Smith Mountain Lake October Fishing Report - Tough conditions

Fishing is tough :)

Keep your head on a swivel these next coming weeks and keep a lot of rods on the boat deck, it’s a true junk fall fishing kind of month. We are catching bass from 6” of water all the way in 30 feet. Some days you can run topwater and catch them all day and the next you have to drag a shaky head extremely slow. If you’re new to fishing the lake or new to fishing in general now is a great time to get a guide and learn how to break down new water or when to move to a different area. The water temperatures start around 64 in the mornings and rise to 72 in the afternoons depending on how hot the air temp is and how much wind we get. Wind is your FRIEND this month as it helps shake the crawfish loose and pushes the bait fish into the banks.

If you are bass fishing target large points going into pockets first and see if you can find active schoolers, if not move into secondary smaller points that may concentrate more fish in a tighter area. Keep moving back into major creek arms like Becky and Bettys, Craddock or Gills. Last check as far back in pockets as you can. If you find bait there will be fish around.

Target aggressive eaters with chatterbaits, a Dobyns spinnerbait and Spro MD crankbaits. If you notice fish busting on the top (which could also be stripers) grab your favorite topwater walking bait and fire into the schools.

For neutral and negative fish picking up a shaky head with a Missle Baits Missle Craw or their new Quiver worm or dropshot with any Roboworm is a great tool. Fish this very slow on rocky points or deeper docks.

A huge tip this year is if you catch a bass slow down in the same area. Fish will be stacked together and you can have a great time fishing for a school and getting a lot bites.

If you can plan ahead pick a day with wind and cloud cover to make the fish be more aggressive.

For the striper guys, up the Roanoke people are having good luck with fish moving up the river. Target channel swings and the back or beaver dam with flukes and topwater baits for some explosive action.

The Crappie are starting to stack up in brush 10-18 feet in most pockets.