ok guys, heres the deal. My family has decided to rent a houseboat for 3 or 4 days this year on smith mountain lake. Ive never been here but ive heard a lot of good things. Basically im here to ask what are some good lures/tactics there for the summer (because it will be a long 3 or 4 days if im stuck with my family and out there not catching fish lol)

thanks

Summer on Smith Mtn? Stay on the main lake or close to it and throw texas rigged worms, football jigs and deep cranks.

Sounds like you're going to be a little challenged with boat positioning and such being on a houseboat. Good luck though. At least in a houseboat the waves wont kill you. 

im trying to find a way to get my ranger down (maybe hide it in the glovebox? lol :

You'll be in business if you can bring the Ranger.

Forgot the shaky head as a bait suggestion, I guess I assumed that everybody just knows that automatically.  ;D

If you head up the Roanoke arm past Hales ford bridge, you can get out of the mob of recreational traffic.

Shallow cranks or SB's will work early in low light, paralleling riprap. Shakeyheads and football jigs for rocky points latter. No shortage of docks anywhere.  Keep a topwater plug ready at all times. Hope this helps some.