Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir on the headwaters of the Roanoke River near the city of Roanoke. Smith Mountain Lake is heavily used for recreational boating and fishing. There are 17 public boat ramps and a very popular state park located on the lake. There is a large professional bass tournament held annually on Smith Mountain Lake.
Participants travel from all over the country to compete, and bring their own boats in on trailers.
The pH of Smith Mountain Lake in the summer ranges from 7.6 - 9.1. The calcium level of Smith Mountain Lake is about 15 - 17 ppm. Adult zebra mussels, which frequently have been found attached to boats and trailers in areas where the mussels thrive, can live outside of the water for two to three days under certain environmental conditions.