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You are one of the best I've heard on our board with knowledge of Dale and a willingness to share. I'm off work Friday leaving from Lex. for a day's fishing. Plan to launch out of the State Park. If you were going what types of banks, baits, and depths would you try with the warming spell we're having. By the way have you ever been told that you have a gift for writing? Thank you for all your posts in the past and I hope your time on Kentucky with Dave Stewart is awesome!
I would, of course, appreciate any tips from anyone else too.
I appreciate the kind words but I certainly must not be very good for my buddy and I skunked in the Toyota tourney a couple of weeks back, all my fault my buddy had nothing to do with it for he fished where I took us. We caught many fish, Smallies and Spots, on Saturday and quit fishing several spots that we were catching fish to save some for Tourney Sunday then never got a bite. I am sure the cold front and winds had a HUGE part in it but we still should have caught something but I STUNK up the place.
If I were going to Dale this weekend, to target Smallies, with all the rain that we are getting my guess is the water will be stained more than normal. I doubt the FNF bite will be all that effective due to the rising water temps and stained water but you may catch a few. If I did throw the fly it would be at the ends of the bluffs on the main lake or bluffs just up into the major creeks. I probably would not focus as much on the center of the bluff walls for I would guess they have started moving off the bluffs by now. Bluffs next to spawning flats may produce the best of all for it won't be long until eggs will be dropping. If you went down the lake towards the dam you may find clearer water if you are dead set on throwing the fly. I have never fished any lower than Mitchell Creek but plan on fishing the lower half next year.
If not FNF, then my guess would be main lake points and secondary points just up in the creeks with the emphasis on ones next to some spawning flats. I would throw a suspending jerkbait or suspending crankbait pretty much all day. Rainbow Trout, Shad, Chrome and Blue combo, and maybe something with chartruese mixed in if the water is very stained. Alter the retrieve until something works and keep that retrieve to see if it is the ticket. Me personally, Smithwich Rogue if the water is clear and Husky Jerk if it is stained. I do a couple of Rapala X-Raps but never caught a fish on them as of yet so don't know if they would produce or not.
If you are wanting to target Largemouth or Spots, then my guess is Wolf River around the laydowns using a Jerkbait. At least this is what I heard caught most of the fish in the Toyota Tourney a couple of weeks ago. I do have a few spots that I found in the Obey that I caught several good Largemouth and Spots on that I would tell you about. These are the same spots that Skunked on Sunday. Email me at [email][email protected][/email] with your phone number and I will call you tonight to tell them to you, have your map handy.
Again, thanks for the kind words but I am really not that good of a fisherman, just lucked into a few good ones this winter.
Tight Lines
Actually Elwood is a good angler and learns quick..ie..that is why he did good on Dale this year and once he really learns more of the lake there he is gonna take a lot of money from some folks.
Elwood: Reference the bad day: I know you well enough to know that you really felt bad about your partner after the bad tournament...now you know how guides feel when they have a bad day...welcome to the world of the front of the boat.
Dave makes some excellent points.... Learning fast and making adjustments throughout the day or days is super important. In my opinion, this why the young guys on tour are outshinning some of the establish veterans....I did say some....no one can stop KVD....that dude's got some ridiculous skills. I mean no disrespect to any of the others (i.e. Nixon, Brauer, etc.). Those guys could catch fish anywhere and have forgotten more than I'll ever know. Just my theory....
I do put a huge amount of pressure on myself when my buddy is in the boat or my dad for they don't get to fish much and I want them to catch fish more than me to catch them myself(except for that 12lb Smallie). I would hate that part of the guide business when you are paid to put guys on fish and the fish don't co-operate. I guess if it was a "Catching Guide Service" then we all would be doing it. The sad part is that I never considered one time throwing a jerkbait at Dale that day and that is the lure that caught just about all the fish. This part of my fishing I have to work on. Looking forward to my first KY Lake trip, tick tock 7 days and counting.
Tight Lines
Well get that jerkbait arm ready because we are definitely gonna be using it...lol.
I'm heading down tonight to fish this weekend myself. I'll be putting in at state also. I'm going to try a little f-n-f and jerkbait and cranks. Good luck
Try 3/8 oz. Tandem spinners(chart/white) on points and bluffs that's close to spawning areas slooooooow rolled and I'll bet you'll hang some good un's:) Good Luck and you'll need a wetsuit.....