Smith Mountain Lake June Fishing Report - Fry guarding still, shad spawn and brush

June is here and it’s going to be a lot of fish movements. After having a strange weather month for May with two really big cold fronts the heat is finally here. Our fish have been in a long holding pattern of protecting fry, chasing shad and believe it or not still spawning. Our water temps are hovering around the low to mid 70’s which is a few degrees behind normal. Be prepared for fish to move a lot this month as the water temp will most likely move very quickly up and could make for some interesting patterns.

Largemouth are still holding tight to docks. Focus on the first 1-5 docks going into pockets as these fish are moving out to the main lake. Dock post are a great area for the bass to hold their fry. A dropshot, neko rig or texas rig are great options to get them to bite. I also recommend fishing a sqarebill crankbait around the docks as some times the bass are higher in the water column.

Smallmouth are roaming out on the flats on the lower end of the lake looking for shad all hours of the day and even in bite sunny conditions. A fluke is your best friend right now to create a reaction strike. Check areas in Craddock, Witchers and the mountain.

Stripers are everyone on main lake points and shoal humps. A fluke, topwater or 3.3 swimbait are killing it right now. Low light hours seem to be the best for targeting those fish.

Crappie are finally starting to make it out to the brush in 10-20 feet of water. I am seeing large schools getting together and make for easy fishing when you find a pile loaded up. Focus on the river areas with little guts or large laydowns near the main river channel. Small grubs or minnows will always work.

The shad spawn is in full swing now with most bait coming up around 10:30pm and the fish getting up on the bait around 12:30pm. Topwater baits and large worms towards the bank are all you need. Please be safe out there and use your navigation lights. The morning bite from 5:00-8:00 am can fish a little slow because the fish have been eating all night.

Always check local fishing regulations and obtain any necessary permits before fishing. Pay attention to weather forecasts and adjust your techniques accordingly. Good luck fishing at Smith Mountain Lake!