Page 21 - Discover WINTER 2022

channel of your choosing to fish. Leave
your dock early enough to allow time to be Now, in the day light fishing
in the area you are fishing before the fog deep produces another problem:

sets in (usually a fog will be on the water STRUCTURE!!!! A good depth-finder
just prior to sunrise). Trying to get to your is essential, and a "plug knocker" would
fishing spot is difficult enough in the dark also be needed. Smith Mountain Lake is
without having to deal with the fog. So loaded with structure....mostly trees and

lose a little sleep in order to travel the lake rocks. The bait-fish go into the coves at
under safer conditions. night for the relative safety of the structure
as well as food. The stripers follow.
Enter your cove with your trolling Fishing for them in the early morning

motor with depth-finder ends at daylight.
on and the stern light
(use a stern light with Now to fish them
a reflective base -- this in the coves or main

keeps the light from channel in daylight
reflecting off the water hours, you will need to
surface). Watch your fish according to the
depth-finder, and look moon phase. Since the

for a lot of dots on the baitfish and the stipers
screen. Position the are in deeper water, you
boat in the middle of will have to contend
the cove, near an area will the structure.

with lots of dots. Now, Fishing structure
WAIT!! can be most difficult,
but it’s also the most
As your eyes become productive. If you are

accustomed to the trolling, most of the
darkness, you will be fish will be in the tree-
able to see water surface. tops, where trolling
As the sky begins to acquire a little bit of a a lead line or deep plug is the way to go.

pink shade, you will begin to see bubbles Your lure should be just over the fish (over
rise to the surface. Cast a floating minnow the trees).
lure toward the bubbles. With your rod tip
down, retrieve very slowly, keeping the lure Trolling requires close attention to the

on the surface, and be ready for the strike! depth-finder..... If you are trolling lures
This is a great opportunity to catch a at 35 feet and trees appear on the screen
trophy. Once daylight arrives, the fish will above that (taller trees) you must raise your
move to the main channel, where now you lines so as not to snag your lure on a tree.

bait fish, jig, or troll deep (about 30-35 ft). If you do and it does not release, stop the

www.discoversmithmountainlake.com 19