SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REP
March 2019
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.us
[print_link]
OVERVIEW: Fishing usually always improves this month. Water temperature will be in the upper 40’s to upper 50’s. Baitfish will start to move to shallow water this month. Most species of fish will begin feeding actively this month as water temperature rises. Find the bait fish and you usually will find feeding fish.
Largemouth Bass: Fishing will be good later this month. Best lures will be Alabama rigs, jigs, drop shot rigs, shallow crank baits, spinner baits and jerk baits. Most largemouth bass will be caught on secondary points, creek channel banks, docks and shallow coves.. Best depths will be from 2 to20 feet deep. Most largemouth bass will start to follow the shad movements. Rocks, stumps and shallow flats are a key factor to finding bass this month. Slow your retrieve when fishing jerk baits in cold water temps.
Smallmouth Bass: Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocks, humps, ledges and rocky points. Best lures will be jig & pig, jerk baits, hair jigs and shallow running crank baits. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Most smallmouth bass will be around rocks, stumps and shallow humps this month. Cloudy days with light winds are good times to try your luck! Light line and smaller lures will increase your chances to catch smallmouth bass.
Striped Bass: Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught in various sections of the lake and in the larger creeks. Best lures will be jerk baits, Alabama rigs, swim baits, and Zoom flukes fished on 1//4 to 3/8 oz. lead heads. The best depths will be from near the surface to 30 feet deep. Try to find areas with the largest concentrations of baitfish. Later this month night fishing will improve. Find the seagulls and you will usually find feeding stripers. Live bait fished on planner boards will also work this month.
Crappie: Fishing for crappie will be good this month. They will be found 5 to 10 feet deep. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, and brush piles in the mid to upper parts of the lake. Small live minnows and 1 ½ to 2 inch tubes or shad shaped plastic lures fished on 1/32 to 1/16 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month. Spider rigging is also a great method to catch crappie early this month.
TIP OF THE Month: Fishing shallow during sunny afternoons will be one of the best times to catch fish this month as the bait fish move up into the warmer shallow water.! The fish will relate to the super shallow areas because of a slightly warmer water temp. Make sure you wear your life jacket. You can never be too careful when boating. Remember to be courteous and obey all the boating laws. Please practice catch and release. TAKE A KID FISHING!