SMITH MOUNTIAN LAKE FISHING REPORT
By: Captain Chad Green
www.lastcastguideservicesml.com
As summer temps near, June fishing will be heating up and time to enjoy great weather and relaxing days on the water. Get out on the water when you can and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. Practice catch and release as much as possible to preserve our great fisheries out there. As always, just make one more Last Cast as it could be the next trophy fish. Visit Captains Quarters Marina at Hales Ford Bridge for any tackle that you may need and they will fix you up.
Largemouth Bass/Smallmouth Bass
As the water temperatures are rising bass will be heading to their summer areas and begin to focus on crawfish as the primary forage. Look for rocky points, and brush piles. Mornings can be a great time to catch some larger fish on topwater baits. Night time fishing will still be productive and shad spawn will take place later in the night and still produce topwater fish. Best lures in June will be topwater lures, swimbaits, jigs, shakey head, drop shots, Texas rig worms, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs. Depths of water would be most productive in 5-20’ throughout June.
Striped Bass
Look for stripers to start to school up on the lower end of the lake as they follow schools of baitfish around. They can be found in the mouths of larger pockets and tributaries in early morning as they work out to the main channel. Depths of 20-50’ should be a good location to look. Occasional schools may be seen feeding on the surface this time of year around shoals and or islands. Keep in mind current from the dam generations can help you find these schools of fish and baitfish movements. As water temps warm please use caution releasing stripers quickly as stress under the warm conditions can be fatal to stripers.
Crappie
June crappie fishing tends to slow a little in the summer but can still be found in brushpiles and trees located in 10-20’ of water. Small jigs and minnows will always be the baits of choice
Tournaments in May
Tues night tournaments 630pm-1030pm Captains Quarters Marina
Fri night tournaments 8pm-2pm Captains Quarters Marina
Sat night tournaments 8pm-2pm Foxport Marina
June 4th, 5th Anglers Choice Marine at Occoneechee State Park Kerr Reservoir 6am – 2pm
The BassCast June 18th Crazy Horse Marina. 7am-3pm
Special Thanks to Brian Carter at www.TheBassCast.com