July 2013 SML Fishing Report By Captain Dale Wilson

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

The picture is of Otto Hecht holding a 5 lb. Largemouth bass caught 6/24/13 from Jacksonville, Nc. while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson and Roger Griffin from Tazewell, Va.   

OVERVIEW: Please be extremely careful when operating your boat or personal water craft during the summer boating season! Most species of fish have moved to their summer habitat.  The hot weather and heavy boat traffic has made most fishing best at night or early morning. The majority of the lake is clear and the water temperature will be in the 80’s. . Largemouth Bass-Fishing will be fair. Best lures will be top water lures, shaky heads, crank baits, Texas rigged plastic worms and jigs. Most largemouth bass have moved to their post spawn habitat. Best depths will be from the surface to 20 feet deep. Early morning, late afternoon and at night will be the best time to fish this month .Some shad will continue coming to the shoreline late at night. Some bass will feed on top water this month.

Smallmouth Bass- Fishing should be fair. Best areas will be ledges, long points and humps. Best lures will be top water lures, tube lures, drop shot rigs, and shaky heads. Best areas will be in the mid to the lower sections of the lake. Cloud days will be the best time to try your luck. They will also feed at night when the shad come to the shoreline.

Striped Bass- Fishing should be good. Stripers will be caught mostly in the mid to lower sections of the lake and Stripers will also be found in the dam area. Best lures will be swim baits, buck tails, and Zoom flukes fished with 3/8 to 3/4 oz. jig heads during the day. Night lures that work best are wake baits, Thunder sticks, Red-fins and swim baits. Live bait and trolling will also be a productive method.. The best depth should be from the surface to 50 feet deep. Best time to try your luck will be early morning. 

Crappie-Fishing for crappie will be fair to poor. They will be found 10 to 20 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. Light line (4 lb. test) will help you catch more crappie.

Tip of the month: Night time will be your best time to try your luck for bass. The Stripers feed better early in the morning before the heavy boat traffic starts. If you have young children, bream are easily caught around most docks. Make sure to leave your running lights on after dark and wear your life jacket.

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