April 2013 Smith Mtn. Lake Fishing Report by Captain Dale Wilson

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORTApril 2013DALE WILSON’SSML GUIDE SERVICEPHONE NO:  540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950www.captaindalewilson.com

Bernice Rowan from Northern,Va. / striper caught & released 3/16/13 while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson.

OVERVIEW: The unusually cold and unstable weather patterns have pushed back the spring fishing. Some species of fish will start the spawning process later this month. Water temperature and the location of shad will be keys to being successful fishing this month. Water temperature will be in the 50s to low 60’s this month. 

Largemouth Bass-Fishing will be good. Best lures will be jerk baits, Carolina rigs, shaky heads, spinner baits, tubes and jigs. Most largemouth bass will be caught around rocky shorelines, secondary points, shallow brush, stumps and docks. Best depths will be from the 1 to 15 feet deep. Windy days with abundant sunshine will be the best time to fish this month. Shad and wind will be the keys to catching bass this month.

Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be rocky banks, ledges and main channel points. Best lures will be floating-fly rigs, small crawfish colored crank baits, tube lures, drop shot rigs, jerk baits and shaky heads. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Cloudy, windy days will be the best time to try your luck. Smallmouth will suspend under schools of shad  this month.

Striped Bass- Fishing should be good. Stripers will be caught mostly in the mid to upper sections of the lake and the major creeks. Best lures will be swim baits, buck tails, jerk baits and Zoom flukes fished with ¼ to 3/8 oz. jig heads. Live bait and trolling will also be a productive method.. The best depth should be from the surface to 30 feet deep. Best time to try your luck will be early mornings, late afternoons and after dark.  The colored water from the recent rains should make fish feed in shallow water. Night fishing will be good later in the month.

Crappie-Fishing for crappie will be good. They will be found 2 to 10 feet deep this month. Best areas will be in the main creeks around docks, fallen trees, and brush piles in the mid to upper sections of the lake. Small live minnows and 1 ½ inch tubes and twister tail grubs fished on 1/16 to 1/8 oz. lead heads will work best to catch crappie this month. Small Gulp minnows also work well when fished on small lead heads or drop shot rigs.

Tip of the month: Due to the different weather patterns you will need to change your fishing patterns to relate to the late spring conditions. Look for bait fish. Try fishing wind blow coves. Keep your running lights on when fishing after dark. Take a kid fishing.

Rich Hutchins from Huddleston,Va. / striper caught & released 3/20/13 while fishing with Ralph Key of Roanoke,Va. & Captain Dale Wilson.

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