Smith Mountain Lake
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Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Smith Mountain Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocksI headed down to SML to direct the SlayNation College Kayak Series stop number one. I got on the lake from 12pm to 6pm. Finding some largemouth and smallmouth bedding but a lot of cruisers. Caught some on beds with weighted and weightless wacky rig and caught some skipping under docks with the wacky rig
- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocks - SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocks
I was searching for bed fish along docks and was able to find some smallmouth and largemouth spawning. Using the ned rig I was able to cast it onto the bed and let the hair in the rabid bait do the work! Awesome bed fishing bait
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocks
I was down here to direct the SlayNation College Kayak series tournament on Saturday but did some fishing myself. Found some smallmouth on beds but were super finicky. Lots of big fish cruising. Caught quite a few largies skipping the wacky rig under the docks
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureOpen Water/BasinSo we got to the lake around 9:00 .am and we started off with moving baits mainly to cover water and since the past weekend brought a coldfront in and drop the lake temp, so we started in bettys creek area (Water temps were 57 degrees) and didn't get any bites so we took a decent drive down to the lower end of the lake and first stop we scanned around with livescope and did not see anything the water temps down there were 54 and 55 at the highest! So we checked around up shallow and found out that the fish were actually already spawning! So i threw a boat load of baits to them and caught my first fish around a laydown on a dropshot powerbait gilly and two others in open water on a ned rig rage bug! The fish were pretty finicky, this is a great time to fish smith mountain, we saw a few 4-5 pounders cruising. If you go out with the intentions to sight fish make sure you have some good polarized glasses and a few finesse rigs on because a lot of these fish are pressured! Also try to practice catch and release so that we can keep this fishery good! I wish yall the best, please stay safe out there!
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocks
Fish were up shallow and cruising. Cruisers were not interested in biting and would swim away. Fish were on the front 1/3 of the docks closest to shore. It was a very consistent patter. Only saw one male on a bed. Largest fish of the day did come off a laydown that was 5+ but that was the only fish off wood
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Worming)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureBrush Piles
caught bass swimming in the bush piles with the texas rig.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Worming)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureDocks
A lot of fish were spawning but I was also to catch bass on the dock pilings and up under the docks throwing this texas rig. Also works great for fish on beds
