[CatsNstripers]

Since May 2nd, my boat has been broke down and in the shop. I won some money in a Tournament, and it decided to take it plus more. Just like a woman! finally got the ole boat back this past thur, May the 20th. Had a shorted out stator, ....nice...

Anyways. I fished a tournament here on Smith mountain lake april30-may2. And did well. Held first place with a 21.8lb striper for the first 2 days, then bumped to 3rd on the final night. But also did make up for it with a 3rd place flathead weighing in a 27.2.

since the 20th. i've hitt he lake pretty hard and alot for flatheads. With a decent bite. I believe more flatheads are in spawn mode and scattered out big time! But we have had some decent action. The bite has been slow with out moving spots. But the fish we're catching are decent fish. Most of them up in the mid to upper 25lb range.

Some have came from live gizzard shad, but the past few trips, the fish have mauled a big bluegill or greensunfish and passed up on the shad. Focusing in water 2-12ft. No paticular area. But i am focusing on point and sec. points as well as undercut natural banks. This time of the year, i belive one should do well looking more for areas that would seem to be more suited to the flathead for spawning. Such as under cut banks, rip rap and rocks. And mulitple lay downs. Of corase one has to consider of bait fish nearby. A flathead wont hardly feed at all while laying, gaurding eggs. but i do belive baitfish around the spawning sites, increases the chance of a bite... Heres some pics and a video of my g/f brooke reeling in a nice flathead

Click the Youtube link for the video...

YouTube - Flathead catfish fishing

 

[CatHunterSteve]

Great report Travis! Sounds like you are having a lot of fun. I enjoyed the video as well! Thanks!

 

[keepitsimple]

Nice flathead for Smith mt. Thats the biggest I've heard of from there. Flathead spawn is about over here and moved out of the river, crappie guys bytchin about them trying to eat a crappie they trying to land.

 

[CatsNstripers]

The spawn must be a little later here, but not much longer. Theres some nice flatheads in smith mountain. Theres a super nice class of 30lb fish. Our biggest to hit the floor of the boat was 39lb's out of Smith mountain. And I know of a good number of fish into the 40's and one 50lber that a guy caught on a trotline, but the D.A. decided it'd be a smart idea to haul it to a pay pond and try to sale it, but she died on the way.. Shame...

 

[keepitsimple]

Spawn is pretty much done here, hearing reports of alot of nice catches just out of the rivers the past few days. Smith Mt can't be far behind. Those drag rippin boat draggers should be starvin.

 

[JPritch]

Thanks for the report Travis!

 

[Dallison]

you're a lucky man...she looks happy.
Thanks for sharing.
Good luck with the monsterseace:eace: these (more) icons are....?????weak:drink::liquor:....OK these 2 are funny

 

[screamnreels]

Thanks for the report Travis, looks like every time I have a chance to go something comes up. I'll get back on them shortly I hope.

 

[bengals97]

Hi Everyone,

I am heading down to SML to do some bass fishing and some night catfishing. I was wondering if there are any suggestions on areas I should stay near for some great catfishing.

I know shad seems to be the preferred bait are they hitting anything else?

In the past when I have fished the lake I have stuck to the cove areas with 8-12 feet of water is this still where they seem to be in the evenings?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Nice video and pics Travis. Made me feel home sick :smile-big:

Thanks,
Al

 

[TScottW99]

I fished Smith Mountain with a friend on Thrusday 6/24/10. We only caught one cat, a blue about 7 pounds off of a bluegill swimming under a Kat bobber. Had a couple more runs but no hook sets on live and cut bluegill. (cell phone pic)

 

[bengals97]

I fished Smith Mountain with a friend on Thrusday 6/24/10. We only caught one cat, a blue about 7 pounds off of a bluegill swimming under a Kat bobber. Had a couple more runs but no hook sets on live and cut bluegill. (cell phone pic)

View attachment 115357

Thanks for the heads up. Which end of the lake were you in closer to the Dam or the North End near the Bridge?

 

[TScottW99]

Fishing near the dam. First time I have fished that area, we launched from the state park.

 

[Red Bear]

i wasnt aware there were blue cats in smith mountain lake, ive never caught one out of there. what i would like to know is where are the flatheads at in SML. i caught some small ones last year during the spawn, but this year it was all channel cats during the spawn, and all were in the 2-4 lb range it seems. ive hooked one monster there in SML ironically while i was panfishing for fun off a dock with nightcrawlers. the bad part was i was using a zebco 33 i bought a day earlier and had left the factory line on there which was like 8lb test or something. it swam right at me when i was bringing it in, shot under the dock like a missle, i pulled it back out using the rod and it surfaced as it was rolling, the belly was over a foot wide, and then it snapped my line at the sinker...so angry. of course primarily being stuck to a dock there does not help my chances at all...

 

[CatsNstripers]

There never was a stock of blues ever put into Smith Mountain. But on occasion they do show up. I can only guess from the bucket stocker. Bringing a few to smith mountain from other bodies of water. I have personally caught a few, but no more than i have fingers. With the largest going at 26lbs. I have seen a 33lb blue caught and released some 6years ago or so. ALOT of people mistake channels for blues caught. More so of the color than anything else. Just as people mistake white perch for white bass. I've seen channels more bluer than the sky, white as ghost and black as night.

Theres also been some blues caught out of Philpot were they have never been stocked aswell..

The flatheads are there and doing good. Best advice i can offer you is fish shallow and try your efforts up either river arm, more so than the dam. From Gills creek and up river on the blackwater side, and Halesford bridge and up on the roanoke river side. Live bait and/or freshcut bait...