SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
October 2013
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.com
Picture: Rich Hutchins & Joe Gorden from Huddleston, Va. with stripers caught 9/25/13 while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson.
OVERVIEW: Fishing will improve. The cooler weather will make for better fishing. Most species of fish will start to feed more in preparation for the winter months ahead. The majority of the lake is clear and the water temperature will be in the 70’s. .
Largemouth Bass-Fishing will be fair. Best lures will be spinner baits, Carolina rigs, shaky heads, medium diving crank baits, Texas rigged plastic worms and jigs. Most largemouth bass will start to move to their fall habitats. Best depths will be from the surface to 20 feet deep. Best areas will be ledges, rocky points, docks and brush piles. Early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days will be the best time to fish this month. Shad will start moving to the creeks this month. Bass will feed on top water this month.
Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be ledges, long points, rocky areas and humps. Best lures will be top water lures, tube lures, drop shot rigs, jigs and shaky heads. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days will be the best time to try your luck.
Striped Bass- Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught mostly in the mid to upper sections of the lake . Best lures will be Alabama rigs, spoons, swim baits, buck tails, and Zoom flukes fished with 3/8 to 3/4 oz. jig heads during the day. Vertical jigging will be a good method. Live bait and trolling will also be a productive method.. The best depth should be from the surface to 60 feet deep. Best time to try your luck will be early morning, cloudy days and late afternoon.
Crappie-Fishing for crappie will be good. They will be found 5 to 20 feet deep this month. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, and brush piles in the mid to upper sections of the lake. Small live minnows and 1 ½ inch tubes and twister tail grubs fished on 1/32 to 1/16 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month. Small Gulp minnows also work well when fished on small lead heads or drop shot rigs. Light line (4 lb. test) will help you catch more crappie.
Tip of the month: Shad and crawfish will be the main source of food for most species of fish this month. Rocky areas will hold bass this month. Good electronics are a must to locate schools of bait fish! Most bait fish will start to migrate back into the main creeks and up the main rivers. Make sure to leave your running lights on after dark and wear your life jacket.
