ESCAPE KEYS

Smith Mountain Lake, Va.

GETTING THERE: Smith Mountain Lake is near Roanoke, about four hours from Washington. Take I-66 west to I-81 south to Roanoke. Towns along the lake include Moneta, Goodview, Hardy and Penhook.

FIND A GUIDE: A half-day's fishing for striped bass with Shad Taxi (540-797-2528, http://www.theshadtaxi.com)/ is $225, plus tip, for one or two people. Each additional person, up to six total, costs $25. A full day's fishing for one or two people costs $400. Prices include live bait, tackle and other boating necessities. You'll need to bring rain gear and food.

Other guides offer similar services on Smith Mountain Lake, including Spike and Kathy Franceschini (Spike's Prime Time Fishin', Moneta, 540-297-5611, http://www.spikesprimetimefishin.com/ ); Daniel Berthiaume (Captain Bert's Fishing Charters and Waterfront Lodging, Hardy, 540-721-5788, http://www.captainbert.com/ ); Erik Fitzgerald (Rockfish Adven- tures, Moneta, 866-943-1125, http://www.rockfishadventures.com/ ); Fred Price Jr. (To Fish On Striper Guide Charters, 540-721-4442, http://www.tofishon.com/ ); Steve Fitzgerald (Rodbender Striper Guide Service, 540-297-1982, http://www.rodbender.com/ ); Dale Wilson (SML Guide Service, Huddleston, 540-297-5650); and Wendell Dudley (Indian Pointe Bait & Tackle, Hardy, 540-721-1159, http://www.indianpointebaitandtackle.com/ ).

THE RULES: You can fish for striped bass year-round, but you'll need a license. A nonresident freshwater five-day-trip fishing license costs $10. For Virginia residents, a similar license costs $5, available at local stores or from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (804-367-1000, http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/ ).

WHERE TO STAY: There's a wide range of lodging options, from house and condo rentals to clean, modest motel rooms. Rates go up on holiday weekends. Lodging at Westlake Waterfront Inn (2050 Morewood Rd., Hardy, 540-721-3307, http://www.westlake-waterfront-inn.com/ ) is $75 to $95 per room per night, depending on length of stay, through May 25. Another option is the Lake Inn Motel (45 Enterprise Lane, Hardy, 888-466-5253, http://www.lakeinnmotel.com/ ), where rooms run $65 to $85 a night, through May 25. There's also Campers Paradise (1336 Campers Paradise Trail, Moneta, 540-297-6109, http://www.campersparadise.com/ ), a combination motel and campground where rooms start at $89. Several of the guide services, including Captain Bert's and Spike's, also offer lodging as part of a package deal.

WHERE TO EAT: In Moneta, consider the home-style food at the Camper's Paradise Restaurant , especially for breakfast. For dinner, try Vieira's (2033 Morewood Rd., Hardy, 540-721-2058) for something more upscale in pasta, steaks and seafood; entrees run $11 to $25. For lighter fare, v Smith Mountain Coffee & Cafe (Westlake Towne Center, Hardy, 540-721-3737) serves specialty coffee drinks, salads and sandwiches; grab a quick lunch for under $10.

INFO: Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce , 800-676-8203, http://www.visitsmithmountainlake.com/ .