{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Smith Mountain Lake Info?

That's Bernard's Landing. My folks are directly across the lake from the other side of the peninsula you'll be on, so you picked an area I actually frequent. A boat would be preferable (a canoe will do), but you'll find LMB and tons of perch where you are anyway. I've also shot my fair share of geese off the point of the peninsula you're on, but that season is a long way off right now.

The rip-rapped shoreline you're on holds bass, especially around the points there. Go for clousers and other baitfish patterns in the 3-6" range. They don't need to be really heavy because right below the rip rap is a decently gentle slope (which you could probably wade). Also try throwing things like gurglers, poppers, and crease flies in the same spots at night. 

Walk across the peninsula and I've found good fish around the resort's docks in the evening and early morning and also at night. If you can fish there (and I don't know if you can without a boat of some kind), the next cove north of the resort is where SML Yacht Club is located and I have caught LOTS of big striper there. If you can rent a canoe or kayak, sit out in the middle of the Yacht Club cove around 11PM and drop a big (6-8") rattle trap down until it hits the bottom, then jig it up and down a foot or two, bouncing it off the bottom. Do this for about an hour and you'll catch at least a 30" fish. This is where my buddies and I go after waking up from a post-day-drinking nap. Great spot. You could probably also do it from the Bernard's Landing marina cove or even off the end of the dock at the end of Clubhouse Towers Dr., but I've had the best luck at the Yacht Club or across the lake in the middle of Parkway Marina's cove. 

It is probably too late for any top-water striper action there, but the "deeper" (as in, longer fingers, not deeper water) coves, such as the one you're on, will give a decent top-water striper bite mid-March to mid-April.

If you're decidedly not doing the boat thing, the state park is a good spot for LMB as well - it will be maybe a 10-15min drive from you. 

Whatever you do, if you go out in a boat at night, take a GPS. It is a confusing body of water, especially when it is dark out.

But, the fish are out and biting. My mom texted me a picture of what was probably a 4lb LMB she caught on Saturday sunning itself in the shallows by a dock piling. Sandy bottom, mid-day, on a Rapala fly. 

On Monday, April 29, 2013 11:36:04 AM UTC-4, Leon wrote:

I just got the details: it's at the end of Clubhouse Towers Drive, Moneta, VA (map).  Most likely I'll be shoreside, although I might look into renting a boat if convenient.

Leon.

Any local info would be appreciated.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2013 11:21:22 AM UTC-4, Eric Y. wrote:

My folks live down there and I used to fish SML about 90 days/year. I keep a fishing boat there and still fish there plenty - indeed may be down there at the same time.

 

It is a very big lake, so if you can give me some more details, I can give you some better info. What part of the lake, what neighborhood, will you have a boat, etc.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2013 9:38:31 AM UTC-4, Leon wrote:

I'm heading down to Smith Mountain Lake in early May for a family reunion, and thought I'd bring my fly rod down (9' 6wt).  We're staying at a shoreside house.

Any local info or suggestions?

Thanks,  Leon.

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