Smith Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. The deep clear water and the picturesque shorelines are unmatched in North Alabama. Living in those waters are numerous spotted bass, some of the meanest fish in any water. The potential exists to catch a five or six pound spot anytime you make a cast on Smith Lake. The tactics for Smith are mostly finesse, as it is an excellent place to hone your drop shot or shakyhead techniques. Smith is also a great topwater and crankbait lake. The best times for Smith are spring, winter and fall in the daytime, and at night in the summer. I have spent hundreds of nights on Smith Lake catching spotted bass and do offer night trips. Here are some of my go to baits for Smith Lake’s spotted bass.
Winter: 1/2 oz Jig, 1/2 oz Hopkins Spoon, Bill Norman Deep Little N, Storm Wiggle Wart.
Spring: 1/4 oz Shaky head with zoom trick worm, 1/4 oz War Eagle Spinnerbait, Bill Norman Deep Little N.
Summer: Super Spook and Super Spook Junior, shaky head, 3/4 oz Football Jig, Bill Norman DD22, 1/2 oz War Eagle Spinnerbait.
Fall: Shaky Head, 1/2 or 3/4 oz War Eagle Spinnerbait, Spook, Spoon.
I like shad colors for crankbaits and spinnerbaits with a little chartreuse mixed in somewhere and watermelon red or green pumpkin for plastics. At night i use black for plastics and spinnerbaits.
