SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REP
May 2019
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.com
Picture: A great time to catch crappie is during the spring time at Smith Mtn. Lake
OVERVIEW: Fishing has been good. Water temperature has risen rapidly the past several days. Bait fish are in shallow water spawning this month. Most species of fish will be spawning this as water temperature rise.
Largemouth Bass- Fishing will be good this month. Best lures will be jigs, drop shot rigs, crank baits, swim baits, Ned rigs and top water lures. Most largemouth bass will be caught on secondary points, shallow coves, stumps and docks. Best depths will be from 2 to 10 feet deep. Largemouth bass will start to feed at night this month. Rocks, stumps and shallow brush are a key factor to finding bass this month. Please release the bass when they are spawning.
Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be better. Best areas will be rocks, stumps, and secondary points. Best lures will be jig & pig, Ned rigs, hair jigs, top water lures and medium running crank baits. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Most smallmouth bass will spawing this month. Cloudy days are good times to try your luck! Light line will increase your chances to catch smallmouth bass.
Striped Bass- Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught in the lower sections of the lake and in
the larger creeks. Best lures will be red fins, Alabama rigs, swim baits, top water lures and Zoom flukes fished on 1/4 to 3/8 oz. lead heads. The best depths will be from near the surface to 40 feet deep. Try to find areas with the largest concentrations of baitfish. Fishing at night will be good this month. Some schools of stripers will surface this month. Live bait fished on planner boards and down lines will also be good this month.
Crappie- Fishing for crappie will be good this month. Crappie will continue to spawn this month.They will be found 2 to 15 feet deep. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, stumps 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.
TIP OF THE Month: Fishing during the early morning, late afternoon and night is usually the best time to fish. The fish will relate to the shallow areas because of warmer water temperature and they will be spawning. Make sure you wear your life jacket. You can never be too careful when boating. Remember to please practice catch and release! PLEASE TAKE A KID FISHING!