Smith Mountain Lake
Virginia's largest lake, famous for striped bass that produced multiple former state records.
Depth & Structure
Deep, clear reservoir — about 250 feet at the dam and 100-150 feet typical in main channels, with two distinct arms: deeper/clearer Roanoke arm and shallower, more stained Blackwater arm; extensive dock-lined shoreline and standing timber
Best Lures
Crankbaits on humps and deep points, wacky-rigged soft stickbaits under docks, shaky heads and Texas-rigged worms/craws on docks, Carolina-rigged plastics offshore, topwater over schooling fish and jighead minnows for suspended fish
Best Baits
Live shad on down-lines and bottom Carolina rigs — primary pattern for striped bass and flathead catfish
Gear to Bring
Medium to medium-heavy spinning and baitcasting, 2000-3000 spinning reels and standard baitcasters, 10-15 lb line for bass/stripers, heavier trolling setup with line-counter reel and braid for umbrella rigs/deep trolling
Local Tips
['Stripers often school 50-60 feet down over shad; in winter colder surface temps push them to chase shad to the surface — watch for birds over bait schools', 'Dock fishing is a legitimate primary pattern — largemouth hold under deepwater docks on shaded…
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Related Water
Fish photos: striped bass — Wikimedia Commons · largemouth bass — Wikimedia Commons · smallmouth bass — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.