Smith Mountain Lake December Fishing Report - Water Temps down and fish are biting!
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE BAIT SHOP FOR ALL THE WINTER TACKLE
I USE
It’s about damn time I get another report out! Sorry about that folks. New born life, running a few businesses and work like balance pulled me away last month and most of December but I’M BACK and so is some killer fishing.
We have now transitioned from early winter to some true winter fishing. Water temps are ranging from low 50’s to high 40’s and I am starting to see a large transition from shallow pockets back out onto the main lake. Evenings being short this time of year and cool NW winds are what help drop the lake temps down and get all predatory fish in the mood to eat. If you can handle a little cold on your fingers and bundle up this is the time of year I would get after it. I would be looking to head to the lake after a super cold snap when we have a little wind and highs in the 40’s. Shad stuns are one of the best days to fish for the next few months and that always happens after we have days with overnight lows in the teens. Also, really keep an eye on the moon cycle, full and new moons will be the best fishing days of the rest of the month.
Largemouth and Smallmouth are both doing about the same thing. For the next few weeks most fish are focused on shad and chasing around those bait balls that are in the back half of the creeks making their way back out to the main lake ditches and points. Bait selection is pretty start forwards this time of year with a few horizontal presentations and a few vertical. Keeping in mind that shad are the main food source you can bet I have baits like a Megabass Vision 110 +1, a Megabass Magdraft, some Damiki baits (Armor Shad, Baby Z Too, Sakamata Shad) , a Megabass Dyna Response Blade Bait and an A rig set up rocking on the boat deck. We haven’t had a ton of rain this season so most of the lake is still rather clear. Keep you color choices pretty natural for the most part with a few pops of color.
Finding largemouth and smallmouth is actually pretty easy this time of year as well. The majority of the population will be sticking in ditches and off main lake points with access to the old river channel. I wouldn’t spend much time up super shallow or far back in pockets after say Christmas unless you are finding large bait schools or if we get a fresh rain. Pay attention to tight contour lines on your mapping leading from secondary points towards channel swings and into ditches. Just like in the spring you are doing the reverse by looking for fish moving out towards the main lake and not back into pockets. Keep in mind that fish will either be on the breaks up tight to cover or be roaming out in the ditch. They can either be suspended in small groups or be single big fish. Tossing a jerkbait at these fish can be a great way to get the school fired up and make them bite.
Stripers are in huge schools right now and are super easy to catch. Some schools are shallow in those same ditches as the bass while other schools will be out deeper on the main lake in the tree tops. A 3/4oz spoon is all you need to get some meat for the freezer.
Crappie fishing is also about to be great. Deeper docks and brush should start holding large numbers of big fish back in creeks. Start by looking at large laydowns on the bank that create good habitat for the schools. These fish can also be stacked together in structure like cane piles or stumps in the 20-30 foot range.
Last thing, be safe out there guys. Always have an extra pair of clothes in the boat this time of year if you fall in. I always wear a life jacket this time of year as well. Keep your throwable close by in case someone need to throw it out and always tell someone what area of the lake you are fishing.