Smith Mountain Lake...

What a trip?!?! If you havent been there, I suggest you go! A few weeks ago, for summer vacation from work and everything I decided to take my boyfriend to SML for our 2 year anniversary, since neither of us had ever been.

I called around to a few of our club members and NO ONE had ever been there, so I got a map and we planned the trip. We got there on Friday night and got to our room about 11:00, we rested for a few hours and put in at the d**n....d**n is right, that end sucked. You could see all the way to the bottom no matter where you were, I only caught one and the bf didnt catch any. So, we headed out kinda early to check out of that room and go to the other end of the lake.

We found a really nice place to stay, went to a local tackle shop, and headed to the public ramp that was nearby. We got in the water, and immediately I was excited. The water was so much better, so much more color, and the fish were Biting!!!!!! We fished Sat evening/a little into the night and got back up and fished Sunday. I loved this end of the lake, we ran everywhere and got to know everything. But, by the time we got on a REALLY good pattern it was time to head home. We caught lots of fish but, I caught 5 good fish and the bf caught 3....so, it was overall a good trip.

Those willows that hang out over the lake and cast a shadow....the fish love them!!! And the lake was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

=) Thought you all might like to know how it went and my suggestion for a good fishing trip if you have never been!!!

Smith mountain is a superb lake.  I was just up there for a vacation with the family and got to fish the upper lake around bridgewater and south a little bit.  Could not get a bass to save my life hit a minnow, worm, or lizards, or any plastics for that matter over by the coast guard complex i believe.  Went up the following day talked to a tackle shop guy and he steered us on to the fish.  We had some nice hits on big shad.  My old man pulled in a nice seven pound striper while i managed a nice 4lb largemouth.  It's an excellent lake and full of big fish and surrounded by undescribeable landscapes!!!

Sounds like a great trip. Some advice... USE these guys on the board to help you out. SML is a well known lake and I know for a fact its the home lake to a few guys on the forum. 5basslimit is a good stick on that lake. I would start with him, I am sure he would be more then glad to help. When I was down there it was cold and sleeting and I still had a blast. If I remember correctly that lake has two main rivers Roanoke and the Blackwater. If I remember correct the Roanoke section is clear and the Blackwater has color. Both sections I hear are great. When I was there we stuck to the Roanoke, because we didn't want to run too far in the cold/sleet and deal with cold/colored water. We were there 4 days and fished only one creek (Indian Creek I think). That lake is chock full of brush piles too. When I was there we were using sonar/cameras and some good brush piles around docks.

im heading down there this weekend. im typically limited to the craddock creek area though. several of my personal bests have come from smith mountain lake, i hope to up one or two of those this weekend. got some new tackle and some new techniques i want to try out, just stuff ive picked up from reading on here and some stuff that have popped in my head on its own(imagine that lol)

5basslimit is a good stick on that lake. I would start with him,

FBL is a great stick on that lake. FBL and I grew up together and he knows SML like the back of his hand. He is alot quicker than I am at putting things together and figuring the fish out. He is always willing to share info too.

I have no info to share because it sounds like she figured things out a whole lot better on Saturday than I did on Sunday. I should probably ask for her help. ;D Sunday was tuff!

The Roanoke side usually is dirtier than the Blackwater though.

I think we had a tourney the same time you were down here RobbyZ. That college tourney was last end of Feb. first of March last year? You guys put in @ the free ramp behind Water Wheel and weighed in @ Bridgewater plaza? Anyways, I remember seeing a white boat with Penn St on it.

5basslimit is a good stick on that lake. I would start with him,

FBL is a great stick on that lake. FBL and I grew up together and he knows SML like the back of his hand. He is alot quicker than I am at putting things together and figuring the fish out. He is always willing to share info too.

Thanks for the props slider head but dont be so modest dude. You have your fair share of 'good' days on Smith. Dont let slider fool you guys....the dude can fish. Hopefully we'll be fishing against each other for the big money at the Fish Off in October....

But if you ask him what he catches his fish on, he's going to say 'worm' everytime. I see all kinds of stuff on his deck but I dont think he throws any of it. I think it's mostly for looks.

P.S. Have you spent your big bass winnings from that last tournament yet? I was happy do donate to your cause, by the way.  

Thanks FBL and sorry for the slow response. I have been on vacation.

Yes, I spent it......I bought more worms!  ;D

How did you spend your check?

Yeh slider we were down there. I have the privilege to say that, that was the worse weather I have ever fished a tournament in was on SML. Next year I want to fish some BFL's on SML. I only got a small taste of the fishing, I want more!

Thanks FBL and sorry for the slow response. I have been on vacation.

Yes, I spent it......I bought more worms! ;D

How did you spend your check?

New prop  

Yeh slider we were down there. I have the privilege to say that, that was the worse weather I have ever fished a tournament in was on SML. Next year I want to fish some BFL's on SML. I only got a small taste of the fishing, I want more!

Yeah I posted about that earlier. Heavy rain that morning. Then sun and warmed quickly. Thunderstorm.....wind.....and ended with sleet and snow! I spent as much time taking off and putting on clothes as fishing! They bit well that day though. Holler when your back down this way.

FBL: Bummer dude. I happend to catch that before I left on vacation

well i had a good time down there at SML a couple weeks ago. i still cant get my uncle out on his boat for anything other than striper fishing, but i did manage two small largemouth from the dock at night. i also got a nice catfish off the dock. for stripers i got 1 keeper and 1 i had to throw back, first time i ever caught any stripers.

my niece caught that sunfish but was afraid to hold it, so her dad held it for her in the picture. biggest sunfish i ever seen come out of SML, any idea what specific kind it is? i realize the glare on it doesnt give the clearest of images...

I fish Smith Mountain regularly and love it. If anyone is making a trip feel free to contact me and I will be glad to share current conditions, water temp, clarity, etc. Great place to bass fish for large mouth, small mouth or stripers.