Smithville Lake Fishing Report 
Dec. 30 2011

The lake is closed to all boat traffic north of the W boat ramp. That is the Trimble Wildlife area is closed until the end of January.

 Lake Level: 863.8 ( Normal 864.2).    Outflow 500cfs.   They are letting the lake down to approx. 862.7 for the winter draw down.       

Water temp: 39 degrees.   The Smithville Lake habitat restoration project should make significant improvements to the fishing structure in the lake in 2012,  Through grants received by the Department of Conservation and help from the Corp of Engineers and Clay Co Parks several (5 or 6)  large rock piles and some scattered bolder fields are going to be added to the lake as well as more brush piles.  The goal is to have over 100 brush piles in the lake.   Under the guidance of Conservation agent Scott Stephens and with help from volunteers these brush piles and other fish attractors should make a positive impact on our fishing at Smithville lake.  If you would like to be involve just e-mail Scott at Scott.Stephens@mdc.mo.gov    He will add you to the mailing list so you can be notified as to when and where the project will take place.  Most of  the new structure is located in the area of the main lake from the dam to Little Platte cove and the mouth of  Campbranch.  We will have the GPS coord. posted soon. 

 Crappie: Good:    The winter crappie fishing is in full swing.  The fish are in the brush piles and around the marinas.   The last few days have been more difficult.   The fish are 12' to 15' deep just over the top of the brush.  My favorite jig is pink and chartreuse slab buster of bass assassin.  Had my wife and sister-in-law out on Dec. 29th.  The Christmas tree piles along the road in the Cambranch Branch marina area were our  best spots.  White bass and crappie were both abundant.  The piles in the Litton center area as well as the normal Sail boat cove and shady hollow are putting out fish.

  Christmas trees and brush piles GPS coord.  below.  NEW coord. coming soon.

BASS: No report         

CATFISH: No report 

White Bass: Good:  The white bass are especially good in sailboat cove along the bluff on the south side of the cove.  We  also caught several inside the no-wakes at Campbranch marina.        

Walleye:  The crappie fisherman are starting to catch a few on crappie jigs around the docks at the marinas.