SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE FISHING REPORT
November 2009
Provided by:
CAPTAIN DALE WILSON’S
SML GUIDE SERVICE
PHONE NO: 540-297-5650


OVERVIEW: The month of November will bring a variety of weather conditions. Most species of fish will feed aggressively as these changing weather fronts approach. Water temperature will be in the low 60’s to the mid 50’s. Water clarity is good.

• Largemouth Bass-Fishing is good. Fish can be caught on crankbaits, shaky heads, jigs, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs. Best areas will be the larger creeks and the upper sections of the rivers where most of the bait fish are found. Try fishing the creek channel banks, docks and rocky points. Best depths will be 2 to 12 feet.


• Smallmouth Bass- Fishing is fair. Best lures will be tubes, jerkbaits, jigs and crankbaits. Best areas will be rocky points and humps in the lower to mid sections of the main rivers. Smallmouth bass will suspend around schools of shad this month. Best depths will be 2 to 20 feet deep.

• Striped Bass- Fishing is good. Fish will feed best early morning and late afternoon. Night fishing will be good on calm nights. Zoom flukes fished on 1/4 to 3/8 oz. lead heads, swim baits, surface poppers, jigging spoons, red fins, longA’s and live shad will be the best baits to catch stripers this month. Fish can also be caught trolling umbrella rigs on lead core line. Most fish will be caught in the larger creeks and the upper sections of both rivers Stripers will continue to surface early and late day.


• Crappie-Fishing is good. Fish can be caught around docks and brush 10 to 15 feet deep. Small jigs, tubes fished on small jig heads and live minnows will catch fish this month. Best areas will be in the main creeks and the upper sections of both rivers.

• TIP OF THE MONTH: During periods of sunny stable weather try fishing at night. Fishing seems to be best on dark nights with no wind. The shallow main points are usually a good place to try.


Call Mitch at Smith Mountain Lake Sporting Goods for current fishing reports at 540-297-7050.