Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - Fry guarding still, shad spawn and brush

June is here and it’s going to be a lot of fish movements. After having a strange weather month for May with two really big cold fronts the heat is finally here. Our fish have been in a long holding pattern of protecting fry, chasing shad and believe it or not still spawning. Our water temps are hovering around the low to mid 70’s which is a few degrees behind normal. Be prepared for fish to move a lot this month as the water temp will most likely move very quickly up and could make for some interesting patterns.

Largemouth are still holding tight to docks. Focus on the first 1-5 docks going into pockets as these fish are moving out to the main lake. Dock post are a great area for the bass to hold their fry. A dropshot, neko rig or texas rig are great options to get them to bite. I also recommend fishing a sqarebill crankbait around the docks as some times the bass are higher in the water column.

Smallmouth are roaming out on the flats on the lower end of the lake looking for shad all hours of the day and even in bite sunny conditions. A fluke is your best friend right now to create a reaction strike. Check areas in Craddock, Witchers and the mountain.

Stripers are everyone on main lake points and shoal humps. A fluke, topwater or 3.3 swimbait are killing it right now. Low light hours seem to be the best for targeting those fish.

Crappie are finally starting to make it out to the brush in 10-20 feet of water. I am seeing large schools getting together and make for easy fishing when you find a pile loaded up. Focus on the river areas with little guts or large laydowns near the main river channel. Small grubs or minnows will always work.

The shad spawn is in full swing now with most bait coming up around 10:30pm and the fish getting up on the bait around 12:30pm. Topwater baits and large worms towards the bank are all you need. Please be safe out there and use your navigation lights. The morning bite from 5:00-8:00 am can fish a little slow because the fish have been eating all night.

Always check local fishing regulations and obtain any necessary permits before fishing. Pay attention to weather forecasts and adjust your techniques accordingly. Good luck fishing at Smith Mountain Lake!

Smith Mountain Lake May Fishing Report - Fry guarding, shad spawning and topwater time!!!

May is an exciting time to fish at Smith Mountain Lake, as many species of fish become more active as the water temperature continues to warm up. One phenomenon that occurs in May is the shad spawn, which can make for some great fishing opportunities.

The shad spawn usually occurs in May when the water temperature reaches around 65-70 degrees. During this time, shad will spawn in shallow areas, such as around rocks, riprap and points. This will attract predatory fish, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, stripers, and catfish. You can use lures that mimic shad, such as swimbaits, topwater lures and crankbaits. Getting up early or staying out past dark will increase the number and size of fish you will catch. Remember to be safe driving during those times and have the correct lights working on your boats.

Largemouth bass can be found in shallow water moving back out to deeper water as they start their post spawn movements. We will still have fish coming up to spawn but the majority of the population will be moving around. The topwater bite is about to start heavy as you have post spawn females that are looking for larger meals after the stress of laying their eggs. Start to look at water that is close to main creek channel swings or high spots near secondary points. The fish will also use docks heavily at this time as cover and ambush areas. Once the topwater bite stops for the day this is a great time to focus on dragging. A Carolina rig, dropshot and heavier shaky head shine this month. Focus on smaller profile baits like 4-6” worms to catch numbers and size.

Smallmouth bass can be found in clear and rocky areas, such as points, ledges, and drop-offs. These fish will be the first to really start moving out deeper towards the main lake. These fish will be very aggressive this month so keep trying different baits until you find what they seem to want on each day. A small swimbait is about all you need on a cloudy or windy day on the lower end.

Stripers are about on every point up and down the lake and are eating heavy now. Keep an eye as you’re riding around on your big motor for massive schools of fish blowing up on top. Its a good idea to have a swimbait, fluke or topwater at the ready so you can zoom your boat right over to the active school. These fish are chasing the shad spawn around after the sun comes up. You will be surprise how shallow some of the bigger fish get to find the food.

Crappie fishing will also be great this month. Most of the schools have spawned and are on the move back out to deeper water. They are hungry and grouped together. Look for brush piles in the 8-15 foot ranger outside of flat spawning pockets.

In May, the water temperature at Smith Mountain Lake is usually in the mid-60s to low 70s, making it an excellent time to fish for all of these species. Be sure to take advantage of the shad spawn by using lures that mimic shad, and always follow local fishing regulations and properly release fish back into the water to ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

Smith Mountain Lake April Fishing Report - Bed Fishing and Shad Spawn

April is an excellent month for fishing at Smith Mountain Lake. The water temperature starts to warm up, and many species of fish become more active. Nature will show you signs of when the fish are going to start moving like dogwoods blooming, grass growing and trees starting to bud. The weather will start to be stable for long stretches with random thunderstorms popping up. The bite will tend to be better in the afternoons and after a few days of sunny weather.

Largemouth bass can be found in shallow water this month as they prepare to spawn. The full moon in April will have a wave of fish move up to make beds and spawn. Look for pockets that are getting the most sun throughout the day. They become more active as the water temperature reaches 60-65 degrees. Look for bedding bass around shallow dock post or near lay downs as they make their beds in the most protected areas. In mornings skipping a senko under docks is a great way to catch. A light shaky head worm set up is also a top choice. If you fish on a cloudy day focus on deep points with a smaller swimbait for fish that are still pre-spawn. Topwater lures can also be effective early in the morning and late in the evening.

Smallmouth bass can be found in clear and rocky areas, such as points, ledges, and drop-offs on the lower end of the year. Smallmouth will tend to bed on main lake points and will spawn deeper than largemouth will. A ned rig is a great choice for bedding smallmouth as they are more aggressive. Again, a swimbait is a key search bait this time of year for fish moving up and down to spawn.

Stripers can be found on most main lake pockets back in the main creek arms. Most days a fluke rigged on a 1/4 or 1/2 oz head will always get it done. You can also try fishing dock lights at night for a chance at a monster. If you can net shad you can use live bait over tree tops in main creeks like Craddock or Strawberry Banks.

Crappie can be caught in a variety of habitats, such as around brush piles, trees, and docks. Look for them moving shallow towards the middle of the month to start spawning.

The shad spawn will be starting soon with the water getting into the mid 60’s towards the end of the month. Focus on main lake riprap as early as an hour before sunrise and a few hours after sunset. Please use your running lights if you do decide to go out in the dark. A topwater wake bait like a thunderstick is a great choice for the shad spawn.

In April, the water temperature at Smith Mountain Lake is usually in the mid-50s to low 60s, making it an excellent time to fish for all of these species. Please practice catch and release on bedding fish so they can lay their eggs to keep this lake a special place forever. Tight lines and be safe!

Smith Mountain Lake February Fishing Report - Fish are on the move!

Smith Mountain Lake is a great place for fishing, especially for those looking to catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, stripers and crappie. With already warming temperatures in early February you are going to see all species of fish be on the move to shallower water.

Largemouth Bass are usually found in areas near drop-offs where flats meet on the topography map. Learning to use your electronics and how to read the map can really help you cut down on what areas to focus on. Windy and cloudy days will be better with more active fish. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits and jigs will be your best bet or slug around an A rig. Look for stained water this time of year since it tends to warm up faster.

Smallmouth Bass can be found in clear and rocky areas, such as points, ledges, and drop-offs. The best baits for smallmouth bass include Jerkbait and jigs. Don’t be afraid to try some wacky colors around smallies as they tend to be sight eaters. A clown jerkbait is a killer this time of year. These fish also tend to like sunny windy days on the lower end of the lake.

Stripers are typically found in deeper waters, such as near the main channel, where they can be caught using live bait, like shad, or artificial lures like jigheads and flukes or spoons. The best time to fish for stripers is during the early morning and late afternoon. Also take the time to find the bait balls and the fish will be near.

Crappie can be caught in a variety of habitats, such as around brush piles, trees, and docks. Live minnows and jigs tipped with minnows are a good choice for luring crappie. These fish are most active when the water temperature is between 40-50 degrees.

In February, the water temperature at Smith Mountain Lake is usually around the low to mid-50s, making it a good time to catch all four of these species. It is important to remember to always follow local fishing regulations and to properly release fish back into the water to ensure the sustainability of the fishery. Good Luck!

Smith Mountain Lake January - Still need more cold but the fish are ready to bite

I hope this fishing report finds you well and ready to wet a line at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. January is a great time to target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, stripers, and crappie in the lake. We have seen large temperature swings again this fall and early winter that have made the fishing somewhat of a roller coaster, but the fish are where they should be and the next big cold snap should get things right on track.

The water temperature is usually in the low to mid 50s this time of year, so the fish will be a bit more sluggish. That said, you can still find some good action if you know where to look. Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found in deeper water near points, drop offs, and underwater structures. Jigs, worms, and crawfish imitations are good choices for baiting these species, and you can fish them slowly along the bottom or with a slow hop-and-drop retrieve. Largemouth and smallmouth bass will also bite on crankbaits and early in the morning and late in the evening or on a windy day. On warm sunny days look to the rocks for bass holding close to get warm.

Stripers can be found in the main lake channels, and they can be caught using live bait such as shad or herring, or lures like jigs and swimbaits. A 1/2oz spoon or a jig head with a zoom fluke can be killer when the schools show up on the graph. Also keep an eye on the upper river areas for schooling birds or other fishermen.

Crappie can be found near underwater structures like brush piles and submerged trees. Live minnows or small jigs fished slowly near the bottom will do the trick, and you can also try small crankbaits and spoons.

Remember to pay attention to the weather and water conditions when fishing at Smith Mountain Lake in January, as these can greatly affect the fish's behavior and location. And don't be afraid to take your time and fish slowly, as the colder water temperatures will cause the fish to be a bit less active. Please be safe out there by wearing your lifejacket and having a change of clothes in the boat incase you take a fall.

I hope this report has been helpful, and I wish you tight lines and good luck out on the water. Happy fishing!

Smith Mountain Lake December - Biggest Cold Snap in 50 years!

Sorry, i’ve been a little MIA this report guys. I had lots of travel and family time. The fishing has been slightly off at SML this fall. The AEP crew dropped the water for an incoming hurricane that never showed up and that threw the fish for a loop for sure. Now that we are in a true winter temperature the fishing is about to get much much much better. Largemouth and Smallmouth fishing will good with lots of very big fish being caught daily. It will fish a little slower for numbers but the size will be some of the biggest for the entire year. Stripers are chasing bait both on main lake points and also in the main river channel sometimes as deep as 80 feet. Crappie fishing is lights out right now with big fish being caught out of secondary and main lake brush.

Baits for largemouth and smallmouth should mostly be shad based as they are chasing around the shad stun bite. This occurs when the water temps fall below 50 degrees. On a super cold night the shad that are higher in the water column will become stunned the following day. It’s easy to spot because birds will be everywhere. This is the best time to be fishing a jerkbait. Be sure to get an eye on how big the shad are to match your jerkbait size. This is also an amazing time to fish a spoon. A damiki rig can be a great follow up bait this time of year as well to target fish that are hanging lower in the water like 30-60 feet. Another great bait for the dead of winter is pulling around a football jig as slow as you can. Focus on rock and steep banks during the next few months.

Stripers will be mainly chasing large bait balls around on points and the main river channel. This is a great time to learn how to use either you 2D A-Scope or your front facing sonar as these fish are going to be moving around a lot. A heavy spoon is about all you need to catch some fun striper fish or grab a 3/8 or 1/2 jig head with a fluke and just slow reel it through those giant schools of fish. On a shad stun morning you can also target those bigger fish with a jerkbait to get those super aggressive bites. This time of year up the Roanoke river or Blackwater river on the bluff walls is a great place to start on.

Crappie are LOADED in brush right now. If you have livescope its game on for some slabs. A minnow and a bobber is all you need but you can also just any type of artificial crappie bait to load the cooler. I hope everyone has an amazing Merry Christmas and New Year!

Smith Mountain Lake November Fishing Report - Praying for cold!

VA weather has been so up and down the last two falls. We seem to get a great cooling trend in October that kicks fall off then a warming trend and high pressure systems keep unusually warm air temps and low chance of rain. This causes the water temps to dip at night and rise as much as 4-6 degrees during the sunny days which can cause the fish to have a small bite window and suspend. I like being an honest guide and know that the fishing has been tougher on a lot of the local anglers. However!!!!!! I’m writing this mid November (sorry for the delay) and we just got a few colder raining days from a tropical storm that moved up from Florida. This is going to raise the water level and get the fish moving around. We have a massive cold snap on the way and with how loaded up these suspended fish are the next few weeks of fishing are going to take off!

For bass it’s been about covering a lot of water and junk fishing. This is a fun way to fish because you can learn a few new techniques and it challenges you to become a better angler but it can also cause you to spin out if you go hours without a bite. I have caught good bass on damiki rigs in 40 feet the last few weeks over tree tops on the main lake and isolated big ones super shallow on a shaky head. With the bass suspened out on most points on the main lake I would be sure to have a topwater on, jerkbait, fluke and spoon. These fish will start committing to baits as the water temp chills. For the shallow fish a crankbait and jig are going to start to come into play. Look for stained water up the two rivers or windblown banks on the main lake section. Once the water temps drop into the mid 50’s its game on for some of the best fishing of the year.

Stripers are LOADED on points. We are catching a lot of fish on 3.3 swimbaits on a 1/8 or 1/4 jig heads or a fluke if they are closer to the surface. If you have forward facing sonar just keep an eye out for schools of fish that are bigger than 10 fish. If you don’t have front facing just point hope as quick as you can and start shallow moving deeper on each point until you get a bite. On a calm day keep you eyes out for schooling fish.

Crappies are starting to stack in piles in 12-20 feet on the main river section. We had one 14.5” crappie in early October from a brush pile in 18 feet.

If you’re interested in getting out in the boat send me a message or give me a call. If you can handle some colder weather it can be a great time at a giant bag of bass with these cooler temps.

Smith Mountain Lake October Fishing Report - My favorite month of the year

This year could be a really special October. We are having some strong Arctic high pressure systems coming south that are bringing low temperatures into the 40’s at night which is pretty early for this time of year. This will have the fish on the move a little faster this year so be ready to check some areas that you may have overlooked in the last few years. Fish are starting to school together and big stripers and bass are moving shallow quickly to follow the bait fish.

Largemouth and Smallmouth fishing will be lights out this month. We have a few different patterns to fish with where the bait is located. Some bass are already in the backs of pockets waiting for the schools of bait fish to arrive and can be very easy to catch right now. Look for pockets with large flat areas with docks and lay downs and toss around a topwater early in the morning or a spinnerbait/chatter bait once the sun gets up. It’s power fishing season so keep the trolling motor on high and cover some water. These fish will most likely be alone so don’t spend to much time looking for schools of bass in the backs just yet. Smallmouth will be active on the lower end of the lake around the mountain and the natural rocky points. A topwater walking bait is hard to beat, a small swimbait or a jerkbait will get you bites. If you are out on a windy day try throwing around some crankbaits that are going to hit the bottom. The other main pattern will be schooling bass on points. Look for fish to be about halfway back in pockets on secondary points. Use your boat electronics to find where the bait is depth wise and fish around those types of points.

Stripper fishing will just keep getting better and better as we get colder. As mentioned before they will be schooling on points so a topwater is hard to beat this time of year. A scouger head and fluke can also be used when those fish don’t want to come up.

Panfishing is still good around docks and riprap banks as the bluegills stay up shallow to enjoy the last warm water for the year.

Crappie fishing may be tough while those fish transition from their deeper summer patterns to their brush piles for the fall. Look in the 15 foot range.

Overall fishing should be great this time of year with some bigger fish finally deciding to eat more often.

Smith Mountain Lake September Fishing Report - September stands for S!

Who’s ready for fall??? The cooler weather is here early this year with nightly lows in the lower 60’s for the first week of September. The fish are moving every day and getting active. We had a somewhat hot summer but nothing compared to last years. Water temps topped out around 81-83 and at least for me that bass never really moved out that deep. Stripers seemed to do their normal summer time patterns heading down to the mid lake area but the smallmouth and largemouth never really made it out to the 25+ water depths. That is going to make for a quicker fall transitions into the backs of pockets to follow the bait.

The lake is fishing well right now. We have schooling fish on most main lake points and they are eating. For me i’m typically having clients throw a shaky head on the bottom or a swimbait up high for those cruising fish. Bait size is very important this time of year to match the hatch. Keep an eye on the size of the minnow the bass and stripers are pushing out of the water. I usually have clients start with a 2.8 swimbait on a 3/16 or 1/8oz dirty jigs guppie head. If I see a bigger bait I will jump to the 3.3 or 4.8 and increase my head size to a 1/4 since the plastic will cause extra life. For the shaky head I am going with light line since we have clear water right now. A 1/8 or 3/16 with a straight tail worm of you choice is hard to beat. Focus on deeper docks and transition points going into the pockets. Although there are bass in the back of pockets all ready most of the numbers are on the main lake or first 25% of a pocket making their way back. Lastly I would always have a topwater tied on and hanging off the side of the boat this time of year. Schools of bass and stripers will start coming up at any time during the day but are quick to go back down so keep your head on a swivel.

Stripers are schooled up together on main lake points, ditches and humps just like they were in August. However, that is going to change quickly with the water starting to cool overnight. Use your electronics to find schools of bait that may be moving into the backs of pockets because the stripers are close behind. Again like August, a simple hopkins 3/8oz or 1/2oz 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.

Crappie are LOADED in the 25-35 foot range on brush and tree in the main river channel above the bridge. Live minnows are key. Take the time to graph with your electronics to get dialed on their locations.

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 fishing off the docks.

Smith Mountain Lake August Fishing Report - Schools coming back and so are the schools of fish!!!

It’s HOT out there. First and foremost before we jump into fishing make sure you guys are staying safe out there. Bring and drink tons of water in the boat, put on the sunscreen and wear breathable fishing style clothes. The sun can take a lot out of you on a long day of fishing so be prepared.

The lake is fishing well right now. Schools of all types of fish can be found on the main lake and even still some good largemouth up shallow still chasing bream. The water temps are ranging from 80 in the mornings to up around 83-84 by late afternoon. This can make the bite windows be smaller and make you have to cover a little more water. Check out the youtube video I just dropped for some August bass fishing tips. CLICK HERE

Largemouth and Smallmouth bass are set up in their summer patterns now. Target a depth of 15-25 feet for the most numbers of fish as well as some big ones. The fish are mostly on the main lake points and structure but some are still half way back in pockets. We are catching fish dragging baits. A football jig with an action packed trailer is a great starting choice in the mornings around rock piles and rocky points. A big worm 10”- 12” on a 3/8oz or 1/2oz texas rig is a great choice for throwing into the numerous brush piles we have here. Be sure to have a dropshot always handy if the fish are line shy. If you want to check shallow check for bream eating bass in the far back pockets under the last few docks by skipping a senko or flipping a bluegill style bait.

Stripers are schooled up together on main lake points, ditches and humps. The fish seem to be in the 20-35 foot range before the sun gets to high in the sky. After the sun is up over the trees you may be targeting them from 40-70 feet. Just like last month a spoon is your best friend this time of year to get the school activated. A simple hopkins 3/8oz or 1/2oz 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.

Crappie are LOADED in the 25-35 foot range on brush and tree in the main river channel above the bridge. Live minnows are key. Take the time to graph with your electronics to get dialed on their locations.

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 July Fishing Report - Fireworks, Friends and Fishing

The heat of summer is here and the fishing is just as hot at Smith Mountain Lake. We are catching some good numbers of fish that are moving out to deeper water for the next few months and still catching a few big bass up shallow eating bream. Stripers are starting to school up super well and eating a ton. It’s a green time to get the kids our fishing off the docks for bluegills and catfish to introduce them to fishing.

Largemouth and Smallmouth bass are starting to move out of the creak channels and out onto main lake points and deeper docks. The mid section down to the dam is a great place to fish this time of year with the river channel close by. On cloudy and windy days a 2.8, 3.3 and 3.8 Kaitech swimbaits on very sizes of 1/4oz up to 3/8oz Guppy Head and Dobyns Swimbait Heads work well. Throwing them on spinning rods with lighter line with get you more and bigger bites. A Dobyns Champion XP 703SF is a perfect rod for all of those sizes. On sunny post front or sunny afternoons its time to start dragging around jigs and large profile plastics. A Dobyns football head jig in 1/2-3/4oz is perfect to keep bottom contact. Texas rigging a Zoom Ole Monster is key for a big bite or Carolina rigging a creature bait on a 1oz with a leader will get you those post spawn summer time female fish. Check out the Man Bear Pig from Reaction Innovations.

Another technique that is over looked this time of year is the bream eating fish that are up shallow. This will almost exclusively be largemouth and it is not for targeting numbers but rather single giant fish. This requires time on the water to find those honeycomb bream beds in the backs of pockets. Find the bream beds and fish whatever targets are close by like laydowns or docks. This bite seems to be best during the hottest part of the day. Use a prop bait or popper for topwater or a senko or flipping bait like a missile baits D bomb or Spicy Beaver.

Lastly is focusing on the finesse side of deep fishing. A Dropshot is hard to beat this time of year. A 6” roboworm is my go to 90% of the time on a Dropshot and in the summer it really shines. Focus on deep dock post on the main lake on the sunny side. Be careful of the heavy boat traffic. If you use a Gamakatsu re-barb hook you can also target heavy brush piles to big bass.

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.

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.

CLICK THIS LINK TO PURCHASE MY JULY SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE BAITS FROM OMINA TACKLE!

Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - fish on beds, fish on points, fish shallow

This June has been an interesting one for me with guiding. The weather this spring was very up and down with a few times of 8-10 degree swings. Our spawn started early then stopped then came back and stopped again. We hit 80 degree water in May and dropped back down to low 70’s in early June. This has the fish kind of all over the lake. The smallmouth seem to be onto their summer time schooling pattern on longer points chasing bait. The largemouth are either in brush, still shallow looking to chase bream around and I have even found a few bass that are still on beds. Stripers are schooling on the lower end and up the rivers pretty well. Bream and loaded in most back pockets on the last few docks spawning and are easy to target and crappies are on the main river channels in brush!

Largemouth fishing is a two fold approach this time of year. I normally like to target shallow fish first thing in the morning that are still doing the shad spawn deal and some bream eaters, but once the sun is high in the sky I am out off shore with a big jig, big worm or bigger swimbait. This is the time of year to be spending sometime behind the driver seat finding those off shore juicy spots. Although the bass are “deep” they are not super deep. I focus on depths from 12-20 feet. Be sure you have some spinning rods ready with a Dropshot with lighter line and a Neko or Shaky head. A topwater hanging off the side of the boat is a must for schooling smallmouth.

The stripers are eating shad that is now schooled up on longer points both down lake and up the rivers. Look for fish blowing up early in the morning and get your boat as close as you can to make a super long cast. A 3.3 or 3.8 swimbait on a Dobyns 1/4 or 3/8 head is the best option to get close and get bites.

Catching bream this time of year is super easy. Grab a thing of nightcrawler from Captains Quarters at the bridge and a bobber set up and hit those spawning areas.

Crappie are biting small jigs and minnows on bobber rigs in any brush you can find in 15-20 feet on the main channel of either the Roanoke or Blackwater rivers.

Smith Mountain Lake May Fishing Report - Topwater and the shad spawn

If you’ve never experienced the biggest topwater bites you could think of, then its time to hit the water! The shad spawn is here and the most aggressive topwater bites are about to go down. This is one of the most fun ways to catch all types of fish. The lake is just alive from top to bottom.

The stripers are chasing bait on the main lake points in the morning. If you can get up before the sun comes up you can have some of the best mornings of the entire year. A fluke is a great secondary bait after the sun comes up. Work it as fast as you can.

The largemouth and smallmouth are on the secondary points on the way back out to the main water! A buzzbait, walking topwater are key to getting those bites along the rip rap. There is another bite going on we refer to as the bluegill spawn eaters. As the bass finish spawning the bluegills will move up super shallow for their chance to spawn. Some largemouth will stay behind to chew on them. A senko on the last drops before a big flat or fishing a popper super slow can get you some true giants. By the end of May the fish will be near the main lake and it’s hard to beat a dropshot on long points and brush piles.

A quick deal on the shad spawn… Night fishing becomes king in late May. Getting out around dark until 1am-3am throwing wake baits, thunder sticks and jointed topwaters is something everyone should experience once in their life. Focus on main lake riprap that has some deep (3-5 feet) water close and go very slow on the trolling motor. Stay silent and listen for shad splashing on the banks. Once you start to hear them spawning just wait and make repeated cast near them. You have the chance to catch a giant bass, striper and catfish. Also be safe out there and have your navigation lights on. Tight lines!

Smith Mountain Lake April Fishing Report - Fish are biting!!!

It’s time to catch um. What felt like a super long winter that never seemed to end with the up and down weather has finally worked itself out. Bass are shallow and all over the beds. Stripers are loaded on points and the bluegill and crappie are on the move.

Striper fishing is lights out on the lower end of the lake on most secondary points in the backs of pockets. Craddock has a lot of fish as well as bull run area. Swimbaits are still the best for bites but the topwater is just around the corner. Use your electronics to locate the bait and be ready for some fast action.

Largemouth are in full on spawn mode. The full moon in the middle of the month is making for a huge wave of fish that are moving onto the beds. We know that bed fishing is extremely fun and addicting but please practice care with these fish when you catch them. The next generations of bass are being laid. If bed fishing is the way you want to catch them please put the fish right back near the bed so they can do their thing.

If you don’t want to catch them off beds there are TONS of fish under docks near spawning pockets. A floating worm, senko, neko or jig are a great choice. Focus on the shallowest part of the docks.

Smallmouth are spawning and going into post spawn. The topwater bite around rocky points should be starting late April. A walking bait is all you need to have some explosive action. You can also slow down on those calm days and fish a light shaky head or dropshot to get those fish to bite.

Crappie are in the brush piles in 10-20 feet and are loaded up together. Live minnows are a no brainer or a small crappie jig. If you have front facing sonar just use it to target the perfect cast.

Bluegills are moving up. If you are coming to the lake for a family vacation it’s a great time to introduce the young ones to fishing. Corn or a worm off the dock should get you plenty of bites. Head to any of the local marinas for bait and bobber set ups.

Smith Mountain Lake March Fishing Report - Fish are on the move shallow

Spring is here and it’s coming quick. After a little break I took to Florida I am back and rocking and rolling on the home waters and my lord I am glad I am back home. The water temp was so strange this winter with it staying warm well into January and then fall off for most of the last two months. Well nature is looking for do about the same. Water temps are jumping back up super quick and the fish are moving around. We are catching bass in both a late winter stage on main lake points as well as some that have already moved back on flats. The stripers are pulling off their standing timber spots and heading to the bait that is quickly moving to the backs of pockets to warm up. Keep an eye on your extended forecast for 2-4 days of warming trends and get to the water they will be chewing.

Smallmouth bass are already pulling into pockets to start thinking about spawning. Look around the lower end of the lake around main and secondary rocky points. These fish will be the first to pull up into flats to spawn. These fish are super aggressive right now and will be hitting jerkbaits and swim baits on windy days and ned rigs on those slow no wind days.

Largemouth are chewing. It’s cranking time!!! Start focusing on any rock you can find on the lake. It warms faster and will hold some giants this time of year. Grab a DT4-DT6 and put the trolling motor on high. If you find yourself in some stained water its also spinnerbait time! Laydowns in the back half of pockets will hold some true large females. Once you get a bite slow down with a big jig around those same types of cover.

Stripers are schooled up big time. It’s a great time to get a kid out fishing as it will be a big striper run up the river in the next 30 days. Keep an eye out for the other striper boats and focus on finding the bait. Main lake still seems to the best area but you can find bait running to the back of pockets!

Enjoy the amazing weather we are about to have and tight lines!

Smith Mountain Lake January Fishing Report - Chew time!

It’s finally here! After another year of a mild early winter we have finally turned the corner and have true winter air temperature and water temperatures. We have had a few snow storms and some very cold evenings that has dropped the water temp from 52 in December to 43 degrees as of January 13th. That snaps was all we needed to get these fish to start putting on the feed bag. Some of the bass tournaments are starting to show bags over 20lbs like we expect and a few giants and the striper guys are reporting good size and numbers now.

Smallmouth and Largemouth are showing up like a normal winter pattern on the lake. A jerkbait, A rig, Damiki Rig and spoon are about all you need on the deck of the boat. The upper rivers bluff walls are a great place to start this time of year to find the bait that has left the backs of the pockets and moved out deeper. If we are closer to the full moon slowly dragging a football jig can also get you a big bite. Keep an eye out for the shad to be stunned and fish around those areas. Fish are eating a lot right now. If you can bare getting out there on a windy day or pre-frontal before a snow or rain storm you can be rewarded with some of the biggest fish of the year.

Stripers are hanging deep right now 20-60ft chasing around bait. You’d have a tough time not having a spoon in your hand for the next month out there. Spend some time on long points dumping into the river channel on the main lake or steep river bends. Using your electronics this time of year is key to finding the mega schools.

Crappies are loaded in most brush down to 30ft. Live bait will get you a limit in no time and small crappie jigs will do about the same. Look up the river in some protected pockets that have depth for brush and rock piles. The fish should be large right now with a good harvest right at your finger tips.

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.