Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake sits on the Roanoke River southeast of Roanoke. It is known for striped bass and for largemouth bass that draw major tournaments.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Striped Bass
Fish the lower main lake in summer with live bait on down lines.
Largemouth Bass
Coves produce best because they are shallower and see less boat traffic.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Crappie
Fish docks and brush in the creeks in spring.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Crappie |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Smith Mountain Lake State Park rampFeeVirginia State Parks, Huddleston; park entry feeDirections ↗
- Hales Ford Boat LaunchPublicPublic ramp off Meadow Point Dr, Moneta, near marker R29Directions ↗
- Scruggs Boat LaunchPublicPublic ramp at 1755 Dudley Amos Rd, Moneta, at marker B12; fishing pierDirections ↗
- Penhook Boat LaunchPublicPublic ramp off State Rte 966, Penhook; fishing pierDirections ↗
- Hardy Ford Boat LaunchPublicPublic ramp off Hardy Rd near marker R87 on the upper Roanoke armDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Virginia DWR or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass Only 2 of 5 bass may be under 14 in (2026 digest) | See Virginia rules book ↗ | 5 / day combined |
| Smallmouth Bass Only 2 of 5 bass may be under 14 in (2026 digest) | See Virginia rules book ↗ | 5 / day combined |
| Striped Bass Jun-Oct: no length limit. Applies to lake and tributaries | None; Nov 1-May 31 no fish 30-40 in | 2 / day combined |
| Crappie Statewide rule; no lake exception listed | See Virginia rules book ↗ | 25 / day combined |
| Channel Catfish Statewide rule; no lake exception listed | See Virginia rules book ↗ | 20 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Indian Point MarinaNearby2031 Morewood Dr, Hardy, VA(540) 721-1175Directions ↗
- Smith Mountain Lake Sporting GoodsNearby14600 Moneta Rd Ste 5, Moneta, VA(540) 297-7050Directions ↗
- Bay Rock MarinaNearby8360 Hardy Rd, Hardy, VA(540) 890-2194Directions ↗
Local tips
- Striped bass from 30 to 40 inches must be released from November through May.
- The daily limit is 2 striped bass all year.
- Avoid summer catch and release of stripers, since many released fish die in warm water.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Smith Mountain Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.