September 2013 / Smith Mtn. Lake Fishing Report

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORTSeptember 2013DALE WILSON’SSML GUIDE SERVICEPHONE NO:  540-297-5650 / 540-874-4950www.captaindalewilson.comPicture is of Lucas Sullivan from Bedford, Va. holding 2 of 14 stripers caught 8/16/13 while fishing with Captain Dale Wilson. Lucas will be attending Roanoke College this fall.  

OVERVIEW: Fishing will be good. The cooler weather and less boat traffic will make for better fishing. The majority of the lake is clear and the water temperature will be in the 70’s. . Largemouth Bass-Fishing will be fair. Best lures will be shaky heads, deep diving crank baits, Texas rigged plastic worms and jigs. Most largemouth bass will start to move to their fall habitats. Best depths will be from the surface to 15 feet deep. Best areas will be ledges, points, docks and brush piles. Early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days will be the best time to fish this month. Shad will start moving to the creeks later  this month. 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. Early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days will be the best time to try your luck.

Striped Bass- Fishing will be good. Stripers will be caught mostly in the mid to lower sections of the lake . Best lures will be swim baits, buck tails, and Zoom flukes fished with 3/8 to 3/4 oz. jig heads during the day. Vertical jigging will be a good method. Live bait and trolling will also be a productive method.. The best depth should be from the surface to 80 feet deep. Best time to try your luck will be early morning, cloudy day and late afternoon. 

Crappie-Fishing for crappie will be fair. 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 1/8 to 1/16 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: Find the shade and you will be able to find and catch more fish this month! Most bait fish will start to migrate back into the main creeks and up the main rivers. Make sure to leave your running lights on after dark and wear your life jacket.

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