NewB to Lewis Smith Lake

[BigEbass]

So, I am going to Lewis Smith lake this weekend for my first time.  I have marked a number of points both main and secodary in creek arms off the main lake, marked especially ones with creek beds nearby or docks on or nearby and plan to work points from top to bottom and find the magic depth.  Also plan on keeping an eye out for baitfish...seems like the LM, spot, and/or striper cannot be far from the bait in this lake.  Plan on trying a couple huddleston 6 inch swimbaits, heavy spinner baits, and possibly shaky head or drop shot.  Oh and top water - may get my first top water of the year perhaps - oh yeah

Will probably find a few nice shallow flats (although upon my review of the topo map - there didnt seem to be many at all) and fish those.

Any generally useful tips for me - I am also breakin in my HB998 for the first time that day - I plan on not messing with it too much to distract me from fishing, will take it out sunday and just tinker with it without much fishing.

My neighbor said the water level is pretty low there right now, which confused me cause we have had plenty of rain, but anyway, not sure how that will factor into my search - I figure if I work those points and docks from top to bottom I will find the fish - any suggestions from those who have experience there would be great - thanks.

[Bamajoker]

We had luck this time last year throwing top water real early in the morning catching spots working the shelves ( you can see a shelf in 15 foot of water from across the d**n lake.)

Smith lake is super crystal clear and very deep.

water there is only down .5ft 

http://www.smithlake.info/Level.asp

[BigEbass]

YES - I am hoping for that topwater bite on this trip!!  I thought my neighbor may have been mistaken - thanks for the info and the website - very useful!  I have heard it is very clear for sure - cant wait to try it out - will use LONG casts.  I hope I see some big ones following my baits, or even that take my baits  ;D

[powerman970]

The best action we have had on top lately was on Lay last weekend.  I was throwing a weightless Fluke and waking it across the top with a steady retrieve and they were crushing it.  Mostly small bucks that had already moved up and were eating anything they came across but it was fun.

[Clark Stewart]

My wife's uncle fishes BFL out of Falkville/Hartselle - he's a Smith Lake guru. I'm helping him practice tomorrow for the BFL tourney on Weiss Saturday. I'll ask him where and what, and post back as soon as I can.

This time last year we were fishing the backs of creeks using jigs mostly. Rock creek (don't ask me where anything is on that lake - I've fished it 3 times and it's so big I can't tell a creek mouth from the main lake) produced for us. Basically points and the backs of creeks would be where I spent my time. Any point you can find that goes from the bank out to 40 or so feet of water with brush on it at various depths will work. I wouldn't concentrate on the boat docks too much because the vast majority of them are floating docks hovering over super deep water - some with structure nearby some without. If you must fish a dock then find one with brush around it over ledges - the floating dock themselves this time of year aren't gonna draw too many fish since they're looking for warmer water not cooler. Don't be afraid of the creeks - they never really end - they just kind peter out to something you can't get a boat in, and I'm talking like miles back.

Smith is beautiful, and incredibly deep. If you don't get a single bite you can at least leave jealous of the upper crust who retire there! I swear one of those houses looks like UA's president's mansion x2. You can see the lantern's on the front porch for miles.

Wife's uncle has a friend who dives there who found a gas station in 90 feet of water with the pumps still intact. There was still some old cans of food on the shelves but he got nervous when he saw some of the fish swimming around the store - big big fish. Visibility is usually around 10-15 feet deep as I recall.

[BigEbass]

Clark - your communication with this "guru" will be MUCH appreciated.  I feel pretty good about this weekend - I have fished there one time before and caught 4 small spots - it really is a beautiful lake.

Indeed - I have already been obsessing over the topo maps on my gps unit and marked waypoints on many tapering points EXACTLY as you said, that is tapering down to 30-50 feet - most of these types of points seem to be further back away from the main lake as you stated in the creek arms - the main points on the river drop off really fast and really deep - but I havened ruled those out - will try 4-5 of em too for good measure. 

I got about 100 nice looking points and have found a good number of them with intersection with submerged creek bed and other good looking spots on spots - cant wait to get out there and hit it.

The houses there are freakin ridiculous - its very beautiful!! 

Hope to hear from you soon - thanks so much - any other advice greatly appreciated.

[powerman970]

Clark, please either get with me on here or through my site.  I need someone to show me some of Weiss for my ABA up there in June.  Would you be willing to do it?  I'll bring the boat and come up if you'd be willing to just spend a day fishing with me up there.  I fish Neely often but have never fished Weiss.