Driving Map to Smith Mtn - Click to Enlarge
| A nice Smith Mountain Lake smallmouth caught by Terry's Guide Service |
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Smith Mountain Lake Overview
At 20,600 acres, Smith Mountain Lake is the largest reservoir entirely contained
within Virginia. It is home to good populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, crappie, catfish, and white and yellow perch, but it is really known for its
exceptional striped bass fishery. These fish are plentiful and grow large in this
sprawling reservoir. The fishing pressure is high and the pleasure boat traffic is
heavy during the warm weather months. However, due to the size of the lake
anglers can often find a quiet place to fish even on busy weekends. Crappie grow
large, but the numbers of crappie are not as high and the fishing not as easy as in
some other Virginia reservoirs.
within Virginia. It is home to good populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, crappie, catfish, and white and yellow perch, but it is really known for its
exceptional striped bass fishery. These fish are plentiful and grow large in this
sprawling reservoir. The fishing pressure is high and the pleasure boat traffic is
heavy during the warm weather months. However, due to the size of the lake
anglers can often find a quiet place to fish even on busy weekends. Crappie grow
large, but the numbers of crappie are not as high and the fishing not as easy as in
some other Virginia reservoirs.
March 8, 2010: Mike Snead of the Virginia Outdoorsman provided the following fishing report. Contact
Mike at (540) 721-4867 or visit him online at www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com.
Water Temperature: 41 degrees Water Clarity: Fair / Good
Things are finally heating up around the lake. While the sunny skies enjoyed over last weekend will be
mixed with periods of rain and clouds later this week, the warmer temperatures will continue through the
coming weekend and into next week. Daytime highs will be in the 50’s and 60’s and the low
temperatures at night are expected to stay well above the freezing mark. This will start to warm the
surface of the lake and when coupled with the increasing amounts of daylight should bring both baitfish
and several species up in the water column. The lake still has a section in the mid lake where there is
stained water and floating debris, so boaters need to keep an eye out for waterlogged trees and pilings
floating just below the surface. The water is much clearer in the upper and lower lake. It will be very dark
at night over the next two weeks with a last quarter moon on Monday, March 8th and a new moon on
March 15th. The lake water level is near full pond and all ramps are operational.
The fishing is improving but continues to be mixed. The crappie fishing has improved significantly over
the past week or so and should only get better as we move into spring. Many crappie anglers report they
are finding crappies in the tops of submerged trees and brush and are catching good numbers on live
“crappie” minnows rigged on gold, thin wire hooks below a couple of small split shot. When fishing for
crappie when the bite is very light, consider using the small, X-Wing bobbers. They will help you detect
subtle bites far better than the traditional round or pear shaped bobbers. One angler also reported he
was starting to find crappies moving into the major creek channels where tight lines with live crappie
minnows rigged on small 1/16 oz. jigheads were working. The crappie fishing should get better as the
water continues to warm and more of them move up into the creek channels in advance of the spring
spawn.
Striper fishing is improving, but continues to be challenging. Stripers are being caught using live bait
presented on “downlines” to fish that are from 25 to 55 feet deep. Stripers are also moving up on points,
flats and along the bank where live bait on planer boards (Off Shore, Water Bugz, Outcast) are producing
an occasional fish. Stripers continue to be caught using jigging spoons and the most recent reports are
that chrome Kastmaster spoons with bucktail trailers are out producing all others. Heavier bucktails and
flukes rigged on custom ½ ounce jigheads are also being jigged on deep-water stripers with good
results. Bucktails and flukes are producing stripers when cast and retrieved on points and humps and
anywhere there are seagulls working the surface. Trolling umbrella rigs is still producing and the rigs are
working when pulled with gas and trolling motors. Those night fishing with floating and suspending
jerkbaits report good success, especially since the surface water temperature moved up above 40
degrees. A slow retrieve continues to be key at night.
Bass fishing has been mixed with several recent tournament angler teams producing nice bags for
current conditions. Overall, the bass fishing has proven to be challenging this winter, although several
anglers have caught some nice bags of fish on spoons and deep running crankbaits when found
grouped together in the same area. The Kastmaster, Hopkins Shorty, Cotton Cordell “CC” and Luhr
Jensen spoons are working. I have had several anglers report they lost good fish while using several of
these spoons, so I suggest you replace the hooks on a couple of them. Deep diving crankbaits and
suspending jerk baits are also working near deeper water and around points and humps. Heavier
football jigs (Dave’s, Cheeseburger) are also producing an occasional bass.
The second shipment of the new Skeet Reese rods arrived this past week, including the popular crank
bait, jig model and shaky head models. Several new Powell rods have also arrived, including their 8-foot
deep cranking rods. There are a number of new lures in the shop including several new jigs and plastic
worms. We also have a number of different lipless crankbaits and the short shank treble hooks made
famous in the most recent Bassmaster Classic.
The SML Bassmaster club held an open tournament on February 28th and had a field of 18 boats
participate under very difficult weather and fishing conditions. David Peters and Steve Conner brought a
great bag weighing 15.55 pounds to the scale to take first place honors. The team of Craig Blankenship
and Robert Hoyt caught 13.96 pounds to claim second place honors while Phil Whitmer and Mark
Clingenpeel produced an 11.64 pound bag for third. The big fish, weighing 4.62 pounds, was caught by
the team of Scott Howard and Daniel Gibson. The next open sponsored by this local club will be held at
the State Park this Sunday, March 14th. For more information about this tournament, you can either call
the shop or Travis (540) 537-4390. The Western Division of the Fishers of Men will be returning to the
lake this weekend with a tournament on Saturday, March 13th. For more information about this series,
contact Jamie Shrimp on (540) 323-2198.
Spring turkey season is just around the corner. We already have a number of different turkey calls and
hunting accessories in the shop along with a great supply of turkey ammunition at very reasonable
prices. If you want to try a new call this year or pick up an extra box of shells, I suggest you stop in soon for
the best selection. We are planning to add a “Spring Turkey Hunting Workshop” to the fishing series we
hold each year, so if you are interested and are not on our email list please email or call me to get added
to our contact list. We have also set a tentative date for our “Annual Spring Fling Sale”. This year it will
start on April the 9th and run through the following week when the Bassmaster Elite anglers will be in
town for the Blue Ridge Brawl. For more information about this event or to receive our 2010 FishSML
Workshop schedule, please email me at virginiaoutdoorsman@gmail.com and ask to have your email
address added to our informational distribution list.
Tight lines.
Mike
40 Village Springs Drive, Hardy VA 24101
In Westlake Directly Across From Wendy’s On Route 122
(About 3 Miles South Of The Hales Ford Bridge)
Mike at (540) 721-4867 or visit him online at www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com.
Water Temperature: 41 degrees Water Clarity: Fair / Good
Things are finally heating up around the lake. While the sunny skies enjoyed over last weekend will be
mixed with periods of rain and clouds later this week, the warmer temperatures will continue through the
coming weekend and into next week. Daytime highs will be in the 50’s and 60’s and the low
temperatures at night are expected to stay well above the freezing mark. This will start to warm the
surface of the lake and when coupled with the increasing amounts of daylight should bring both baitfish
and several species up in the water column. The lake still has a section in the mid lake where there is
stained water and floating debris, so boaters need to keep an eye out for waterlogged trees and pilings
floating just below the surface. The water is much clearer in the upper and lower lake. It will be very dark
at night over the next two weeks with a last quarter moon on Monday, March 8th and a new moon on
March 15th. The lake water level is near full pond and all ramps are operational.
The fishing is improving but continues to be mixed. The crappie fishing has improved significantly over
the past week or so and should only get better as we move into spring. Many crappie anglers report they
are finding crappies in the tops of submerged trees and brush and are catching good numbers on live
“crappie” minnows rigged on gold, thin wire hooks below a couple of small split shot. When fishing for
crappie when the bite is very light, consider using the small, X-Wing bobbers. They will help you detect
subtle bites far better than the traditional round or pear shaped bobbers. One angler also reported he
was starting to find crappies moving into the major creek channels where tight lines with live crappie
minnows rigged on small 1/16 oz. jigheads were working. The crappie fishing should get better as the
water continues to warm and more of them move up into the creek channels in advance of the spring
spawn.
Striper fishing is improving, but continues to be challenging. Stripers are being caught using live bait
presented on “downlines” to fish that are from 25 to 55 feet deep. Stripers are also moving up on points,
flats and along the bank where live bait on planer boards (Off Shore, Water Bugz, Outcast) are producing
an occasional fish. Stripers continue to be caught using jigging spoons and the most recent reports are
that chrome Kastmaster spoons with bucktail trailers are out producing all others. Heavier bucktails and
flukes rigged on custom ½ ounce jigheads are also being jigged on deep-water stripers with good
results. Bucktails and flukes are producing stripers when cast and retrieved on points and humps and
anywhere there are seagulls working the surface. Trolling umbrella rigs is still producing and the rigs are
working when pulled with gas and trolling motors. Those night fishing with floating and suspending
jerkbaits report good success, especially since the surface water temperature moved up above 40
degrees. A slow retrieve continues to be key at night.
Bass fishing has been mixed with several recent tournament angler teams producing nice bags for
current conditions. Overall, the bass fishing has proven to be challenging this winter, although several
anglers have caught some nice bags of fish on spoons and deep running crankbaits when found
grouped together in the same area. The Kastmaster, Hopkins Shorty, Cotton Cordell “CC” and Luhr
Jensen spoons are working. I have had several anglers report they lost good fish while using several of
these spoons, so I suggest you replace the hooks on a couple of them. Deep diving crankbaits and
suspending jerk baits are also working near deeper water and around points and humps. Heavier
football jigs (Dave’s, Cheeseburger) are also producing an occasional bass.
The second shipment of the new Skeet Reese rods arrived this past week, including the popular crank
bait, jig model and shaky head models. Several new Powell rods have also arrived, including their 8-foot
deep cranking rods. There are a number of new lures in the shop including several new jigs and plastic
worms. We also have a number of different lipless crankbaits and the short shank treble hooks made
famous in the most recent Bassmaster Classic.
The SML Bassmaster club held an open tournament on February 28th and had a field of 18 boats
participate under very difficult weather and fishing conditions. David Peters and Steve Conner brought a
great bag weighing 15.55 pounds to the scale to take first place honors. The team of Craig Blankenship
and Robert Hoyt caught 13.96 pounds to claim second place honors while Phil Whitmer and Mark
Clingenpeel produced an 11.64 pound bag for third. The big fish, weighing 4.62 pounds, was caught by
the team of Scott Howard and Daniel Gibson. The next open sponsored by this local club will be held at
the State Park this Sunday, March 14th. For more information about this tournament, you can either call
the shop or Travis (540) 537-4390. The Western Division of the Fishers of Men will be returning to the
lake this weekend with a tournament on Saturday, March 13th. For more information about this series,
contact Jamie Shrimp on (540) 323-2198.
Spring turkey season is just around the corner. We already have a number of different turkey calls and
hunting accessories in the shop along with a great supply of turkey ammunition at very reasonable
prices. If you want to try a new call this year or pick up an extra box of shells, I suggest you stop in soon for
the best selection. We are planning to add a “Spring Turkey Hunting Workshop” to the fishing series we
hold each year, so if you are interested and are not on our email list please email or call me to get added
to our contact list. We have also set a tentative date for our “Annual Spring Fling Sale”. This year it will
start on April the 9th and run through the following week when the Bassmaster Elite anglers will be in
town for the Blue Ridge Brawl. For more information about this event or to receive our 2010 FishSML
Workshop schedule, please email me at virginiaoutdoorsman@gmail.com and ask to have your email
address added to our informational distribution list.
Tight lines.
Mike
40 Village Springs Drive, Hardy VA 24101
In Westlake Directly Across From Wendy’s On Route 122
(About 3 Miles South Of The Hales Ford Bridge)
Virginia Outdoors - A Resource for Virginia Anglers and Hunters
Virginia Outdoors - Smith Mountain Lake
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Fishing Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guides
Largemouth Bass: In Smith Mountain Lake, largemouth outnumber smallmouth
bass 10:1. The highest density of largemouth is found uplake of Hales Ford
Bridge in the Roanoke River arm and Buoy 26 in the Black water River arm. The
numerous piers and boathouses on the lake provide productive visible cover, and
are an excellent place to start - especially for newcomers. The water is typically
clear, so natural colors and light line are recommended. One tactic is flip and skip
small plastics around boat docks and then between boat docks cast Rat-L-Traps
and spinnerbaits. Stained water can be found at times in the back of tributaries
like No Name (Magnum), Poplar Camp, Stanford, Beaverdam, Grimes, and Buff.
Flip jigs and cast spinnerbaits and buzzbaits around natural cover in these creeks
- especially during low light conditions.
Striped Bass: Several hundred thousand fingerling striped bass are stocked each
year. Adult fish are scattered throughout the lake most of the year, but tend to
concentrate in the lower lake during the summer and early fall. Live bait is the
most popular tactic with some trolling during the summer and casting during the
spring or in low light conditions. Think large for live baits - large shad up to 10" can
be productive - and use Waterbugz planers to cover a larger area. Popular lures
for trolling include deep-diving plugs and bucktails. Good lures to cast include
swim baits (Sassy Shad and Shad Assassins), bucktails, and even topwater lures
(Cordell Redfin) at dawn and dusk. It is well worth the price of a good guide to get
a lesson in how to pursue these hard-pulling, good-eating fish. Fish over 20 lbs
are always a possibility.
bass 10:1. The highest density of largemouth is found uplake of Hales Ford
Bridge in the Roanoke River arm and Buoy 26 in the Black water River arm. The
numerous piers and boathouses on the lake provide productive visible cover, and
are an excellent place to start - especially for newcomers. The water is typically
clear, so natural colors and light line are recommended. One tactic is flip and skip
small plastics around boat docks and then between boat docks cast Rat-L-Traps
and spinnerbaits. Stained water can be found at times in the back of tributaries
like No Name (Magnum), Poplar Camp, Stanford, Beaverdam, Grimes, and Buff.
Flip jigs and cast spinnerbaits and buzzbaits around natural cover in these creeks
- especially during low light conditions.
Striped Bass: Several hundred thousand fingerling striped bass are stocked each
year. Adult fish are scattered throughout the lake most of the year, but tend to
concentrate in the lower lake during the summer and early fall. Live bait is the
most popular tactic with some trolling during the summer and casting during the
spring or in low light conditions. Think large for live baits - large shad up to 10" can
be productive - and use Waterbugz planers to cover a larger area. Popular lures
for trolling include deep-diving plugs and bucktails. Good lures to cast include
swim baits (Sassy Shad and Shad Assassins), bucktails, and even topwater lures
(Cordell Redfin) at dawn and dusk. It is well worth the price of a good guide to get
a lesson in how to pursue these hard-pulling, good-eating fish. Fish over 20 lbs
are always a possibility.
Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report
|
| A good wintertime striper caught by Terry's Guide Service |
| Copyright © 2009 Virginia Outdoors, LLC Ruckersville, VA |
Other Useful Info and Links
Campgrounds and Lodging:
Smith Mountain Lake State Park (camping, swimming, cabins): (540) 297-6066
Eagle's Roost Campground: (540) 297-7381
Goose Dam Campground: (540) 483-2100
Blue Ridge Campground and Marina: (540) 721-3866
Mitchell's Point Marina and Campground: (540) 297-7174
Crazy Horse Marina and Campground: (540) 721-1587
Paradise Inn (Campground, marina, hotel): (540) 297-6109
Marinas:
The marinas on Smith Mtn Lake are almost too numerous to list. In addition to
Blue Ridge, Mitchell's point, and Crazy Horse, some popular marinas include:
Bay Roc Marina: (540) 890-2194
Foxport Marina & Lodge: (540) 721-2451
Parkway Marina: (540) 297-4412
Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals: (540) 721-1639
Smith Mountain Lake State Park (camping, swimming, cabins): (540) 297-6066
Eagle's Roost Campground: (540) 297-7381
Goose Dam Campground: (540) 483-2100
Blue Ridge Campground and Marina: (540) 721-3866
Mitchell's Point Marina and Campground: (540) 297-7174
Crazy Horse Marina and Campground: (540) 721-1587
Paradise Inn (Campground, marina, hotel): (540) 297-6109
Marinas:
The marinas on Smith Mtn Lake are almost too numerous to list. In addition to
Blue Ridge, Mitchell's point, and Crazy Horse, some popular marinas include:
Bay Roc Marina: (540) 890-2194
Foxport Marina & Lodge: (540) 721-2451
Parkway Marina: (540) 297-4412
Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals: (540) 721-1639
| Featured Article: Where to Catch Virginia's Trophy Largemouth Bass |
| April 2008 |
