Hey Hoover,
If you are looking for the best time to catch great smallies on Dale Hollow then you need to be there over the next month. The winter smallmouth fishing on that lake is incredible. I fished a tournament there this past May (1st week) and most fish were already off the beds. So if you are planning on catching fish sitting on beds you probably want to be here before then. If you want to hook up with a guide then look up Bobby Gentry's Guide Service (He's on the web). This guy knows Dale Hollow inside and out and is the best guide on that lake. Hope this helps.