Dale Hollow Report

[BRS]

Fish Dale Tuesday night up till about 2:30 am and I had all I could stand. Got the old sleeping bag out and went to bed. My partner caught one S/M (14 inch +/_) and that was it with maybe a bite or two the whole time we fished. Had made our minds up not to come back to the hollow for a while but as we were loading the boat that morning a couple of young fellows that had put in when we did were coming in also. Ask how they done.......... 13 to 15 fish and one 22 incher. That was all you were going to get out of these boys they were not offering any more information then that. Just lets me know some guys just know how to get the job done. Well this started out to be a pretty bad report but as you read on you can see the fish are still BITING! Oh, just so you know my partner and I throwed Spinner baits, jigs, worms and I think that was all. What the other boys were throwing..... your guess is as good as mind.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Be very leary of what the other 2 fellas told you. From what I know from guys that fish the lake on a daily baisis, 6-8 fish a night is an EXCELLENT night and this is from guys that get paid to fish the lake. My buddy and I fished it for 3 nights a couple of weeks ago and I personally caught 4 the first night and then skunked the last 2 nights. My buddy had 3-2-2 and that was it. He landed one good one 4+ on a jig and I had a good one around 4 on a buzzbait and lost a good one on a spinnerbait. Never got together a pattern and we fished around 30 of my best spots that have always produced in the past. The only thing I could say is to throw a heavy night spinnerbait on the flats in about 25 feet of water for the best chance at a trophy. I guess if I did it over, that is what I would have done for 3 nights instead of running and gunning all the way from 5 fingers north to Illwill and then some.

[BigPoppy]

Be very leary of what the other 2 fellas told you. From what I know from guys that fish the lake on a daily baisis, 6-8 fish a night is an EXCELLENT night and this is from guys that get paid to fish the lake. My buddy and I fished it for 3 nights a couple of weeks ago and I personally caught 4 the first night and then skunked the last 2 nights. My buddy had 3-2-2 and that was it. He landed one good one 4+ on a jig and I had a good one around 4 on a buzzbait and lost a good one on a spinnerbait. Never got together a pattern and we fished around 30 of my best spots that have always produced in the past. The only thing I could say is to throw a heavy night spinnerbait on the flats in about 25 feet of water for the best chance at a trophy. I guess if I did it over, that is what I would have done for 3 nights instead of running and gunning all the way from 5 fingers north to Illwill and then some.

Like the man said " if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!"

[SmallmouthChaserGLX]

Maybe the two youngsters don't want to tell all the details of the catch. Maybe on the highly pressured lakes we face in this part of the country telling how, on what, and where isn't always such a good idea if you want to go back and have a good trip the next time. Fish get conditioned to lures. Small details and differences can make all the difference. For example fishing 30 spots in a night might be a good way to cover water or it may be too fast or too shallow of a way to fish on a particular day... only being there will tell you. Only getting out there and trying it for yourself will make the difference... Not what you, and for that matter, everyone else in the world can see on a discussion board. For example if someone tells you that fish are biting a white 3/4 oz buzzbait at 312 bridge on laurel over the channel at sunset what are the chances that at least 3 or 4 other boats will be there doing the same thing when you get there? These boards are great but as for specific details of a good catch... take it all in stride.

By the way I turned the 22 incher back....

[chunknwind]

Smallmouth chaser, if fish are so conditioned to lures, why can guides like Stephen Headrick and Dave Stewart take client after client to some of the same spots and catch quality fish time after time. I agree that giving up specific locations may not be a great idea, but come on, Dale Hollow is a large enough body of water that telling what they're hitting, depth, and conditions(points,flats) isn't going to ruin your fishing experience and may just make someone elses a little better. Congratulations on the 22, I'm glad you let it go, By the way what did you catch it on? (just kidding) Cliff