months are;
Nov. 28, 2012 - 2 ................ Beaver
Moon
Dec. 28, 2012 - 10:21 am ................
Full Cold Moon
Jan. 26, 2013 - 11:38 am ................
Full Wolf Moon
Feb.25,2013 - 3:26 pm ................
Full Snow Moon
March 27, 2013 - 5:27 am ..............
Full Worm Moon
Remember: when there is a
moon at night, don’t fish the first
3
hours of daylight, fish the next 3
hours skip the next 3, etc.
No moon at night: fish the first
3
hours, skip the next 3 hours nd
fish the next 3 hours, etc.
Another productive way to fish
in these cold months is to fish pre-
dawn. Since this is a colder time,
you need to get to your fishing spot
before the fog starts to rise on the
water. This means getting on the
water at about 4 am. It also requires
knowledge of the lake to be able
to travel safely to your spot in the
dark. Be very careful traveling the
lake in the dark. When arriving at
your destination (the mouth of the
cove that you are going to fish), stop
your boat, making certain there are
no other boats around you. Turn
off your lights, lower your trolling
motor and start moving into the
cove, watching your graph. Stay
vigilant, and be prepared to switch
your lights on if need be to alert an
approaching boat of your presence.
With your gas motor off, using
the electric trolling motor, ease
into the cove. When you see lots of
small spots all over the graph screen,
move to the center of these spots...
some guesswork is involved... and
stop. Lights off, be quiet, warm your
hands by the heater (if you have
one).On a casting rod, have a 6”or 7”
Redfin, Rebel, Thunderstick, or the
like, and be ready to cast. Your eyes
will adjust to the darkness. As the
sky begins to lighten slightly, it will
seem to get a little “pink” in color. At
that point, watch the water! When
you began to see bubbles coming to
the surface, cast to the spot where
you see the bubbles. Lower your rod
tip, and very slowly retrieve your
lure.
As the lure comes across the
surface, it will make a “V” shaped
wake as it comes toward you. When
the strike comes, it will seem very
light; you’ll most likely hear the
hooks rattle when the fish hits,
When he does strike, set the hook,
and the fight is on. This will be a
good fight and it is one of the best
opportunities to catch a striper
over 20 lbs. The water temperature
will be 50 degrees or colder, which
means it is a safe time to do catch-
and-release if you choose to do so.
When daylight arrives, it is time
to go in for breakfast and to warm
yourself. The chances are excellent
that you will be arriving at the dock
with a boatload of good fish at a time
when others are just getting started.
IF you follow the moon phase, you
can fish again in the daylight in the
center of the channel or on humps
in cove, providing that you want to
and you have not reached your limit!
Brave the cold, but be prepared for
it and you will love the results!
You’ve often heard me say “Bring a
kid fishing” on WSLK; this is one case
where it may be too cold for a young
child to accompany you.
Good luck and
good fishing!
~Bob King
Fishing Continued
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Discover Smith Mountain Lake | Winter 2012
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