SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
By: Captain Chad Green
www.lastcastguideservicesml.com
May can offer some great fishing. The Shad have started their spawn and is in full swing. 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.
Visit https://missilebaits.store/and check out all they have to offer.
Special Thanks to Brian Carter at the https://thebasscast.com/
Check out Smith Mountain Boat and Tackle Penhook for your boating needs https://www.smboats.com
PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE ON CITATION SIZE FISH
Largemouth Bass/Smallmouth Bass
Bass fishing will start to move in to full post spawn phase this week. There are still some fish that have not spawned yet and will do so over the next week or so. The shad spawn is in full swing so target rocky shorelines with shad imitating baits on or under the surface. There is more bass fry this year than I have seen in a long time and plenty of those smaller male fish to catch as well. Plastics will pick up as primary offering for bass on points, docks, or any other type of cover you are planning to fish. Typically smaller profile plastics work better in May. Night time fishing will be great this month as well while the shad spawn is in swing. Try topwaters on riprap banks from dark until whenever you don’t catch any more. This is a great opportunity to catch some trophy fish and multiples per night is very common. Smallmouth have mostly finished up their spawn and will fulfill their time chasing shad around as well.
Striped Bass
Striper fishing will be great this month and the best way to catch a trophy fish is large topwaters on rip rap banks, main points, large flats, or shoals. They will travel in smaller schools searching for feeding opportunities. They will feed during this time even during bright sunlight in shallow water. Many times you can spot them cruising around and properly presented topwater will provide some exciting action. Bair pulled near shore will produce a lot of fish as well. During the cooler weather we are having so far this month flukes, swimbaits, jerkbaits etc. in the 10-20 ft range will produce fish throughout the day as well. The lower end of the lake is where most of the action will be this month. Night time fishing is great this time of year in shallow water with topwater lures and will produce some trophy fish as well. Larger topwater plugs and bomber long A’s, rapala stickbaits will be good lures to use as well. Captains Quarters Marina can provide you with a great selection of what you need.
Crappie
Most of the Crappie have spawned so far. But there are still some waiting on stable weather and the full moon coming up to move in shallow. Target shallow structure or protected areas in creeks and large pockets to locate schools of fish. Small minnows or jigs will be the primary ways to catch them. Water depths less than 10ft will be the location of most schools of fish
Tournaments May
Big Bass tournament 5th-7th
FFA tournament May 6th 7-3 Penhook Boat Ramp
May 20th Anglers Choice Marine at Parkway Marina
Special Thanks to Brian Carter at the www.BassCast.com
