• THE DALE HOLLOW FISHING REPORT

    StriperFun and Tennessee Walleye Charters
    (931) 403-2501 http://www.striperfun.com captainjim@striperfun.com
  • Specializing in "Trophy" fishing as the owner of StriperFun Fishing Guide Service in KY and TN and TN Walleye Charters, Captain Jim Durham is a licensed guide who has fished the Cumberland Plateau and KY and TN year round for over 50 years. Captain Jim is a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Captain and is the creator of the “Striper Fish like a Pro” instructional DVD series as well as his own line of fishing lures.

  • THE DALE HOLLOW FISHING REPORT

    THE DALE HOLLOW FISHING REPORT

    Provided by Captain Jim Durham - Owner Tennessee Walleye Charters Fishing Guide Service on Dale Hollow and the Cumberland River, StriperFun Guide Service (on Lake Cumberland, the Cumberland River, Tims Ford Lake, Cherokee Lake and the Clinch River), Superbaittanks.com, Captain Jim Marine Electronics & Captain Jim Lures

    DATE OF REPORT: September 24th, 2020

    · Latest water temperature: 76.6 ° F surface (Willow Grove Dock): September 24th, 2020
    · The lake currently has an elevation of 643.27 above sea level.

    Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

    As our season on Dale Hollow is ending for 2020, I wanted to say "thanks" to all of our great customers! Our guide Jeff Brown is unbeatable and is one of the best Dale Hollow Walleye fisherman of all time! So far in the 2020 season on Dale Hollow alone, we have caught over 350 Walleye!

    ABOUT TENNESSEE WALLEYE CHARTERS

    Tennessee Walleye Charters offers fishing for Walleye, Musky, Bass and Crappie on Dale Hollow Lake! Dale Hollow Lake is located on the Kentucky / Tennessee border. Dale Hollow is a deep cold-water lake that is known for the world record smallmouth Bass. A little-known secret is that Dale Hollow Lake also has a huge population of Walleye and Crappie as well as a few huge Musky!

    Our Walleye and Crappie guide Jeff Brown has 30-years’ experience on the Walleye and Crappie and as the owner Captain Jim Durham does the Musky charters. Our Bass guide is Mike Casada, a well-known tournament Pro and creator of many of the lures used on the B.A.S.S. circuit.

    We are the only Dale Hollow Lake charter company that specializes at night Walleye fishing.

    See below a nice Dale Hollow Walleye and Crappie stringers!



    The Walleye fishing begins in April through the spring and summer until the end of October. We mostly troll or fish under the lights at night but also provide bottom bouncing worm trips during the days beginning in June until the end of the season.

    We also troll homemade crank baits around the full moon (3 days before the full moon – the full moon night and 3 days after the full moon). We are also “smoke them” doing spoon jigging trips at night!

    THESE FULL MOON TROLLING TRIPS ARE ULTRA POPULAR AND BOOK UP SOMETIMES UP TO A YEAR IN ADVANCE. Many of these limited dates for next summer 2021 are already gone! If you want in on this for 2021 - night action on Dale Hollow you need to book now as again, there is “very” limited availability on night trips.

    Call us SOON at 931-403-2501 to book our Walleye trips or you can go to our Tennessee Walleye Charters page to book: https://www.striperfun.com/tennessee-walleye-charters/

    The Crappie run is June and July.

    The Musky fishing is offered year-round, but better in cold weather.

    Tennessee’ Walleye Charters offers Muskie charters on Dale Hollow. Muskie are a very elusive fish, known as the fish of 10,000 casts. And although they are not caught as often as Walleye on Dale Hollow, they are an extremely cherished and revered trophy fish! Dale Hollow holds the record for the most Muskie caught over 50 inches, held by my dear friend EC Reagan who recently passed away. I am blessed that he shared with me his techniques, lures and honey holes. Since the Muskie in Dale Hollow have to be 50 inches long just to keep one, this keeps the population of huge fish healthy and protected

    I have attached a link to a recent Musky trip video that will give you an idea of how we fish these beautiful fish. https://youtu.be/iIUURL03Rz4

    See below some of the big Musky our clients have caught in Dale Hollow:



    AND THE BEAT GOES ON! BIG FISH AND LOTS OF THEM!!!!!

    RECENT CATCHES

    Enjoy the photos of the numerous Walleyes (with some 7 and 8 pounders thrown in!) caught since the last report!




    CUMBERLAND RIVER WALLEYE AND SAUGER!



    We begin fishing Walleye and Sauger on the Cumberland River in Tennessee December 15th and fish it until April 1st (THEN WE ARE BACK ON DALE HOLLOW). Jeff Brown is a master at catching Walleye and Sauger on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, with 25 years’ experience!

    We are already heavily booking these Walleye and Sauger trips on the Cumberland River Fall and Winter trips. We are also already booking strong on the 2021 “Summer nights full moon” trolling trips (very popular – only 30 available night trolling trips each year) - We also offer Muskie trips on Dale Hollow all Fall and Winter!

    DON’T DELAY! Call 931-403-2501 or click to https://striperfun.com/tennessee-walleye-charters/ to learn more or book your trip

    WE SUPPORT THE VETERANS!

    As a former United States Air Force Airman - military veteran and as a current U.S. Merchant Marine Captain and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol Coxswain (Captain), as well as Captain of my local Volunteer Fire Department, I understand the great importance that our brave service men and women and first responders play in our society. Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedom that you do!

    We also cannot forget the duty and service provided by our Policemen, Fish and Wildlife Officers and Firemen.

    TENNESSEE WALLEYE CHARTERS OFFERS A 10% DISCOUNT on all charters to currently active Policemen, Fish and Wildlife Officers and Firemen as well as to all active military AND retired military veterans (with proper verification ID provided by the person booking the trip).

    This is our way of saying “THANKS” to these important men and women for your service.

    Hydro Glow Lights



    If you want to jig at night yourself. we sell great Hydro Glow lights! You can order these great products at the very best prices by calling Captain Jim Fishing at 931-403-2501 or at: https://www.striperfun.com/product-category/hydro-glow/

    Besides my company Tennessee Walleye Charters offering fishing for big Walleye and Crappie on Dale Hollow Lake, a little-known secret is that only (7) miles from Dale Hollow is WORLD CLASS STRIPED BASS FISHING ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER. My company StriperFun Guide Service (with 11 guides on 7 waterways) has provided charter services on the Cumberland River for many years. US COAST GUARD LICENSED! Specializing in huge “Rainbow” Trout as bait, our smallest fish daily is generally 25 pounds with 30 to 40 pounders frequent (AND THE OCCASIONAL 50 POUND PLUS FISH)!

    You can go to our Youtube channel (StriperFun) to see countless videos of these huge fish being reeled in by our many happy customers!

    Feel free to call us to book a trip or for more information at 931-403-2501 or go to our website to see informative videos and to learn more
    :https://www.striperfun.com/cumberland-river-in-tennessee/

    The majority of our clients, once they initially come fishing with us will then book with us again and again because of our tremendous success. We hope to see you soon!

    A FEW RECENT CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
    Said Daryl Bolton a long time Tennessee Walleye Charters customer:

    “I have had the pleasure of fishing with Tennessee Walleye Charters over the years on many occasions and have always found the guide service to be ultra professional and courteous as well as super accommodating to my group. Their knowledge of fishing a “tough to learn lake” like Dale Hollow, as well how they locate and catch big Walleye both day and night is simply unsurpassed. I tried other Walleye guides on Dale Hollow that are limited to only trolling during the day and made big claims of success. I ended up very disappointed. Once I fished with Tennessee Walleye Charters, it was evident I had found the right people to take me and my friends fishing on Dale Hollow. We come many times a year and will continue to do so!”

    Said Bill Burke another frequent visiting client of Tennessee Walleye Charters:

    “I love fishing Dale Hollow with Captain Jim’s guides! Who needs a fish finder when you have guides like this to put you on the big Walleyes!”

    Your cleaning of the fish is included (tips appreciated). These Dale Hollow fishing trips are fantastic!

    WILLOW GROVE RESORT LODGING



    As a professional fishing guide who has boated and fished on Dale Hollow Lake for over 50 years, I always want to make sure my customers are taken care. For super nice cabin accommodations on Dale Hollow, I always recommend Willow Grove Resort!

    Imagine waking up overlooking one of the largest and most scenic lakes in the Eastern United States. Dale hollow is truly paradise! It has over 620 miles of shoreline (average depth 80 feet) with over 27,000 plus acres of crystal-clear water

    Willow Grove Resort Marina offers spacious lodging in a variety of cabin settings right on Dale Hollow Lake with great lake views!

    All Willow Grove Resort lodging rentals have cable TV, microwave, small refrigerator and coffee maker as well as year-round heat and air to keep you comfortable. We pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our rooms!

    To book a Cabin, call 931-823-6616

    SUPER BAIT TANKS



    To really hit the “monster” fish, you need to use the freshest live shad. Not only can catching fresh shad be tough, keeping them alive used to be virtually impossible! Not any longer!

    The SUPER BAIT TANK has a triple filtration system, a built-in oxygen infuser, a built-in light for night use and is insulated. This system has been tested to hold gizzard shad & blue-black herring for up to one week.

    I use only the SUPER BAIT TANK. Every guide I know uses it and so should you! StriperFun is the exclusive NATIONAL "on line" dealer of the SUPER BAIT TANK.

    For “new” Super Bait Tank orders - call me or click:

    http://www.striperfun.com/store/supe...tanks-c-3.html

    HUMMINBIRD COMBO GPS AND FISH FINDER UNITS

    Captain Jim is your low-price on-line leader to purchase all Humminbird Mega Imaging Fishfinders! Call me at 931-403-2501 to order!

    All StriperFun Captains use Humminbird Side and Down Imaging units. Humminbird Fish Finder / GPS units are simply the best on the market! When you have to depend on your marine electronics to navigate safely at night and in the fog, as well as help you find fish, it is one of your most valuable tools!

    My Humminbird HD unit is simply great! When trolling artificial lures or live bait, I just don’t troll “hoping” to run in to a school of fish. I am scanning up to 240 feet per each side of the boat, looking for schools of bait and fish. When I see them (example: 3 o’clock to the starboard or 9 o’clock to port!), I can then “turn” my boat towards the schools of bait and fish to “get in to the strike zone”. My new Helix 12 Humminbird finder is really delivering for me! These huge Stripers act like Largemouth in the river, stacking up and hiding behind cover in the current to “swoop” out and hit the Trout! This new side scan technology can make the difference on a slow day, helping me spot the patterns!

    Once arriving on the schools of bait and fish, I can switch over to the “Down Imaging”, “Quadrabeam Plus” or “Switch Fire” sonar systems to let me see with great clarity (each technology providing a different yet important view!) exactly where the fish are and how they are orientating.

    Why troll “blind” when you can scan surrounding water to see where the “big ones” are!!

    It makes all the difference in the world, turning a slow fishing day into a great catching day!

    My Humminbird Fish Finder is a guide’s best friend. As a Field Staff member of Johnson Outdoors, I strongly recommend this product to any open water fishermen. To be successful, you need to learn to use your marine electronics. If you are looking for new marine electronics, feel free to call me and I can make some solid suggestions on HUMMINBIRD COMBO GPS AND FISH FINDER UNITS.

    MINN KOTA TROLLING MOTORS FROM JOHNSON OUTDOORS

    Captain Jim is your low-price on-line leader to purchase all Minn Kota model trolling motors! Call me at 931-403-2501 to order!

    I only use the Minn Kota “Rip Tide” trolling motors from Johnson Marine and so should you! As a professional fishing charter Captain, my livelihood depends on my trolling motor working every time – every day! For 15 years I have used Minn Kota trolling motors and my “Rip Tide” trolling motor never lets me down!

    With “cool” features like the hands free “Auto Pilot and “I” Pilot functions, I can set my motor to go a specific direction and turn my back to deploy lines and have full confidence it will stay on course no matter the weather conditions!

    For using a “drop shot” on the fish, once I locate a nice an active school I simply push a button on “I” Pilot functions control and it “electronically anchors me” directly over the fish. If the winds blow me off the spot, the “I” Pilot brings me right back and again “electronically anchors” me back over the fish.

    Man, is that cool or what? I would never consider using anything else but a Minn Kota trolling motor!

    WALLEYE AND BASS FISHING TRAINING ON DALE HOLLOW LAKE

    Walleye and Bass fishing training trips on Dale Hollow are $400.00 with a $100.00 deposit. Trips are by schedule only. Our training guides each have over 25 years’ experience on Dale Hollow. You must have a valid fishing License. You can bring one friend if you choose.

    The fishing training services offered are "hands on and personalized" fishing instructional technique training with your training guide "on the water" aboard his boat. Training topics allow customers to choose from a large and diverse group of specific areas of Walleye and Bass fishing they want to learn more about then to "narrow down and focus in on" the chosen subjects. Once the subjects are chosen, then your training guide will provide very precise and detailed training in a direct on the water "one on one" teaching environment!

    GIVE THE BEST GIFT OF ALL, A FISHING TRIP WITH TENNESSEE WALLEYE CHARTERS!

    The gift of a weekend package deal (or even a one-day fishing trip) with Tennessee Walleye Charters makes a great Christmas or birthday present for Dad, a brother or for the family and kids, or can make a great bonus for an employee or a promotion for a customer! We fish year- round and our trips are very popular and our booking dates fill up fast!

    Fishing is family friendly and wholesome. So, if you are interested in giving the perfect gift to that special someone, order a fishing gift certificate today!

    Call me at 931-403-2501 or email me at: captainjim@striperfun.com

    Many of our customers do not initially realize that the Walleye fishing is 365 days year-round (Dale Hollow spring and summer and the Cumberland River fall and winter). However, we virtually fish almost every day. We live for this type of fishing and you can too! Come see us!

    Do not be afraid however to call last minute if you want a trip as we have numerous guides and can accommodate your schedule!

    If you have any other ideas, techniques or subjects you want me to write about, drop me a line!

    I am many times asked “What are the advantages to hiring a guide”? In essence, you hire a guide to utilize the guide’s many years of experience and lake knowledge, to learn new tactics and techniques to increase your chance of “landing the big one”. Guides use top of the line equipment and the freshest live bait. Also, if you cannot afford your own boat, it is a very cost-effective way for you or your group to fish (cost per fisherman). Even professional fishermen hire guides to learn a lake and new techniques!

    Fall is here. Dawn rolls around a little later each morning and “Twilight” now rolls around just a little earlier each night. It is great to be alive and be a “free” American! I look forward to seeing all of you this year on the water.

    Count your blessings each day and live “in the moment”, not in the future and always remember to stop and shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedoms you do!

    Remember also to always obey all TN fishing regulations while on Dale Hollow or any or Tennessee waterway. Following the rules is a must! It is important that we all be good stewards of our fishing resources.

    Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!

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    Specializing in "Trophy" Striper Fishing, Captain Jim Durham is a Kentucky and Tennessee State licensed guide who has fished Dale Hollow, Lake Cumberland and the Cumberland River year-round for most of his adult life. As a former B.A.S.S. tournament circuit fisherman, Captain Jim is also a Search and Rescue Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as a Coast Guard Merchant Marine Captain and Captain of his local Fire Department.
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