Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.

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Overview

Smith Mountain Lake was the focus of a lot of attention last weekend as Bassmaster Elite pros were in town. This weekend the lake will get even more fishing attention from the hundreds of amateur anglers fishing in the 41st annual Cave Spring Optimists Club tournament.

Water temperatures at the lake have really climbed the past week, reaching 70 degrees in some areas. The warming water has triggered the annual alewife spawn, with the fish moving onto the banks at nightfall and the predators not far behind.

Anglers fishing plugs after dark will play a big role in the tournament, no doubt. Contestants who want to be in play for several species can do worse that fish with live alewives.

Bragging Rights

Jason Adams and Zack Peasley won this past weekend's Dogwood tournament at Claytor Lake with an eight-ball catch totaling 29.31 pounds.

Lakes

Guide Dwayne Lamb at Captain's Quarters Marina reports that night fishing for stripers and bass at Smith Mountain Lake has been good between about 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Lamb said 7-inch-long floating Rapala plugs in the Vampire color have been his go-to lures for stripers, but reports that he's hearing Thundersticks are also working well.

Some bass are still on beds, where finesse worms on shaky head jigs are productive.

Crappies, including some over 2 pounds, are abundant in shoreline brush at 5-8 feet.

Bass fishing has been good at Claytor Lake, reports John Zienius at Big Z's tackle shop in Radford. Bass are on beds so many anglers are sight-fishing.

John Hundley at Southeastern Outdoor Supplies in Martinsville reports good crappie fishing at Philpott Lake and private ponds. He said bass fishing has also been solid at Philpott.

Streams

Trout fishing remains good in stocked streams.

Water levels are excellent on the New River, but smallmouth bass action has quieted down somewhat, reports John Zienius.

Wes Hensley at H&H Outdoors in Buchanan said that smallmouth fishing has been fair on the James River, with soft plastics producing a few fish topping 3 pounds.

Saltwater

Tautog action has been great around structure in the lower Chesapeake Bay, reports Julie Ball, but flounder fishing has been spotty. The trophy striper season opens Friday.