Smith Mountain Lake, VA
By singout
@singout (1008)
United States
May 16, 2008 11:51pm CST
Has any one out there ever fished Smith Mountain Lake? I find this lake extremely hard to fish, especially for large mouth bass. You really have to know your stuff to be a successful fisherman in this lake. I've lived here for 25 years now and have still not figured it out. Does anyone have any hints you could share with this amateur?
I have begun to get the hang of striper fishing, though. You can almost predict when they will begin hitting. Usually the shad begin to move around 10:30 PM and continue till about 1AM. That's when the stripers really make themselves known. I'm not saying they don't hit at other times, it's just that they manifest themselves best during this time window. A full moon is the best and most beautiful time to fish for striper, especially on a clear and calm night. It's very exciting to fish for them as well. My fingers become all thumbs when I try to tie on a lure while they are slapping the water all around my boat. I can't concentrate with all the action going on around me.
Let's read about your experiences on this lake.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@buldwgz (1489)
• United States
17 May 08
I have absolutely no idea of any advice to give you on this, Singout. I am just beginning to fish myself so I too am looking for any advice I can get. I have a good friend that is taking the time to share his vast knowledge of fishing with me and I am sure he will offer some good advice for you on here very soon. He is taking me shark fishing and I am pretty excited about that.
2 people like this
@singout (1008)
• United States
17 May 08
Thanks for your comments buldwgz. I got a real kick out of that last comment. It's funny, I remember something very similar with my family. It too, turned out alright. Shark fishing sounds like fun until you realize that your prey could consume parts, or all of your anatomy.
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@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
17 May 08
Though I haven't ever been to that lake, and don't know the area, I would fish structure with a grape/shad culprit worm. I believe thats what the color is called, anyways it is purple and black and culprit worms are very durable. No matter where I fish for large mouth, that is always my first lure to hit the water. The red/shad is very good as well. i don't know very much about striper fishing, but once I was under a bridge where they hang out, and noticed when the finger mullet swam through, the water exploded with action. I modified a black/silver rapala by breaking about 1/2 of the lip off. This allowed it to go under the water, but just barely, only by a few inches. When the mullet would swim through, I would put my lure right in the middle of them, and it got action every few throws. I guess you could say they ambushed the mullet, and I ambushed them. Hope this helps in some way. Also, you might watch others, if you see them catching the kind of fish you want, ask them what they are using.
@singout (1008)
• United States
17 May 08
Thanks jer31558 for your comment. You spoke of mullet, so I assume they were salt water striper which are a great deal larger than the ones in Smith Mountain Lake. I would love to get into a fight with one of those. I don't know about the salt water striper, but the fresh water striper don't last very long in a live well environment in a boat. I suppose they are a lot like sharks in that they have to keep moving to breathe. A Large mouth bass will last all day in a half decent live well. This is probably why tournaments feature this fish. They can be released, usually, without harm.
I am familiar with the lures you spoke of, and I am especially familiar with the black/silver Rapala. That's one of my favorite lures in a night time situation.
There is one way of fishing for striper which I could never get into; I've noticed boats anchored along the edge of the lake during the night. I presume they are using live bait. I couldn't stand that. I have to keep moving around with a trolling motor. I guess I'm a lot like the striper in that respect.
1 person likes this
