Bites May Be Few, But Fish Are Big For Smith Mountain Lake Catt Final

The bass are not jumping into the boat at Smith Mountain Lake, but when you get a bite, it’s a good one, said Brandon Reynolds who teamed with his brother-in-law Ben Reynolds to win the points title in the Carolina Anglers Team Trail Fall series.

“The Fall Final Saturday should be a good one,” Reynolds said. “We are getting six or seven bites a day, but we average weighing in 15 to 16 pounds for five fish.”

Reynolds said the fish are not really into a winter pattern yet.

“They are still relatively shallow, 5 to 10 feet, and the water temperature is about 52-53 degrees.”

Top baits are a crankbait and a jig this time of year, depending on conditions, he said.

“If it’s a little rough we throw a crankbait; it it’s calm and smooth we are pretty much working a jig.”

The Reynolds brothers-in-law – “Ben is from a different set of Reynolds,” Brandon said – sandwiched a 6th place and a 3rd place between two first places Sept. 27 and Nov. 29 to claim the points championship. With that title they get free entry into the Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifying Tournaments in 2015, said CATT owner/director Brett Collins.

Collins also announced CATT will hold a Smith Mountain Spring Trail and an early Fall Trail that will run August through November.

“The Smith Mountain Lake teams entering the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 Trails will be eligible for the North Carolina CATT Championship next May on Kerr Reservoir,” Collins said. “First place in the championship, with at least 150 teams, will be from $8,000 to $11,000.”

Collins said he expects the Smith Mountain Lake CATT to grow considerably in 2015.

“We will have some Lew’s Reels to give away and possibly some Academy Sports Gift Cards, plus we will offer money to Skeeter owners,” he said.

 

CATT Final on Smith Mountain Lake

Saturday, Dec. 13

Penhook Ramp

Call: Brett Collins, (803) 413-7521

http://www.catttrail.com/