| Smith April 2012 Fishing Report |
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| By AON Staff |
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Originally published in the April 2012 issue of AON
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Smith: Level: 0.7 feet below full pool. Temp: 66 degrees. Clarity: Clear.
Bass: Good. Rex Chambers said, “April on Smith Lake is the time of year that many anglers wait on all season. April means the deep, clear waters have warmed up from the winter’s chill, and once the chill has gone, it’s topwater time! This year’s April will be slightly different than in years past since March was more than just a little warm with several 80-degree days. April waters have already gotten the water temps up, and the topwater bite will be in full swing. The early morning bite in April is the best with schooling fish being abundant. Main-lake points and mouths of creeks are all but guaranteed to have a great topwater bite early. A variety of baits will fit the bill, such as Lucky Craft’s Sammy and Gunfish. Both these baits have been angler favorites for several years, and they produce year in and year out. Working these baits with a fast walk-the-dog action produces violent topwater strikes causing the schooling bass to attack it until it’s caught. April largemouths are also taken on top. Hit the shallows with Pop Rs and buzzbaits in the backs of the shallow pockets for nice catches of largemouths. The spawn is in its last stages this April, and postspawn females will be inhaling topwaters in the bushes and around shallow timber searching for easy meals after a long spawn.”
Stripe: Good. “Big baits and shallow water is the way to catch the biggest stripers,” reports guide Bill Vines. “The big stripers have moved up on the flats and creeks, and fishing large shad and large Redfins in shallow water is the best way to catch a 30-lb. or better striper. As the water warms, fishing early and late in the day will be your best times to fish.” Guide Brad Glenn said, “Some stripers are being caught on live bait from top to bottom. The mock spawning run is on, and many sows are up the creeks in shallow moving water. A good number of stripers are being caught around select dock lights at night using 1/2-oz. bucktail jigs. Everything has been biting good on Smith Lake. Alabama rigs are catching a lot of bass and stripers.”
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