how to catch striped bass on smith lake

Your ideal bait for the unpredictable species; plastic baits, spinners, and crank baits. To achieve good results while fishing for Smith Lake’s bass you need a little peace and solitude at times. striped bass. Spring: 1/4 oz Shaky head with 6.5inch KVD Finesse Worm in Green Pumpkin , 1/4 oz Strike King Tour Grade Spinnerbait, Strike King 5XD Crankbait. striper was caught. The striper that do live past the third year, and some striper will live 10 plus years, are the ones  that keep people coming to Smith Lake for a chance to catch a trophy striper. Around the same time that Striped Bass are returning to the lake from smaller streams, schools of gizzard and threadfin shad begin to spawn nightly in the shallow bays. But is now catching fish on a regular bases. So, now that our history is done for the day; lets move on to the real reason why I am spending my afternoon with you all. Smith Lake has the states best class of 30-40 lb. We are a family that stays together while fishing together. If you like fly fishing too, check out this article before you leave. The rules and regulations for the state of Alabama, when fishing for striped bass; the daily limit is 15 and no more than 5 of those 15 can be over the 22 inch length limit. For catching stripers busting the surface, Parramore recommends a 1/2-ounce bucktail jig with a curlytail grub. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; How much there is and what the ranking is, in terms of all 50 states. Although some of the novelty has worn off, striper fishing is a fascinating sport. == SMITH LAKE STRIPED BASS. The maximum depth of Smith Lake is 265 feet. Sport fishing licenses are required for anyone over the age of 16. Fishing 24-7 Guide Service is located on Smith Lake, Alabama. The striper, also known as the striped bass or rockfish, is an extremely popular recreational fish found in North America. If your state allows, you can rig tip-ups with live bait to include gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and alewives. Use a heavy fishing rod with a light spinning outfit and 10 to 20 pound fishing line How would you describe the current striper fishing on Smith Mountain Lake? But you do have a handful that prefer this time of year, because the lake is empty, giving them more opportunity and chances to locate and hook a striped bass. But, with a bonus also comes a few exceptions to rules and regulations on the Reservoir. Now, that sounded more like the beginning to a history ‘article’, but I wanted to make sure that you knew about the water in Alabama. Martin Lake is said to be one of the only lakes in Alabama to house trophy sized striped bass. Catch'em Big!! A. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Here are some of my go to baits for Smith Lake’s spotted bass. So, from mid-September to early December, you will want to stick close to Smith Lake. Several 40-pound fish are caught each year, and 30-pound stripers are not uncommon. Autumn fishing for striped bass, black bass, crappie and walleye can be good at Beaver Lake. Smith Lake is 35 miles long with 500 miles of shoreline, so if you do not own a boat, you still have prime areas where you will be able to catch a striper. From mid-December through late February is going to be a profitable tie for striped bass on Lake Martin. TEAM OLD SCHOOL -This is a "FOLLOW-UP" to" Fresh Water, Live- Bait, Striped Bass/ BASICS-Old School " on my channel that has been very popular. Enabling you to have everything you need at your fingertips, whether it is a weekend get-a-way or a week long family vacation. We were able to catch many fish even though it was freezing cold outside because it was winter. So grab those poles, lures, and lets get to fishing! amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; Be sure to check all rules and regulations and license requirements before taking your trip to Alabama has pricing can change. Each year the state biologists come to Smith Lake during the first part of April to collect stripers for the hatchery. A 7-day fishing license for 168 consecutive hours, in fresh water, is $29.95 and in salt water it is $28.95. “This site is owned and operated by FishinMoney.com headquartered in Nevada, USA. Special circumstances and prices for elderly and disabled are available. But, don’t forget the live shad, that is striped bass’ one true weakness. There are a few HUGE ones in the other lakes we have mentioned, but they typically have higher numbers of stripers where Martin Lake has the bigger striped bass. [wpforms id=”408″ title=”false” description=”false”]. Not many people will go out at this time of the year, because of the weather. Winter: 1/2 oz Strike King Jig with KVD Chunk, 1/2 oz Hopkins Spoon, Strike King 5XD Crankbait in Green Gizzard Shad. If you want to cool off yjough you could try one of these. Even experts are still learning new ways to locate and catch the salt water natives. A large Gizzard shad post spawn (Late May) can be ticket for prime-time Striper Fishing after the Spawning period. Catching a trophy sized striper on Martin Lake is more than likely to happen in the springtime; from the end of February to the end of April. Annual fishing license is $53.30. So, if you are wanting to catch your creel limit each day that you are spending in Alabama, then search for the lakes that have the keeper sized fish, and fish your heart out. You can also just purchase a 7-day trip license if you are from Alabama and just on vacation in a certain area, this is good for 168 consecutive hours and is $10.95. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "fishinmoney-20"; Whether fishing is a hobby, a profession, or something in between you will have a great time tracking and catching the trophy sized stripers on the Lakes of Alabama. Weiss Lake is known as the crappie capital of the world, but there are plenty of striped bass to be found and caught as well. I like 20-30lb Yo-Zuri Disappearing Pink. Smith Lake usally gets three stripers per acre, approximately 66,000 each year. This was during the winter months! Only 5 spots left open, below is a couple reports of a club member who didn't know how to fish for stripers. Watching them swim in school just below or on the surface. Rely on weather and water conditions, time of year, clarity of water and knowledge of habitat to lead you in the proper direction. In early March to mid-June top-water action is going to be incredible on Smith Lake. They will hatch the stripers eggs, and in several months after the hatch, they will return the fry back into Smith Lake and Lake Martin, also some smaller lakes in the state will receive some fry. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Smith Mountain Lake is a fairly clear body of water, therefore I prefer to use a fluorocarbon leader when planer board fishing. Martin Lake hosts many events throughout the year including multiple fishing tournaments. 2020 SML Striped Bass stocking Some of you may have seen a recent post on Facebook from a guide about being involved in the stocking of “millions” of stripers in SML - which was a surprise given our normal target of 350k-450k. There’s more than one way to catch a fish, and you can up your chances of landing a big catch if you utilize a variety of methods. If you are looking to catch “the BIG one”, spring is the prime time to do just that. “The easiest way to find spotted bass is to look for schooling fish. Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page. You also may not fillet your fish on the boat, or be in possession of fillets on public waters unless they are being prepared for IMMEDIATE cooking and consumption. Seasonal Considerations for Freshwater Striper Fishing. Licensed #277918 Valid from Sept first to October 31 of the following year, the cost for an annual residents license is $13.85. Distribution: In the fall and early winter, top water bait is preferred. In the spring months, top water or shallow running plugs work wonders at twilight and beyond. On average striped bass grow around 3 pounds a year. From mid-June to November it is a deep water fishery and the striped bass are found on the lake points via depth finders and can be snagged using live gizzard shad. Alabama is one of the top states for striped bass fishing. So you can have a fun filled, challenging day of striper fishing and come away with 2-4 meals depending on how many people are fishing with you. The stripers grow fatter there. Search MLS listings. amzn_assoc_linkid = "a8cd68f0e3699fb0fbf3fde893d303fd"; For me, fishing is an enjoyable release from the pressures of life. If you see them schooling, even if you don’t catch fish or only catch one or two, then you know they are living there. A bonus to Weiss Lake; the creel limit is 30 per day!! Theyre are in Virginia and Maryland in the winter time and migrate North of New Jersey in the Summertime. Smith Lake was selected for this program because striped bass had never been stocked into this lake. Some of the lakes boast about the number of striped bass that are available in their lakes, while other places boast (and brag) about having the biggest striped bass living in their lakes. Plus see all the other services we offer. Striped bass is a popular game fish found in the nearshore waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Page 9 Its hard to go back to sweating in the hot summer sun when tempted by Alabama’s cooler night fishing and less people on the lake. The best months to fish for striper on Weiss Lake; February through May and then again in October and November. My son And I went fishing at Lake Mead Nevada in our new little 10 foot boat. Vertical jigging is one of the better methods to … The experimental stocking of stripers at Lake Texoma and Lake Keystone in 1965 paid dividends. After the first 30 lb. One fishing guide states that on average he has snagged 25+ fish per trip with one trip giving up 54 striped bass. You can catch the striper year round at Weiss Lake, but you may want to avoid the month of July. It is illegal to possess blueback herring in Alabama, so don't use them for bait. Most fish are caught on live shad; however artificial baits can also be used. As the night went on, we realized that it was not going to be as good as we had hoped it would be and we went home that night skunked- having caught no Striper or any other kind of fish. Look for areas of deep water near a raised hump. for the Striped Bass. In 1983 the Alabama Department of Conservation started a stocking program for the Gulf Coast strain of striped bass into Smith Lake. FishinMoney.com also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. If the fry can survive the first two years, their growth rate between the third and seventh year can be as much as 4 to 5 pounds per year. That gives you enough to stock your freezer, and maybe have some left when the following fishing season rolls around. Best lures will be swim baits, jigging spoons and Zoom flukes fished on 1/2- to 3/4-ounce lead heads. Buying a kayak for fishing can be a bit tricky. It is recommended that you land your lure in the middle of one of those huge school, let it sink for about 5 seconds and then reel in slowly. Smith Lake Striped Bass Smith Lake: located about 90 miles Northwest of Huntsville, is about 22,000 acres in size. They often hang around baitballs in the lower lake, so it takes a good bit of sonar study, simply chugging along and watching the screen, to get on them most days. Now that is what I would tag as a HUGE school of stripers. Advertise Lakeview Property. Located within Tallapoosa River, Martin Lake is 880 miles in length. Locate Realtors selling Lakefront Houses and Waterfront Real Estate. So, you can find the “big one” in/around Smith Lake, but it will take some hunting and researching to find them. The great state of Alabama! Weiss Reservoir/Lake is a camping and fishing paradise for all ages. Mark Collins a professional guide on Weiss lake in Alabama for 16 years says Weiss is fast becoming known as a awesome striper lake. It was evening time and it looked like it would be a good fishing trip for catching stripers. Enter Below. Grab more tips and be informed about new posts in my monthly letter. One of my best, I caught seven big largemouth bass and five stripers weighing 10 to 12 pounds. Landlocked form exists in many Southern Impoundments and soutwestern U.S. The money for this stocking program was a federal grant to see if the striped bass could be put back into the Gulf, as they lived years ago. Stripers will be caught in the lower to mid-sections of the lake and in the larger creeks. There is also 1,500 miles of inland waterways; body of water that is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass, which is 2nd largest in the United States. “Stripers really like the shad, but I call redhorse suckers ‘striper candy,’” Hare says. As the weather gets cooler, the striped bass get hotter. But boy it is going to be a wild ride, so make sure you hold on tight. View full size Frank Sargeant Captain Bill Vines shows a 20-pound Smith Lake striped bass caught on live shad. There is over 447 miles of coves, drop-offs, shoreline, flats, and deep channels where the striped bass can be located. But he says stripers can be caught from the land using top bait, white or yellow jigs, spoon lures or fly-fishing techniques. Cast the lure into the school, let it sink for 5 seconds and then reel slowly for a straight-line retrieve. They will treat you exceptionally; giving you any tips, tricks, or advice on catching striped bass in the area. They’re voracious and carnivorous predators that prey on eels, smelt, shad, minnows, and on small creatures such as worms, crabs, eels, crayfish, squid and mayflies. It’s an awesome soft, strong, invisible line that comes in relatively small 30yd spools, so you’ve always got fresh leader material. 205-435-4009 I am going to give you information on the top 3 recommended lakes in Alabama to lure and catch the striped bass of your dreams. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; It gets me out into nature and I love it! The ideal time to catch the striped bass is when the water is a little choppy. They thrive in the cooler waters partly because of better oxygen supply. The next several weeks should be some of the best fishing this season. Now that is the kind of striped bass fishing that avid anglers LOVE to hear about and be a part of. In Cherokee County it is the major economic influence, so locals are very welcoming to any vacationers and visiting anglers. You may not fish with more than 3 rods/reel or poles in the water at any one time as long as you are on the Neely Henry Lake or Weiss Reservoir. Make sure you have a good selection of top water lures, as you can spend hours out here following them and catching them. In the summer months, you may have to go as deep as 80 feet to find the striped bass. Weiss Lake: (pronounced “Wice”) is one of the more popular areas in Alabama for striped bass fishing. Smith Lake Striper Club added its 20th member last week. At times you can see 2-3 acres of wall to wall stripers swimming on top of the water. Hare loads his live well with shad and redhorse suckers (Moxostoma carinatum) as bait and trolls the lake at 1 mile per hour. For non-residents, unfortunately, you are going to pay quite a bit more; but it is definitely worth every single penny. Drop your lure in the middle of that, and get ready for the fight of a lifetime! 1.Striped bass prefer deep water with a sandy or gravel bottom. The money for this stocking program was a federal grant to see if the striped bass could be … Call Early For Best Dates - 1-205-647-7683, Home | About | Contact | E-mail | Rates | Boat | Book-A-Trip | Photographs | Testimonials | Faqs | Terms of Use From late December to early March the striped bass are still active on Smith Lake. Put Ryan Creek on your hit list. Find Lake Homes for sale on Lewis Smith Lake, in AL. Smith Lake: located about 90 miles Northwest of Huntsville, is about 22,000 acres in size. For hours at a time you can see giant schools of striped bass very close to the tope of the lake. The surface area is 41,500 acres with an average depth of 41 feet and 31 miles in length. There are really no specifics on finding the striped bass. If you’re fishing for a giant striper, you need … With that being said there are many Striper Fishing methods, Baitwell tips, Bait Rigging tips, and such that you find work better than expected. Fishing guide Mike Walker is the owner and operator. If you are on a lake that freezes over, you can catch hybrid striped bass ice fishing. But hold on tight, because when stripers hook your lure it is like nothing you have ever felt or experienced before. Currently striper and bass fishing is fair. Trolling and cast surfing are also very effective methods for catching these stripers at Smith Mountain Lake. This lake is owned by the power company and boasts 30,200 acres that come down from Little River, Cossa River, and Chattooga River. Top 10 Fishing Tips for Striped Bass. Oklahoma is blessed with some of the best striped bass fishing in America. FishinMoney.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”, © 2020 Copyright Fishin Money- Fishing Tips, Top Three Lakes To Catch Striped Bass In Alabama, fishing for striped bass; the daily limit is 15 and no more than 5 of those 15 can be over the 22 inch length limit. The best depths will be from 20 to 80 feet. Temperatures can reach 110 degrees, with no wind or shade and the fish will be deep deep in the lake seeking cooler areas with better oxygen. Smith Lake Fishing Adventures strives to offer the best striped bass fishing guide service on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama. So, if you are in search of a heart stopping challenge, possibly the fight of your life then this is going to be the perfect spot for you. Fisheries have stocked the Gulf Coast strain of striped bass annually for almost 30 years. If you have a boat, your fish finder is going to be your best friend. They can have striped bass mixed in, or it can be a school of stripers. With 37, privately run, marinas along with rental cabins, campgrounds and motels spread along the shoreline, you are sure to find the perfect spot to rest your head, buy your tackle and even rent a boat. The lake known as the "Crappie Fishing Capital of the World" has other fish to boast about these days; largemouth bass and striped bass are making a name for themselves. "Good Fishing." IF you can handle the cold temperatures, trolling will be extremely effective at this time because all of the stripers are hanging closer to mid/bottom range. You have to hunt them down. This club offers the weekend angler a weekly report with maps of where, when, and how we are catching fishing. Using Gizzard shad on Smith Mountain Lake in the March-April Timeframe can produce large Smith Mountain Lake Stripers. 3-4 dark lateral stripes above lateral line, one on lateral line, three below this line. amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "striper lures"; If you are going to be on a boat, make your sure have plenty of line on your reel. Book your fishing trip today. Striped Bass swim throughout a lake and are hard to track at most times during the season, except in late spring. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; When the first stripers were put into Smith Lake, the state biologists told the local fishermen they would grow to at least 30 lbs and may reach 40 lbs; most of the fishermen, myself included, did not believe this possible. We are 23rd in the United States for the amount of surface water we boast. In my monthly letter flats, and crank baits find prices for elderly disabled! 25-40 pounds each numerous local bass tournaments on Smith Mountain Lake reigns Virginia! Tournaments on Smith Mountain Lake stripers bass are still active on Smith Mountain Lake reigns Virginia... Sept first to October 31 of the typical size stocking done at SML their information at fingertips..., Alabama large Gizzard shad, spoons, and get ready for the Gulf Coast strain striped. Recreational Lake during the first 30 lb and crank baits 's stripers grow 2! 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