Lake Smith Bass Fishing (Virginia Beach)

[vbfishing4]

has anyone fished lake smith this summer? I've been fishing there a couple times this summer with very little luck. Any certain types of bait or lures that have been working? I've literally tried everything there is, soft plastics, cranks, spinners, and buzz baits with very little luck. Any help would be appreciated.

[vbfishing4]

to add on I have fished the little peninsula that's in the middle of the lake (the one when you go right out of the boat ramp). I continuously mark fish on my sonar but I've only pulled out maybe 2 or 3 every trip out there. there is the occasional decent sized crappie, but none of the big bass that I have heard so much about. Am I fishing the wrong areas? or just the wrong bait?

[Darren.]

Hey, welcome to the forums, fellow Virginian! Stop by the Introductions forum and say hi.

 

Unfortunately I never fish down on the the South Side, so can't be of help there. But there are a number of forum members who probably can help you out there.

[keith71]

Tough lake in the Summer,I used to live in Va Beach and fished Smith for years.I used to do okay with finesse worms rigged on slider heads on 8# line.Fish deep and slow as you can stand it. Pumpkin-Chartreuse and Black-n-Blue. 

[vbfishing4]

Hey, welcome to the forums, fellow Virginian! Stop by the Introductions forum and say hi.

 

Unfortunately I never fish down on the the South Side, so can't be of help there. But there are a number of forum members who probably can help you out there.

thank you! hopefully I can get some help because I am stumped out there

[vbfishing4]

Tough lake in the Summer,I used to live in Va Beach and fished Smith for years.I used to do okay with finesse worms rigged on slider heads on 8# line.Fish deep and slow as you can stand it. Pumpkin-Chartreuse and Black-n-Blue. 

when you say fish it deep and slow do you mean casting? or did you troll or just drop and jig it? ive fished the deeper parts of the lake casting on to drop off points, but yeah it has proved to be extremely tough this summer.

[keith71]

when you say fish it deep and slow do you mean casting? or did you troll or just drop and jig it? ive fished the deeper parts of the lake casting on to drop off points, but yeah it has proved to be extremely tough this summer.

Yes I meant casting.Fan cast to points and drop offs.If you have a sonar it helps to zig-zag across points and try to find an isolated piece of cover in deep(which is a relative term) water.Maybe 10-12 feet at Smith.I have caught bass as large as 6lbs at the culvert pipe that runs under North Hampton blvd,shad stack around that area. A seven inch black Berkley power worm texas rigged at dusk used to be another go to bait for me.

[vbfishing4]

I appreciate the help. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow and I will give a report on how it went!

[vbfishing4]

well kieth71, your advice worked! thank you. I didn't catch a lot, but I did get 4 fish all just around 2-2.5 lbs in a little over an hour around dusk. I used the finesse worms like you suggested on a drop point that was about 8ft deep.

[keith71]

Glad I could help.Best of luck to you and let me know if you need any more help.

[RnO]

Hey, I know this topic is a little old but have you fished there lately. Recently moved here and trying to get the hang of that lake, catching small ones and rarely, but I know they're there.

Thanks.

 

well kieth71, your advice worked! thank you. I didn't catch a lot, but I did get 4 fish all just around 2-2.5 lbs in a little over an hour around dusk. I used the finesse worms like you suggested on a drop point that was about 8ft deep.

[VAHunter]

RnO, Lake Smith is closed for boat access right now as Virginia Beach is working on putting in a new launch and pier, in addition to other updates on the property.  They are hoping to have it open sometime in July.  However, you can fish across the street at Little Creek Reservoir.  Both lakes fish the exact same.

 

   Both lakes are very shallow.  There is one 9-10 foot hole in Smith, but both lakes average probably 5 ft.  There really isn't any off shore bite to speak about.  As such, the fish tend to hold extremely tight to cover, often in water that you wouldn't think could even cover their backs.  The fish are spawning right now, but you can still get some pre-spawners.

 

   All you really need right now is a spinnerbait, jig and a few plastics to either fish wacky or t-rig.  The fish are really all over both lakes, so you can catch them from the main lake to very back end of the coves.  Remember, nothing is too shallow there.  As you are targeting very shallow fish, make certain  your casts are landing as softly as possible.  You want to create a reaction strike.

 

   As mentioned earlier, a finesse worm on a shaky head has always been killer in those two lakes.  Even the bigger fish will chew it.  I prefer plastics in black, junebug, red shad and waltermelon.  For jigs I only fish black/blue or green pumpkin/craw.  Match your preferred trailer with those colors.

 

   I've been catching a lot of fish in Little Creek, up to 6.5 lbs.  Most hits lately have been extremely aggressive.  Good luck.

[RnO]

VAHunter, thanks a lot for the tips, I actually have access to the lake so I'm able to fish it during the construction, since I'm new around here and the lake is right there I'm going to try to focus there.

 

I've noted the shallow depths on my fishfinder, thanks for the hints on the lures and techniques, I'll be sure to try them out (hopefully as soon as this weekend). I did spook a few last time I went and they looked pretty massive from the swirl, and I thought it was too shallow for anything to be in there.

 

I'll try this out and will keep you posted, thanks again for the tips after 4-5 trips this year with 2 bass to show for it I was getting a little discouraged.

 

Thanks.

[VAHunter]

No problem.  My buddy and I also have permission to launch from an "alternate" location.  We may be there tomorrow.  That lake is loaded with 4-6 lb. fish.  My largest weighed in at 8-15 (on a jig), but the biggest I've seen was just shy of 9.5.  You also catch the bonus flathead catfish while bass fishing.  Those suckers make you think you have a good one until it surfaces.  My son has a knack for catching blue cats in there when we bass fish.  He has caught them up to 17 lbs.  Good luck.

[RnO]

Cool thanks, I've only caught small ones so I'll keep at it, anything over 4lbs sweet.

 

I'll try to make it out there as well. Last question, is there any particular side of the lake and time of day I should target? Mostly did saltwater in florida so I'm still learning lake fishing.

 

Thnx.

[VAHunter]

Sorry for my delay, I wasn't able to check the board last night.  At this time of the year I really don't believe there is a bad bank in that lake.  The only thing you have to determine is what cover they are using that day, i.e., laydowns, cypress trees, bushes, tree roots, etc.  You can't go wrong by leaving the ramp and fishing the big cove on your left.  It goes straight in, then bears right before turning a 90 degree left turn.  After than it goes straight back and to the right.  That entire area is worth your time.  Also, there are two rock shores that separate Smith from Lake Lawson.  Everything passed those rocks are really good.  As noted though, let the fish tell you what they want.  Sometimes they play better in the back end of any cove, sometimes the fish on the main lake are more reliable.  That's the fun of this game, though.  My buddy and I didn't go there today.  We went to a private lake instead and found the crappie stacked up.  We kept just enough for dinner, but we had a bunch of crappie that weighed 1.5 lbs.  Jigs did better than minnows.  Oh yeah, I also caught a spawned-out female bass.  She was looking rough and probably only weighed around 7 lbs.  I would have liked to have caught her in the pre-spawn.

[iawl]

Greetings fellow bass enthusiast…

 

I realize this is a reply to an old post but I couldn’t resist not sharing some thoughts, as well as some very good experiences about this lake. I won’t belabor the points of hitting the banks and typical shoreline structure that smith affords as they’re proven tactics; however, there are other methods and they do include drifting off the banks during the summer season and onto the main lake sections and into a pile of BIG Fish.

 

Again, without writing an epistle here, here are some sound and proven points you may want to try. Speaking of points…when the wind (10plus) is up across the lake and after the sunrise hits 9:00am or so, look for the “slicks” across the lake and in the bays adjacent to major points. These are tell-tell signs of where the shad are and the birds typically confirm this by flying or diving over top. When I see this activity, I simply head out and dredge a crankbait (a foot or so deeper than the bottom) or maneuver a swimbait through the area at different angles until the first rap on the line signals they’re home.

 

In most cases these fish are suspended and are simply following the shad to wherever they roam. The key is patience and SLOW presentation of the swimbait. Get in front of the school (slick) and cast beyond them back into the wind swimming the bait up and then killing it on the edges of the slick –then watch the line carefully as it moves off or simply feels weightless – guess who’s on the other end? Important to note is staying off the trolling motor as much as possible (only to correct your angles) and let the wind push you back and away from the school – obviously staying within an overcast range.  

 

I’ve been doing this for over thirty years and most of which has been in isolation from my bank buddies as I depart from the shores after the morning bite. I’ve had allot of great numbers and size during the summer season during the late morning through the afternoon periods when my friends have all but given up while waiting for the evening shadows to appear. Also, when you get into a nice school, try the pop –r or a loud surface plug to entice the Alfa bass in the group or a Carolina rig on a 3 foot leader – each will get the big ones attention.

 

I hope this helps and hope to see you offshore sometime in the future.

   

[Rippinglipz]

Where exactly is the 8 foot spot in     Lake smith?

[ChazfromVA]

there is actually like 2 spots that deep in there. the pipe in the back has 12 foot of water in a bowl shape out in front of it

[Rippinglipz]

Oh okay and what about the other spot?

[Garrett]

I have been out to lake smith a few times this winter and I just can't have any luck. I have tried everything in my tacklebox from soft plastics to spinnerbaits to crank baits. I am fishing from shore. anyone else having any luck? is there a certain color they are hitting or is there a certain spot? why can't I catch anything? 

[Rippinglipz]

Winter time in lake smith is very tough especially this year. There is a private lake that is by lake smith that I fish all the time in my canoe and it has a lot of chain pickerel in it so if I'm not getting hit on a football jig then I'm giving  a crankbait a try because not only will the bass bite it but so will the pickerel. The fish this time of year are deep and they don't want to move too much so when you work your bait work them very slow. You won't get a lot of bites but if u do get one most of the time it's a lunker. Spring is right around the corner so once it hits the 1st of April try throwing a wacky rig the bass can't resist it.

[Garrett]

I'm mostly just looking for bass. are there any lakes in the Hampton Roads that are doing well this time of the year? 

[VAHunter]

Garrett, if you are looking for the most consistent action, find a pond near you.  Ponds are always the most reliable during tough fishing conditions.  As was noted, Lake Smith is a bear in the winter (and the dead of summer for that matter).  It's loaded with fish, but can be fickle.  If you can't get a boat, I would suggest using jigs around any structure you can find.  Fish either a black/blue or some type of green pumpkin.  You need to fish it slow.  When you think you are going slow enough, slow down even more.  Dead-sticking can work in Smith during the winter.

 

As for other lakes in the area, the water supply reservoirs in Suffolk all have great populations of bass.  However, shore fishing is very limited.  Your best bet from shore may be the Lone Star Lakes just off Rt. 58.  The other lakes out there really are not conducive to shore fishing.  However, my buddy caught a 9.71 lb. bass out of Prince last Sunday.  Fish are always biting somewhere.  Good luck when you get out there.