Smithville Lake

Type: Nontidal
Region: Eastern
Location: Smithville Community Park

On 12/28, I drove over to Smithville Community Park to target pickerel. The action started slowly, it took about an hour before I caught my first fish. I was casting 1/4 oz jig with a 4� blue/gray paddle tail. But that wasn�t producing, so I opted to troll the jig. The last time I fished Smithville I caught two fish while trolling, so it was a good idea to try it again. I caught one pickerel then a largemouth bass using the technique.

I then started casting on a flat that had old and dying lily pads and caught a pickerel and two bass. My buddy, Cliff, showed up about that time. He had worked his way down the lake fishing without success. I continued trolling and catching additional fish. Cliff ended up catching one 20� pickerel on a Ned rig.

The pattern proved productive, I would cast and troll the baits 50 or so feet behind the kayak with a slow steady paddle. The bait in the rod holder didn�t produce, only the rod I held and worked, twitching the rod tip on occasionally. I caught six pickerel between 20 to 22 inches and four LMB, 11 to 19 inches.