Among the many Eastern Shore ponds, Smithville Lake stands out as one of the more productive waters, offering fly fishers with an assortment of fish species to target. Its populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and chain pickerel provide for year round fishing opportunities. During the winter months, fly fishers can cast for those toothy top predator chain pickerel even when the waters are too cold for other fish species. With the onset of spring and warmer temperatures, crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill will be on the menu with May being a peak time for catching some big bluegills. Your fly fishing tactics will change over the course of the summer and into the fall, but all four fish species can be caught in the lake during these months.  You can find some limited areas of shoreline from which to fly cast, but fly fishing is more productive if you are casting from a canoe, kayak, jon boat or some other watercraft.

Site Location

Located on the Eastern Shore in Caroline County, Smithville Lake is located just off of Route 404 near the Delaware state line, north of Federalsburg, Maryland.

Address

Noble Road, Federalsburg, MD 21632

How to Get There

Take Route 50 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, turning left onto Route 404 at Wye Mills. Continue on Route 404 until just before you cross over into Delaware at which point you take a right turn onto Noble Road. Within less than 2 miles, take a right hand turn into the parking area next to the lake.

Parking & Launching

Parking is located adjacent to the lake on a dirt lot. You can launch your boat using the gravel boat launch directly adjacent to the parking lot.

Boat Rentals

You can rent kayaks and paddleboards from Northern Choptank Adventures located at 204 North Main Street Greensboro, Maryland 21639.

Where to Fish

For the best fly fishing, you will need a boat, canoe or kayak as there is very limited shoreline fishing. Cast towards the shorelines, targeting down trees and brush in the water, and the outer edges of the lily pads.

What to Catch

  • Winter and Spring: Pickerel, crappie and yellow perch
  • Summer and Fall:  Largemouth bass and bluegill

What to Fish & How

Recommend bringing 4-6 weight fly rods with floating, intermediate and sink tip fly lines. Your fly selection should reflect the fish species you are targeting. For largemouth bass, recommend medium-sized poppers, Clouser minnows and other minnow imitations. For panfish, smaller size poppers, crystal buggers, and insect imitations with rubber legs. For pickerel and crappie, recommend Clouser minnows (red and white, yellow and red) and bendback minnows.

Fly Fishing Organizations

Connect with local fly fishing organizations to learn about mentoring opportunities and to connect with others interested in fly fishing.