Fontana Smallies

[NCgreenheads]

I am determined to catch a smallmouth. I have been up to Fontana Lake in the NC mtns one time and all I heard was smallmouth smallmouth...... Well I caught a lot of greenheads. No smallies. I am going back in October after they let the lake down. Since I was there in the summer the locals told me to wait till right a dusk or dawn to try and catch'em. Nada. They said wait till October when the lake goes down (20 - 50 down to prepare for snow melting I believe) and the smallmouth should be everywhere about anytime. Any advice, tips, tricks???? Thanks!!!!!!

[Randall]

It's been a long time since I fished the lake but I always caught more LM in the backs of creeks and more smallmouth around deep rock points, deep rock walls that drop straight down into deep water etc.  The farther out of the rivers and creeks you are the more SM you should catch.  

[IDbasser]

I am not familiar with lake, but one big difference between LM and SM are where they like to locate.  LM like cover, SM like structure.  Try fishing around rock piles, and where the rock size changes.  the smallmouth will be there.