HUDDLESTON, Va. – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Piedmont Division will get its 2026 season started March 21 on Smith Mountain Lake. The lake is fishing very well, and with the event looking like it’ll time up with the spawn, expectations are high for big bags to cross the stage.
What to expect
Broderick Luckey of Lynchburg, Virginia, has been on a tear in the last two years, winning five BFL events – three of which came on Smith Mountain Lake. He said that the lake is fishing very well and that anglers should expect big things.
“Smith Mountain is fishing better than it ever has in the past few years, and with the warming weather, the fish should be biting,” he said. “I would say a lot of different techniques will be on the table, and I could see this event being won in less than 5 feet of water, targeting suspended bass in 30 to 50 feet and anywhere in between. There will be plenty of options to choose from.”
Luckey said the spawn is almost here, and paying attention to the weather in the days leading up to the event will be critical.
“We have some impending cold fronts in the area that could keep the fish from being locked onto beds, but they should be very close to where they eventually spawn,” he said.
Two things to consider are when to use forward-facing sonar given the new rule limiting anglers to three hours with the technology during the event and where to start on the lake. Luckey said both are pretty straightforward.
“The way the lake is fishing right now, the entirety of the lake is capable of producing a winning bag,” he said. “As far as forward-facing sonar, I’d absolutely say to use it right when you start your day. Those offshore fish like the low-light window, and that’s where you are going to have your best shot at getting them to bite.”
Baits to bring
Forward-facing sonar will be a factor in this one, so your favorite jighead and minnow combo is a must, according to Luckey. Other baits to pack include jigs for picking apart cover and a large, harnessed or line-through swimbait for covering water.
What will it take?
Luckey reports that almost every recent local event on the lake has taken between 22 and 25 pounds to win, and he expects the same in this BFL. To cash a check, somewhere in the mid-teens should do it, but he believes it could be even higher with the right conditions.