Dale

[LarryG]

Was talking to R Gibson this morning at the ramp, he said they have been catching some real nice white bass this year on Dale.But since i was going gill fishing, no big deal. Started working a weed bed, and noticed some surface activity, put on a 1/16 oz jig and grub, and made a long cast. Well they wern't white bass.Got three SMB, and on that 10/2 braid and my ultra lite it was a blast. Then the thunder and rain started.Was off the water in two hours.These fish were hooked very well, and no jaw breaking hook sets, braid and no stretch, plus sharp hooks on your baits. But was sort of disappointed that the gills never got a chance.By the way, it was number 72 today, and a nice present.

[Mean Morone]

Hey Larry, I was down there this last weekend. We fished out of Gunnels Fish Camp. We caught some nice gills on very small black maribou jigs. Never saw any beds, but we would let the jig fall all the way to the bottom and then retrieve very slowly. We were trying for bass at one point, but were told that the spawn was over and the bass have moved toward the main lake. We were also told that the white bass haven't done very good in that lake for some reason. I'm glad you heard that the whites were being caught. I would like to learn more about the Lake Trout that are supposed to be in there. I think we will try it again in the fall for smallies and whatever else we can fool.

[LarryG]

I was at gunnels last week also.Was trolling hotntots for crappie, but the water was pretty dirty because of the rain.did get a couple of ky bass and a few crappie, but the darn gar were raising cane with my crank baits. Hooked and landed two, and had a lot of hits. Thats the problem with the wolf river, the gar are all over the place. As far as lake trout, I don't think that TN has stocked any in quite awhile. but the rainbow fishing is good during the late summer, but i'll be darned if I'm going to buy a stamp, that non resident TN license is steep enough.I have an open invite to fish with dennis at gunnels, and maybe next week will take him up on it.

[Tnstratos283]

Where is gunnels fish camp on dale hollow ???? Never heard of it.........283

[LarryG]

From cookville, head north on 111 after you cross the ky state line, you need to turn east toward the lake, keep on that road till you reach an old out of business store on your left, turn left, and stay on that road youwill pass a place called huntersville, and off to your right you will see a sign saying gunnels camp. The ramp is very narrow, and parking is limited. During low water periods it could be hazordous heading for the main lake, right now the water is up.

[Tnstratos283]

From cookville, head north on 111 after you cross the ky state line, you need to turn east toward the lake, keep on that road till you reach an old out of business store on your left, turn left, and stay on that road youwill pass a place called huntersville, and off to your right you will see a sign saying gunnels camp. The ramp is very narrow, and parking is limited. During low water periods it could be hazordous heading for the main lake, right now the water is up.

OK...I am assuming you are talking about go through byrdstown to static at the stateline. Turn left onto hwy 127 north and go towards albany ky. Now you will be going north towards albany, where do you turn or the name of the road to go east from there???? I found it on a lake map and it looks like it sits right at the end or the head waters of wolf creek on past wolf river marina a pretty good ways. Thanks for the help.....283

[LarryG]

yeah, foergot about the 127 thing. It will be the first numbered road off to the left heading toward albany. It is near the head water part of wolf river on dale.

[wkerber]

I've caught some white bass at Dale in the Obey, upstream from Sunset dock. They were nice thick ones in the 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lb range, but I could never manage more than 2 or 3 in an outing. Someone with decades of experience on Dale told me that they used to be in there in good numbers years ago but something happened and the population took a hit. I never have caught a small one which might mean something is wrong with their spawn. Maybe something eats their eggs. If it was forage competition, you'd think you'd see small stunted fish. Just a guess, though. Oh, caught most of mine in the river channel on a silver buddy.

[Tnstratos283]

OK...I am assuming you are talking about go through byrdstown to static at the stateline. Turn left onto hwy 127 north and go towards albany ky. Now you will be going north towards albany, where do you turn or the name of the road to go east from there???? I found it on a lake map and it looks like it sits right at the end or the head waters of wolf creek on past wolf river marina a pretty good ways. Thanks for the help.....283

OK...according to my map that road is hwy 1576 which goes down to huntersville and shortly after that you come back down and cross the Tn. line. Saying on that road you will pass greenbrier road which will be on your left, but continue on the road that you are on and that one is called gunnels camp road which leads straight on down and to the ramp. According to my fishing hot spots map it shows the main channel in the middle of the river there only 10 feet deep. Can you get a fiberglass bottom boat in there and be safe without tearing up the bottom of it and also is the ramp concrete or just gravel/dirt. My stratos will float in 2-3 ft. of water, but I ain't crazy about getting that shallow with it. That area looks like some pretty good fishing going back toward the main lake and I wouldn't have to drive forever by water to get there by putting in at gunnels. Looking at the map by water, I would say it is 20 miles or futher by water back to gunnels from lillydale on the main lake side of Tn. I bet there isn't much boat traffic back in there, and that is what I am looking at in trying to get away from all the crazies like out on the main channel of the lake. Also, is those waters part of the deal with the TWRA that you don't have to have a Ky. licences to fish if I go back up in Ky. waters to fish and if not is the river/lake marked so you will know??? Thanks again for your help...appreciate it......283

[LarryG]

I think you got it, remember to turn by that closed store to the left. It is a concrete ramp,but narrow, so watch the shoulder drop offs. the water there shoud be good for your boat till at least sept, then it will start getting pretty hairy. there are hardly any water skiers for about 3 miles, but those jet ski mosquitos are going to show up once in awhile.There are a lot of spotted bass in the area, some of them are decent size.I mostly troll for crappie and there are a few SMB, but going further into the lake will put yopu in better water for them. Good luck