dale Hollow smallie's

[rickhise]

I know there arent too many of you care to hear about the smallmouth on shad but they are certainly big numbers showing up and getting stronger every day, also they came out of 30 ft plus today not to say they were all deep we just fished near deep water. In fact I bank fished and landed maybe 6 smallmouth and that many cats biggest 21 inches plus, fished for 3 hours,

partner fished out of the back of the boat with it tied to the bank and did better so he was in deeper water than i could reach all on live shad.

i did see my partner using a rounded hook catch all his fish with out setting the hook, and none were gut hooked all fish released its a hard task to real in a 4 lb plus fish w/out turning his head sideways and litterly just reeeling him in these hooks set themselves seeing is believeing

[Chubminnow]

Thanks for this report...me and a few friends will be down there on Nov. 9th, 10th and 11th.

I don't mind using live shad...a good time is had when you're catching fish regardless of the bait used, so long as it's legal and all size and creel limits are adhered to, who cares? Catching is catching! Catch and release is even better especially when it comes to smallies, but live bait verses artificial...all I can say is you don't want to get in a butt kicking contest when it comes to live shad verses artificial. Just my .02 worth on the subject.

[fisheater]

Thats for sure,no matter how good you are shad kicks butt down there.My first time at Dale,i thought i would try to fish artificial,about 5 fish to zero i gave up that idea.Only had 4 days and i didnt want to waste a minute.Most impressive lake ive ever been on.Where else can you catch 30 or 40 non keepers a day and have a sore arm.Cant wait till april.

[markmac60]

I'm courious about the live shad versus artificial. I haven't been down to Dale Hollow enough but in the few times I have been there we've had more luck with the live bait than the artificial. Maybe I'm not going about it correctly though. In the few times that I've fished artificial there, we basically jigged main lake points and secondary points. Some good luck but not a lot, typically this time of year too. What are some of the other artificial methods that you guys have used that prove successful (if you don't mind sharing)?

[rickhise]

I think you'll find the guides here use live bait for several reason's the fish are much easier to reach with live bait, for the most part the live bait is being fished 30 ft. and deeper the customers can catch greater numbers...with that being said this lake has windows of oppertunity, for certain artifical baits that produce. These techniques take a lot of experience on this lake, clear and deep are 2 big factors, Right now the Ky's are coming in good #'s and size. On both live and artifical, good rough windy days and some cranking can produce some big smallie's just use the wind to put the bait fish in your favor

if your good and you need to be with electronic's here, the channel bends and humps are very important its a science for sure.

anytime i can help will be glad too