The Captain Guarantees You Will Catch Fish!
See The Captain's Guarantee Below.
Captain
Wendell
Dudley
The Captain's
Rates
Anglers
Half Day
Rates
1-2
Anglers
4 hrs
$300.00
3
Anglers
4 hrs
$325.00
4
Anglers
4 hrs
$350.00
5
Anglers
4 hrs
$375.00
6
Anglers
4 hrs
$400.00
Anglers
Full Day
Rates
1-2
Anglers
8 hrs
$450.00
3
Anglers
8 hrs
$475.00
4
Anglers
8 hrs
$500.00
5
Anglers
8 hrs
$525.00
6
Anglers
8 hrs
$550.00
What's Included
22 ft Center Console Boat
A Kid Friendly Business
Live Bait - Tackle- Fuel/Oil
Filleting of your Catch
Photo of your Catch
Photo Added To Website
What To Bring
VA State Fishing License A Small
Cooler with Refreshments
(if necessary)
Due to an increased volume of last
minute cancellations and no shows, a
deposit is required to reserve any
fishing charter.
The
Captain's Guarantee
The Captain Guarantees You Will Catch Fish.
If the Captain doesn't put a
Striper in the boat, the fishing trip will
be discounted 50%!!! Terms are subject to
change.
Call For
Complete Details
About Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake was created to generate
electricity, by the damming of the
Blackwater and Roanoke Rivers. The filling
process that began in 1963 and ended
almost 3 years later in March of 1966. Smith
Mountain lakes highest normal water level is
795 feet above sea level, which is full
pond There is typically very little seasonal
variation in the water level. The water
level fluctuates about 12-24 inches
daily. During the summer the water could get
as low as 5 feet. Even in these types of
conditions,you dont have to worry about
running aground in the main channel of the
lake.
Smith Mountain Lakes deepest point is at the
Smith Mountain Dam. ranging around 240 -
250ft feet. The average depth of Smith
Mountain Lake is about 60-90ft, but there
are many areas well over 100ft. Smith
Mountain Lake is a fairly deep
lake,producing cold water down deep, perfect
for Striped Bass, and many other species of
fish, like Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass,
Crappie,Sun Fish,Catfish,
Walleye,Muskie,Perch, and White Bass.
Smith Mountain Lake is known for Striped
Bass Fishing. You can go out anytime of the
year and catch Striped Bass on Smith
Mountain Lake. I would recommend that you
experience Striper fishing with a
professional Striper guide during your first
visit. I will show you the ropes of Striper
fishing on Smith Mountain Lake. When your
finished with your successful Fishing
Charter, you can then enjoy the rest of your
day,cruising the lake on a rented boat, from
Westlake Boat Rentals. It is a all in one
package, if you stay at the Westlake
Waterfront Inn.( Place to stay on Smith
Mountain Lake, Boat and Jetski Rentals,and
a Professional Fishing Charter Service).
Perfect for a Smith Mountain Lake get away!
Smith Mountain Lake has about 17,000-18,000
permanent residents. Three counties
surrounds Smith Mountain Lake, the three
counties includes the town of
Pittsylvania, Bedford, and Franklin.
The cities of Roanoke and Lynchburg are
located about 30 minutes away.
Smith
Mountain Lake is one of the largest citation
producing lakes for striped bass fishing on
the east coast! While fishing the 20,000+
acre lake, with Captain Wendell Dudley, you
can experience the fun of live bait fishing
for striped bass. I will share with you the
many fishing techniques used for making your
trip a success!
Striped Bass or Rock Fish are of significant
value as sport fishing. They have been
introduced to many water ways outside of
their natural range. Striped Bass were
introduced to Smith Mountain Lake in the
1960's and is one of the most sought after
fish in the lake. Because Striper are
stocked in Smith Mountain Lake, they are
known as "land locked" Striper. Land
locked striper have a hard time reproducing
naturally, but still continue the natural
spawn. Spawning takes place during the
spring of the year, April thru May.
Unfortunately, there is a slot limit of the
size Striper that are ale to be kept from
Oct 1st thru May 31st. The slot limit
requires that Striper between 26 to 36
inches are to be released during the months
mentioned. You are definitely still
able to enjoy the thrill of catching and
releasing fish of that size.
More Fishing
Information
When fishing
for Striped Bass, I generally use two types of live bait - -
gizzard shad or ale wives. I use gizzard a lot during
the spring to catch record size fish. When the water
warms up and the fish go deeper, I use ale wives. You
can catch both types of shad using a cast net. Gizzard
Shad can be caught during the day in the back of coves.
Ale Wives are to be caught at night where light shines on
the surface of the water. (refer to video).
During the
months of December, January, and February, I use a
combination of fishing methods using gizzard bait and ale
wives. The most successful way are down lines, which
consists of a 2 ounce sinker, swivel, 2 foot leader and a
lot circle hook. The second successful way are light
lines, which are rigged the same and down lines, but with a
3/8 ounce weight instead of a 2 ounce sinker.
During the months of March, April, and May, I fish top water
with gizzard shad using planer boards , free lines, and
float lines. Stripers feed near the surface on bait fish
that are in schools, (see video demonstrations on how to use
planer boards). Free lines are weightless--just a plain
swivel, 2 foot leader, and hook. Float lines are the same,
just take your free line and add a balloon or a RediRig
float to keep the bait on the surface of the water.
During the months of June, July and August, the water
temperature is warmer on top causing the Striper to go deep
in search of cooler water. The down line is the best method
to use so that you are able to get your bait deep enough
where the Stripers are located. Using the 2 ounce weighted
line, your bait will stay in one spot--not allowing it to
escape the Striper.
During the months of September, October, and November, the
water starts to cool off on top allowing the Striper to come
to the surface and feed on bait. Planers, free lines, and
float lines will produce fish for you.
Captain Wendell Dudley will
share with you all of these different methods of catching
Striped Bass. You can enjoy catching these fish , while also
learning the "how to" of mastering it for yourself!
Striper are mostly active at feeding during
the early morning and late evening.
Stripers feed off of shad, shiners and many
different types of small game fish.
The Lake
produces several different types of shad
such as Ale Wives, Gizzard Shad and Thread
Fin.
You
will be fishing out of a 22ft Polar Center Console,
using the latest technology and equipment for
striped bass fishing,
(Lawrence Fish finder, Minn Kota Trolling Motor,
Abu Garcia Reels with 7ft Ugly Stik Rods)
During the spring, before and after the spawn of striped bass,
you will find
Captain
Wendell Dudley
will often use Gizzard Shad, the
largest of the three types of shad. Using larger shad
will head you down the road to catching The Big One!
During the spring we will fish the surface using float
lines, freelines and Planer Boards. Using these methods
of fishing better your chances of catching the bigger striped bass
that patrol the shallows for bait.
As
the water temperatures rise striper
will go deep in search of cooler water which changes our
method of fishing.
As the water temperature cools
equally throughout Smith Mountain Lake
you will find fish in different depths of water.
All charters Are From the Westlake
Waterfront Inn.
If you stay at the hotel, you don't have to
to travel to meet the Captain.
It is all located together.
Smith Mountain Lake Weather
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