Smith River (Lower)
Fishing, stocking, and current conditions
Rainbow trout water; 11 stockings on the 2026 record, spread January to October, heaviest in April. A USGS gauge reports from this water, so the conditions card on this page is live, water temperature included.
Henry County · Virginia · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 5 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Jan 20 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Feb 18 | Rainbow trout x 2 sections | catchable | completed | |
| Mar 11 | Rainbow trout x 2 sections | catchable | completed | |
| Apr 9 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Apr 14 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Apr 29 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| May 19 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Oct 13 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed |
When to fish Smith River (Lower)
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:56-11:56 am and 10:19 pm-12:19 am | 4:13-5:13 am and 4:30-5:30 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:42 am-12:42 pm | 5:18-6:18 am and 4:57-5:57 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Stocked 10 days ago (Oct 13)
- Water 52 °F, prime coldwater range
- Flow 57% of the seasonal median
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Virginia fishing forecast
Gear for this water
Stocked within the last three weeks: fish are still bunched near the release points and keyed on familiar smells. The gauge reads 52 degrees, prime coldwater temperature; fish confidently through the day.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 11 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Small jerkbaits | floating minnows in the 2 to 3 inch class for the deeper bends |
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
| Light spinning rod | 5 to 6.5 ft light or ultralight; short rods cast under branches |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| South Mayo River (North Fork) | 14 mi | Oct 19 |
| Kernersville Lake NC | 30 mi | 2026 season |
| Winston Lake NC | 36 mi | 2026 season |
| Salem Lake NC | 36 mi | 2026 season |
| Hyco Lake NC | 36 mi | 2026 season |
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