Smith Mountain Lake May Fishing Report - Late Spawn, Shad Spawn and Bream Eaters
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Here we go again with another strange weather spring, roller coaster water temps and a later spawn. May is shaping up to be an interesting one this year with a lot of things happening all at the same time. We have bass that stayed in pre-spawn patterns for a super long time, we have a large way of spawners for early May, we have some post spawn fish that did their deal early April, we have bream starting to spawn and the shad spawn is in full swing both on the bank at night and on lights. It’s pretty much pick how you want to tackle it and have some fun!!!
However, even with a lot going on at the same time the lake is feeling like it is fishing smaller with some areas of the lake seeming dead while others are loaded. I am finding a lot of fish on certain banks and I can go back to those banks multiple times a day and get bites on every pass. Keep that in mind if you are not finding fish to keep moving and repeat stretches if you think they are a lot of fish on them.
Typical pre-spawn baits like big swimbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs are catching fish around secondary points leading into spawning areas. Bed fishing is going on so a texas rig and dropshot are key to getting those fish to bite. The post spawners are chasing topwater and I am already catching schooling bass out very deep. Now the shad spawn usually occurs in May when the water temperature reaches around 65-70 degrees. During this time, shad will spawn in shallow areas, such as around rocks, riprap and points. This will attract predatory fish, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, stripers, and catfish.
You can use lures that mimic shad, like the Megabass Suwitch (killer bait) a Thunderstick or Hitstick, Flukes work amazing as well as Chatterbaits and shallow crankbaits. Topwater time means having a few different offerings like a Megabass Dog X, A buzzbait, or a Rico Popper is solid as well. Getting up early or staying out past dark will increase the number and size of fish you will catch. Remember to be safe driving during those times and have the correct lights working on your boats.
The shad in SML got lucky again this winter with mild temps which means most lived. This is causing the fishing to be a little tough in areas because of the amount of food available to the bass. Try to find areas with maybe a little less bait present instead of those areas that are top to bottom with shad on the graph.
Second it’s time to start to look at water that is close to main creek channel swings or high spots near secondary points. The fish will also use docks heavily at this time as cover and ambush areas. Once the topwater bite stops for the day this is a great time to focus on dragging. A Carolina rig with something like a Missilebaits 48 worm or a big D Stroyer Creature. A dropshot is always on the boat in May. I may try upsizing my worm first by rigging up a Missile Baits Quiver worm, but will always have the Magic Worm or Bomb Shot ready to present to a fish. It works both for bedding fish and post spawners love an easy meal. Also it’s time for a heavier shaky head to shine. This is when I will be throwing a much bigger bait like a Zoom 8” dead ringer or a Ol’ Monster. I am looking for that large female that needs a big meal after spawning out.
Smallmouth bass can be found in clear and rocky areas, such as points, ledges, and drop-offs. These fish will be the first to really start moving out deeper towards the main lake. These fish will be very aggressive this month so keep trying different baits until you find what they seem to want on each day. A small swimbait is about all you need on a cloudy or windy day on the lower end.
In May, the water temperature at Smith Mountain Lake is usually in the mid-60s to low 70s, making it an excellent time to fish. Be sure to take advantage of the shad spawn by using lures that mimic shad, and always follow local fishing regulations and properly release fish back into the water to ensure the sustainability of the fishery.