Spotted and Smallmouth Bass

[BassObsessed]

Does anyone know or have first hand experience of any lakes in the southeast that have decent size spotted bass and smallmouth in the same bow?

[WRB]

Smith Mountain lake has LMB, Smallmouth and Spotted bass as I recall. We have all 3 bass species in Shasta lake CA...

Tom

[Logan S]

28 minutes ago, WRB said:

Smith Mountain lake has LMB, Smallmouth andxSpotted bass as I recall.

Tom

No Spots in SML, at least that I've ever caught or heard about.  Largemouth also far outnumber smallmouth, but there are plenty of smallies to catch for sure.  Claytor Lake in SW VA (close-ish to SML) does have LM, SM, and Spots.  

 

Lake Gaston has a growing population of spotted bass, enough to actually target them now.  Even though you'll catch a smallie every now and then at Gaston, I wouldn't say it's a 'fishable' population of them....So it's really just LM/Spots

 

I think Lake Jocassee in western SC might be your best bet...I'm reasonably sure there are fishable populations of all 3 species, but no first hand knowledge.  Keowee might be an option too, but not sure if smallies are as numerous.  

[RoLo]

 

For spotted bass, you'd be real hard pressed to beat Lake Lanier, Georgia.

I fished Lanier extensively when I lived in Rico, GA (superb striper fishing to boot)

 

Roger

[BassObsessed]

Thanks for all the responses. Keep em coming . Lanier sounds good but didn't find any info that it holds smb.

[RoLo]

31 minutes ago, BassObsessed said:

Thanks for all the responses. Keep em coming . Lanier sounds good but didn't find any info that it holds smb.

 

I've never caught a smallmouth bass in Lake Lanier, but found it par excellence for spotted bass.

Until California transplants got into the act, the spotted bass shootout for many years

was between Lewis Smith, Al and Lake Lanier, GA (Smith was the former world-record holder).

Over time though, Lewis Smith passed its peak, while Lake Lanier continued its uptrend.

If you were in the market for quantity (I know you're not), Logan Martin, AL is a top contender.

 

PS

If you want smallmouths in the deep south, Pickwick Lake is your man  (Wilson for numbers)

 

Roger

[TnRiver46]

Every lake in Tennessee has both I would guess, definitely in East Tennessee. Watauga would probably be your best bet for trophy smallmouth and lots of decent spots right now. Parksville on the ocoee is where they keep breaking the spotted bass state record but not as many smallmouth. Nickajack in Chattanooga has big smallies and spots (and LM), the smallies and spots seem to stay closer to the top end of it for the most part. Cherokee and Norris have a decent population of both species 

[38 Super Fan]

A lot of the lakes I fish have all three species in good numbers, but "decent size spots" can be tricky. I catch quite a few little ones though.

[visagelaid]

Im pretty sure you can catch spots and smallies in the western Tennessee River impoundments... Wilson and Wheeler for sure.

[JigMaster4]

Lake Cumberland in Ky has all 3 that grow to good size, along with Green River. I have caught all 3 species in both lakes.

[BassObsessed]

Thanks for all the input. I'm hearing good reviews on Lake Lanier like mentioned above and Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama.

[Looking for the big one]

North Georgia has lots of untapped potential for big spotted bass. Lake Burton and Carter's have started to surpass Lanier for trophy Spots. I cannot speak much for Smallmouth, however I know that Tennessee is known for producing some nice smallies.

[KHNC]

14 hours ago, Looking for the big one said:

North Georgia has lots of untapped potential for big spotted bass. Lake Burton and Carter's have started to surpass Lanier for trophy Spots. I cannot speak much for Smallmouth, however I know that Tennessee is known for producing some nice smallies.

Ive caught stud Spots in Burton as long as 20 years ago. Id say now that it must have some true giants in it. LM were always huge in there as well. No smallies in that lake i know of. Fontana has big spots on the lower end and Smallies all over the lake. 

[Looking for the big one]

Shhhhh..... 

I've always had difficulty catching the big largemouth. What technique do you use to catch them, they turn down everything I've thrown at them.

[buzzed bait]

you'll be hard pressed to find a lake around here that can support a healthy population of all 3.  in GA, smallmouth are few and far between, period.  most lakes around are either predominately spots or larges, but not a lot have a healthy mix of both.  lake fontana in NC is likely the best bet to find all 3 in the same body of water, but that's one tough lake!!

[TnRiver46]

Caught several of all 3 species on the Tennessee river only a couple miles from downtown knoxville last night after work 

[BassObsessed]

I'll probably target lakes with bigger spots and save the smallies for another time ( which will be soon).

[spencer12]

Lake Lanier in Georgia is a great spotted bass fishery.  Some of Georgia's mountain lakes have both species but to my knowledge the spotted bass have wrecked havoc on our native bass. 

 

I'd say your best bet for a trophy of both species in the same lake would probably be in a Tennessee or North Alabama lake.  However I don't know the best locations for them.