Where to start

[BillP]

On Charleston Lake Ontario

I vacation August 19 - 26 on this lake. I primarily fish for Lake Trout and take my grandsons panfishing. This year I am going to try Smallmouth fishing on this lake and also Lake St. Clair. I have a buddy who fishes on Lake St. Clair who is going to share with me his fishing spots. On Charleston Lake I will be on my own. This lake is a clear water lake. You can easily see the rocky bottom at about 25 feet. When I am there the surface water temp is always in the high 70's. 78F seems to be the average year after year. The lake is 9 miles long and about 4 miles wide at the widest area.  Most of the shoreline is like the pictures.

What areas would you begin Smallmouth fishing?

http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html#12.12/44.5362/-76.0718

[BigSkyBasser]

I would recommend starting with your strengths regardless of what they are and trying to locate fish that way. Personally I would target the islands closer to the deeper water and search for rock piles around them in water between 15-30 ft. I'm assuming this lake has Walleye in it as well. If you can strike a conversation with some of the local walleye fishermen, as they might be willing to let you know about some of the community humps and structure around there. The smallies should be just as prone to them. 

 

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating/mapOptions@15&key=uxunGdg~nM

[BillP]

Charleston Lake does not have Walleye. It has Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass and panfish. I have only fished for Lake Trout there.

My son wants me to try this smallmouth fishing so I am. It will give us some father/son time. My son fishes the Thames river in Chatham.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[Gundog]

Can't really pull up the Nav Charts so here is some advice for fishing northern lakes that time of year. Just general info, nothing specific. Early in the morning start in the back of any coves throwing top water baits. This is especially effective if the coves are choked with weeds. I like fast moving poppers like a chugbug. Coves are huge with smallies early in the day. Your pictures show steep dropoffs. Later in the day I really like to throw suspending jerkbaits or jointed rapalas in those areas. Also when I see rocks I always want to try a football head jig with a twin-tailed skirted grub. That's just from experience.  If there are any isolated islands or flats always give them a shot, mornings or evenings. Fish around them on all sides and fish the tops of them. 

For some reason I can pull up BigSky's nav. but not Bills so the advice is the same. Weedy coves in the early morning, don't forget about points around deep water. Buckhorn point by Soaf Island looks like a good drop off for later day fishing. 

[BillP]

Thanks Gundog

["hamma"]

 Considering the time of year? main lake points (if there are any) and adjacent areas

 topwaters in the morning

 crankbaits as the day wears on

 spinnerbaits in the wind

 jerkbaits, jigheads and grubs/spiders, dropshotting 4 inch worms, and even jigging spoons should work as well.

 

[fishnkamp]

My wife and I are smallmouth nuts. Because she is addicted to catching them, I get to vacation on places like Lake Erie and Dale Hollow. We have some nice reservoirs here in MD also.  Without seeing the lake that you will be fishing let me share some baits we use on all of them,  I never go anywhere clear water, or dirty tidal without some 5 inch grubs.  I like Kalin's Lunker grubs, as well as Yamamoto grubs.  In clear water watermelon red flake, white, smoke with salt & pepper all seem to work well at times. I even like the bluegill color.

Next, look at a hollow body swimbait like Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper, Keitech, or Strike King Swimming Caffeine shad. My preference is the Skinny Dipper and Big Dippers.  These can be fished in shallower coves with just a swimbait hook, they have the screw lock to hold the nose of the bait and then just texpose it in the rear.  For deeper water, a belly weighted swimbait hook can be used,   This is good down to say 10 feet of water.  Lastly companies like Picasso make lead headed fish head shaped swimjig heads.  I use 3/8 and 1/2 when fish are suspended under bait.  The deepest I have ever encountered was on a 100 foot flat on main lake. The bait was about 15 feet down and the 5 to 7 pound smallies were around 30 feet deep. Anyway I like those baits because they are so versatile.

 

Lastly,  if you find the fish on the deeper ends of points or rock piles a blade bait can be just as good as a spoon.  Baits like Cincy Fishers, Silver Buddies, Gay Blades all work. Since you may loose some if you are fishing them correctly, I like the Cincy Fishers, much more affordable and well made. 

 

One more tip is to go on Anglers Technologies and Navionics web app so you can study the lake ahead of time.  I use both of those anytime I am headed to a lake I have not been on and I want to make a game plan up.  Remember  a live minnow helps locate fish too.  Sometimes a slip bobber and a finesse style carolina rig with a minnow works wonders.

Enjoy your trip and share some pictures!  Smallies are soo much fun!

[BillP]

Thanks everyone

[Gundog]

I really hope all the advice helps you and your son have an enjoyable trip and don't forget to take lots of pictures and let us know how you two did.

[RoLo]

 

The best place to start is at the beginning, which is not meant as a joke, but implies 'Location'.

Without going into bromidic detail, most of the best holding sites are 'compression points',

where shallow and deep water are in close proximity (rock-bottom being a prerequisite).

 

Roger

 

[BillP]

19 minutes ago, Gundog said:

I really hope all the advice helps you and your son have an enjoyable trip and don't forget to take lots of pictures and let us know how you two did.

My son does not enjoy trolling for Lake Trout and is looking forward to Smallmouth fishing. Neither of us have fished for Smallmouth so it should be fun. I take a lot of pictures all the time whether I am at work or on vacation

On 2017-02-04 at 1:45 PM, BigSkyBasser said:

I would recommend starting with your strengths regardless of what they are and trying to locate fish that way. Personally I would target the islands closer to the deeper water and search for rock piles around them in water between 15-30 ft. I'm assuming this lake has Walleye in it as well. If you can strike a conversation with some of the local walleye fishermen, as they might be willing to let you know about some of the community humps and structure around there. The smallies should be just as prone to them. 

 

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating/mapOptions@15&key=uxunGdg~nM

That is a cool map. I don't have that equipment that shows the lake contours.

Thanks