Smith Mountain Lake in 3-D at today's water level. Spot 1 (wind-blown bank) is open for everyone; the other 6 come with LakeScope PRO. Full screen
Smith Mountain Lake today
Virginia · 27.4 sq mi · updated
Clear water, 62°F water, windy Friday (17 mph NW).
Where to stay near Smith Mountain Lake
- Foxsport Marina HotelHotel · by the waterSee prices
- Westlake Waterfront InnHotel · by the waterSee prices
- Halesford Harbour InnHotel · about 0.3 mi from the waterSee prices
- Lake InnHotel · about 1.5 mi from the waterSee prices
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rocky Mount/Smith Mountain LakeHotel · about 7.0 mi from the waterSee prices
- Hampton Inn & Suites Roanoke - DowntownHotel · about 7.3 mi from the waterSee prices
Prices and availability come from booking partners; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Water temperature map
7 places to stay on the map. Tap one for prices, or see the list and map.
Surface water temperature, .
Where the fish are today
84% Good chance for striped bass today · 14–32 ft deep
- Water 62°F on top, a bit cool for them, so they feed in the warmest water they can find.
- Best water today is 14–32 ft deep, mostly on channel edges.
- The lake is layered: warm water down to about 45 ft, cold below.
- Northwest wind at 17 mph pushes bait onto the southeast shore: try the wind-blown banks.
Best zone: channel edge, about 9% of them, 30–34 ft deep (the fish on the map above).
See the fish in 3-D Every fish, every zone and the heat map: LakeScope PRO.
Fishing spots
- 1Wind-blown bank
Today's northwest wind pushes bait into this bank across open water.
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
6 more spots with LakeScope PRO: fish, depth band, water temperature, best time and bait for each.
Picked from the shape of the lake bed. A guide, not a promise.
Best fishing times
Friday Fair
- 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm bestsunset, moon overhead · wind 15 mph
Saturday Fair
- 3:30 pm – 5:45 pm bestsunset, moon overhead · wind 16 mph
Based on sun and moon times and the wind forecast. A guide, not a promise. The app shows the whole week.
What's biting
- GoodStriped bass
Comfortable range. Watch for birds and surface feeding.
- GoodLargemouth bass
Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
- GoodSmallmouth bass
Prime range. Rocky points, humps and drop-offs.
- GoodCrappie
Active. Brush piles and docks in 8 to 15 ft.
From the water temperature and the season. A guide, not a promise.
Water level
No fresh view yet. No gauge on this lake. From the shoreline: steady since about a week ago.
Clarity and algae
Clear water No algae seen
Last clear view from above: .
Water temperature
At the surface, seen .
Ice
Open water
Estimate from weather and satellite, not a measurement. Check the ice yourself before going on it.
Weather and wind
Sunrise 6:55 am · sunset 5:09 pm · waxing crescent moon (lake time).
Recent catches
Shared by anglers in the LakeScope app. Spots are shown to about half a mile.
Get LakeScope on your phone
The whole week of bite times, lake alerts, the depth map and the 3-D view of Smith Mountain Lake.
