Fishing Report For Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Current Report: Good

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources reports higher concentrations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass here, this year compared to previous years. The fishing has been good, and should only improve. Surveys indicate the highest concentrations of bass are in the area between Hales Ford Bridge, up to Moorman's Marina in the river end.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into 10 to 18 feet of water. Good areas to explore include lower lake ledges around Smith Mountain Dam, Indian Creek, and coves and points in Gills Creek. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 12 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 12 to 28 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move slightly shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Good spawning areas include creek mouths and shallow flats off Gills Creek, Indian Creek, Bull Run, and around Huddleston. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 8 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 18 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around rush piles, submerged timber, docks, and shaded rip rap.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

The striper fishery here is strong enough to get national recognition. So good, that there are restrictions for when, and how many, anglers can catch and keep.

FALL. Earlier in Fall, stripers had returned to shallower water, often chasing bait to the surface and feeding aggressively, excellent excellent conditions for topwater action. They are now following schools of bait deeper, which are hanging out in 8 to 30 feet of water. Look for shallow water nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Good areas to explore include main-lake channel edges, wind-blown points, and humps in the lower lake basin, especially in the vicinity of Smith Mountain Dam. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year. Late Fall will find most of the stripers in 30 to 40 feet of water.

WINTER. In Winter, stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often as deep as 50 feet. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 15 or 45 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. The main lake basin, along deep channels is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. Water temperatures are return to the mid 60's, and that's ideal for the stripers to spawn. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake, and the backs of coves, where there is inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 5 to 25 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are migrating toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points. The lake record is over 50 pounds, and many anglers believe there may be bigger ones to be caught.

SUMMER. Summer months are the ideal time to chase striped bass here. These stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 20 to 50 feet deep, early in the season. Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. Morning often draws the stripers shallower, so look for them around the 15-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of baitfish. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here, with good reports coming from the lower lake around the main channel.

Current Report: Good

Crappie fishing here does not deliver big numbers. Large coves and bays on the river end of the lake seem to be holding the better concentrations of crappie.

FALL. As Fall is coming to a close, baitfish, which are moving back to deeper water, are drawing crappie deeper as well. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles in the upper river arms. Gills Creek and Craddock Creek are a couple good options.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 12 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 3 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 8 feet of water. Sheltered coves in Gills Creek, Indian Creek, Union Hall and Huddleston are good choices. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 20 feet of water. Early and late in the day they are being caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 10 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 30 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time for vertical jigging, focusing around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.