SMITH MOUNTIAN LAKE FISHING REPORT
By: Captain Chad Green
www.lastcastguideservicesml.com
Winter has arrived here and some great fishing is coming with it. 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 Indian Point Marina 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
The bass will be moving in to their winter stages this month as the water temp cools below 50 before too long as cold weather has arrived. Look for fish to be in many depth ranges and a variety of lures will be needed with changing weather. Target rocky areas, flat points shallow drop offs and deeper docks. Jerkbaits, Crankaits, Alabama rigs. Damiki Rigs will produce fish though the winter. Primary baits in the Fall and early Winter are usually crawfish imitating lures and will produce the most bites. Shakey Heads, Plastic worms, Drop shots and Jigs will produce fish anywhere from 5 to 20ft in the Winter. This is a great opportunity to catch some trophy fish as the big females will start to show back up. Smallmouth will be around shoals, points and rocky areas using the same lures. The water is very clear so be mindful of your line sizes and approach to areas you will be fishing. Safety as cool weather comes in is always a must.
Striped Bass
Striper fishing will be good this month and look for them in larger schools as they start to group up for winter. They will travel in smaller schools searching for feeding opportunities. This jigging in the 20-40ft range will produce fish throughout the day as well and larger fish will show up this month as well at times and may be in smaller schools. The upper end of the lake to mid lake is where most of the action will be this month. Some fish have been found on the surface feeding early mornings and late evenings on baitfish and can be fast and furious action. Look for fish in the mouths of the larger tributaries. Larger topwater plugs can be productive along with glide baits. Swing by Indian Point Marina they provide you with a great selection of what you need.
Crappie
Most of the Crappie have been in the 15-25 foot range.