Leesville below SML Dam

[thenextlevel]

I have heard several people talking about Stripers below the SML Dam. I know they run a frequent generation which I'm sure plays a major part in it. I am curious if it is worth the time to drive down there and launch a boat? I have also heard several people say it can be dangerous due to the generation. If any one has any advice I would greatly appreciate it

[mwardncsu]

Moved to section with Leesville reports

[ghostcomanche©®]

During spring and early summer, the stripers prefer the deeper water available throughout the lake (cooler water). You can catch them on most any part of the lake at this time.

During the hot summer, many of the Stripers will move to the upper part of the lake in search of the cooler water coming out of the bottom SML when they generate power.

Just prior to the bridge, and after the bridge, the lake gets really shallow (10 feet or less), and when the lake is down, it is shallower than that. If you take a boat above the bridge, you need to proceed very carefully as there is lots of trash, stumps and sand bars to deal with. This area of the lake, up to the dam is basically just a very big "flat.

I have never made it as far as the dam because of this, and when I did fish this area, I moved the boat at "idle speed" only. I think the closest I have come to the dam is approximately 1/2 mile, then basically ran out of boatable water.

There is one boat ramp near the bridge, right next to where the Pigg river enters the lake. It is just a slab of concrete down to the water, with no docks, and barely any parking in the dirt driveway. You have to run your boat up onto the bank to get in or out of the boat. When the water is down, this ramp is barely usuable, if usable at all. Because of the water fluctuation, you just never know when the lake is down to much, until you get there. It is really out in the boonies, and your vehicle and trailer security is non-existant, because of the remoteness. There are some folks who like to hang around the ramp area, drinking beer and whatever else they feel like doing.

I have caught a few stripers in this area, but nothing to brag about. To me, it's actually more trouble to get to and fish this area than it's worth.

If you launch at the Pigg River ramp, you will be right where you want to be to start fishing the very upper level. Once under the bridge, you can see the top of the dam. If you launch from the public ramp at the Leesville dam, it is a 26 mile run to the upper area.

Personally, if it were my first trip to Leesville, I would stay in the main body of the lake, and not take the chance of tearing something up trying to get to the skinny water. When fishing Leesville, you would use the same tactics and techniques as fishing SML. They are the same Stripers as SML, just seperated by the dam.

[stripercrazy]

I have lots of luck on tha rock bluff rite where tha pigg river comes out. Its best when they are generating power. But u need to be careful its alot of floating debris.

[thenextlevel]

Thanks for the replies. I usually try to catch them on the fly rod so if they are shallow that's a huge benefit to me. Also, my boat is a jet so shallow water isn't a deal breaker.

[striperseeker]

You should be alright with jet boat. I fished Leesville Lake for years with a small river boat and that worked out great. The couple of times I put in with a big boat resulted in damage to the boat every time. Things like a lost transducer. There is a lot of floating wood. The lake goes up and down a lot because it is a pump storage lake. This washes debris into the lake. On the plus side, it is a really beautiful lake pretty with almost no water skiers. If your boat is set up to run rivers, I would definitely give it a try.

[thenextlevel]

It's set up for river fishing. I've had it all over the James and new rivers. I'm gonna take a day and give it a shot below the dam. Thanks for all the advice and help!