Visitor from NJ

[bassstalker]

Hello thanks for he forum, there is group of us 10 guys 5 bass boats will be heading down early November for the first time. We usually go to Lake Anna but this year decided to change it up go somewhere new. Our house we rented is near Bouy 30 and if anyone could give us some info on launches, costs that would be appreciated. Not sure what to expect as far as the bass fishing that time year but expact typical fall patterns to produce. We looking forward to great time at SML hope to make it an annual trip.

Thanks
Joe

[2 oars & a trash can]

our buoys are marked with a letter (or two) first that specifies which river or creek you are in . Then they number up going away from the dam.

Is your B-30? That puts you along ways from the alternative, R-30.

[hillbilly]

Probably R30 if he's renting a house

[mwardncsu]

Welcome Basstalker.

If you are on the Roanoke River arm, then there are a few options that are not too far from R30. There is a public ramp in the "Waterwheel" cove.

Hales Ford site

Located on the Bedford County side of the lake in Moneta, the 10-acre site built in 1984 typically operates at more than 90 percent capacity on summer weekends. It features one ramp with a courtesy pier. The paved parking lot has enough spaces for 12 vehicles with trailers, but there is a grassy overflow parking area.

Directions: Follow Virginia 122 to Hendricks Store Road. Turn right onto Timberwood Lane. Turn right onto Meadow Point Drive.

(check these directions - they rerouted some of the roads near the turn off 122, so I don't know if the road is still called Hendricks Store Rd or not)

However, it will be closed from today till Oct 14th - keep an eye on this to make sure they actually wrap up work on time....
www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=122§ion=maps


There is also a pay-ramp which is really nice that is on the other side of that cove and just off 122 on the Bedford Cty side of of the Hales Ford bridge. Behind the big blue building just across the bridge (or just before you get to the bridge depending which way you are coming).

www.smithmountainlakeboatyard.com/launch.htm


The State Park has a very nice pay ramp facility, though it is a little further down the lake.


Any others I'm missing folks?

[striperseeker]

I would suggest that you use the free fish and game ramp down by the water wheel.

You are coming at a good time to bass fish and even a better time to striper fish. If you are at R30 you want to look from there up stream to find the stripers. There will be schools of them from R30 all the way up to the top of the lake. The schools of stripers are usually under the fleet of boats trying to catch them. So go up stream and look for a bunch of boats with down lines and live shad on the down lines if you want to striper fish.

November is just about the best time of year on SML and I am sure you will enjoy your time on the lake.

[bassstalker]

Thanks everyone for the info sorry it is R 30 bouy we are staying at O'Neills Getaway on the lake north of the bridge. We are really looking forward to fishing the lake. We will be down Nov. 4th - 9th. I was down in VA visting a friend in Staunton back in June but never found the time to check the area out around SML.