Smith Mountain Lake Water Level
Appalachian Power (AEP) · Virginia
Latest reading Oct 26, 12:45 PM · elevation · daily report
Smith Mountain Lake is 4.3 ft below normal full pond today (790.73 ft vs 795.00 ft).
Water level chart
ft above sea levelThis operator publishes only the latest reading. We save one reading a day, so the chart will fill in over the coming days (history since Oct 26, 2026).
Smith Mountain Lake fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETLake 4.3 ft below normal full pond, calm wind, pressure falling — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:41 AM–8:41 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 70°F / low 46°FSunny
- WindCalm1–5 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 7
- PressureFalling-0.14 inHg 6 AM → 6 PM
- Level4.3 ft below normal full pondNo 24-hour level change available
Main species
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Striped bass
- Crappie
- Catfish
Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources — species sections of the “Fishing” overview, as published on the Virginia DWR Smith Mountain Lake page.
Official Virginia fishing forecast: Virginia DWR — Fishing forecasts & reports
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:36 AM · Sunset 6:26 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:25 PM–2:25 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:41 AM–8:41 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:01 PM–7:01 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:25 PM–2:25 PM Minor 7:41 AM–8:41 AM · 6:01 PM–7:01 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph · pressure falling |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:53 AM–2:53 AM · 1:23 PM–3:23 PM Minor 8:56 AM–9:56 AM · 6:44 PM–7:44 PM Light wind 4–6 mph · pressure steady |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:54 AM–3:54 AM · 2:25 PM–4:25 PM Minor 10:11 AM–11:11 AM · 7:37 PM–8:37 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:58 AM–4:58 AM · 3:30 PM–5:30 PM Minor 11:21 AM–12:21 PM · 8:40 PM–9:40 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:02 AM–6:02 AM · 4:34 PM–6:34 PM Minor 12:21 PM–1:21 PM · 9:50 PM–10:50 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:04 AM–7:04 AM · 5:34 PM–7:34 PM Minor 1:10 PM–2:10 PM · 11:03 PM–12:03 AM Light wind 2–6 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:02 AM–7:02 AM · 5:29 PM–7:29 PM Minor 12:50 PM–1:50 PM · 11:16 PM–12:16 AM Light wind 2–7 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the lake level is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · level within ±0.25 ft in 24 h +1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 37.04, -79.54 (moon times from astronomical equations, Smith Mountain Lake local time).
Weather & wind at Smith Mountain Lake
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon70° / 46°SunnyWind NW 1 to 5 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday73° / 48°SunnyWind N 6 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday68° / 50°Partly SunnyWind NE 5 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 37.041, -79.536 (grid RNK), issued Oct 26, 11:00 AM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Leesville Lake8 mi · Lake602.64 ft−10.36 ft vs normal full pond
- Philpott Lake33 mi · Lake · Philpott Dam near Philpott970.67 ft−3.33 ft vs top of power pool
- Hyco Lake45 mi · Lake407.60 ft−2.90 ft vs normal full pond
- Hyco Lake at Dam near Roxboro45 mi · Lake · Dam near Roxboro7.85 ft24h −0.01 ft
- Afterbay Reservoir47 mi · Lake · Dam near McGehees Mill363.95 ft−11.39 ft vs normal
- Mayo Lake51 mi · Lake432.40 ft−1.60 ft vs normal full pond
About this data
- Source
- Appalachian Power (AEP)
- Location
- 37.0414, -79.5356 · Virginia
- Measures
- Reservoir water-surface elevation, feet above sea level (NGVD29)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 12:45 PM local time (daily report)
- History
- 1 days on file since 2026-10-26
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Normal full pond
- 795.00 ft — Appalachian Power (AEP)
Source: Appalachian Power (AEP) (official page). Operator data is preliminary and may be revised. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.