SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REP
September 2019
DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950
www.captaindalewilson.us
Picture: Captain Dale with a summer Striper catch!
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OVERVIEW: Fishing should improve the next few weeks. Water temperature has started to fall. Most species of fish will become more active this month. Look for striper fishing to continue to improve! Water temperature will be in the 70’s. The baitfish will start to move to the creeks and shallow water the later part of this month.
Largemouth Bass- Fishing will improve this month. Best lures will be drop shot rigs, crank baits, shaky heads, Carolina rigs, plastic worms and top water lures. Most largemouth bass will be caught on points, rock piles, brush piles and docks. Best depths will be from the surface to 20 feet deep. Points, rocks, stumps and brush are a key factor to finding bass this month. Please release the bass quickly during hot months. Please practice catch and release.
Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocks, ledges, and main channel points. Best lures will be top water lures, Ned rigs, hair jigs, drop shot rigs and Carolina rigs. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Most smallmouth bass will be suspended around schools of shad. Cloudy days are good times to try your luck! Light line will increase your chances to catch smallmouth bass. Night fishing will be fair.
Striped Bass- Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught in the lower to mid sections of the lake and in the larger creeks. Best lures will be swim baits, top water lures, jigging spoons and Zoom flukes fished on 1/2 to 3/4 oz. lead heads. The best depths will be from near the surface to 60 feet deep. Vertical jigging is one of the best methods to catch stripers in the warm months. Try to find areas with the largest concentrations of baitfish. Some schools of stripers will surface this month. Live bait fished on planner boards and down lines are also good methods this month.
Crappie- Fishing for crappie will be fair this month. They will be found 5 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: Watch for the movement of the baitfish this month! It will be the key to catching bass and stripers. Fishing during the early morning, late afternoon and night is usually the best time to fish this month. Make sure you wear your life jacket and never fish alone at night! Make sure your running lights are on after dark! You can never be too careful when boating. Remember to please practice catch and release! PLEASE TAKE A KID FISHING!