Dale: KY vs. TN

Of the 28,000 acres in Dale, only 4,800 acres are in KY. My question is... does the upper KY side provide as good as fishing as the lower TN side? Being this was a draught year, I think the TN side may have produced better fishing than the KY side this year due to low water levels.

However, during a normal year, I think the KY side has just as good fishing as the TN side. Some people think SM nigrate from the KY side to the TN side in the winter months and return in the spring. I think SM bass for the most part stay close to home and do not migrate any farther than needed to find food and comfort, which is usually to the deeper river channels and not all the way down to TN. I think this has been proven by the numbers of good SM caught on F-N-F during December and February in the KY waters. I would be interested in your comments.

Hello Bone, thanks again for stopping in at the hospital last week and seeing me. My opinion and only my opinion is that the TN waters offer so much more opportunity to catch Smallies than KY waters. I never fish Dale without a TN liscense and spend probably 95% of my time in TN waters. I have never caught a large amount of Smallies and any of any size on the KY side and rarely fish it for this reason. Maybe if I spent as much time learning it as I have spent learning from First Island North it would be different but I think the TN side offers more. I catch more Spots and Largemouth when I fish the Wolf than Smallies and this is where I would fish if it were a Black Bass tourney but for Smallies, I stay in TN. I don't think Smallies travel long distances at all. I have heard about the migration that some take place but there is plenty of 50-70 feet deep water (normally) in the Wolf for the fish to stay in their area. I personally think the fish don't migrate much at all. Find spots that offer shallow cover, a little deeper grasss next to deeper water and there is no reason for that fish to ever leave. I think the Smallie lives relatively close to the same area all its life. The world record was caught on the Ky side and my biggest ever that I had on before a long distanced release that was an easy 7 and possibly 8 was hooked on the KY side but I will take my chances in TN the majority of the time.

[QUOTE=elnutsmalljaws;308418]Hello Bone, thanks again for stopping in at the hospital last week and seeing me. My opinion and only my opinion is that the TN waters offer so much more opportunity to catch Smallies than KY waters. I never fish Dale without a TN liscense and spend probably 95% of my time in TN waters. I have never caught a large amount of Smallies and any of any size on the KY side and rarely fish it for this reason. Maybe if I spent as much time learning it as I have spent learning from First Island North it would be different but I think the TN side offers more. I catch more Spots and Largemouth when I fish the Wolf than Smallies and this is where I would fish if it were a Black Bass tourney but for Smallies, I stay in TN. I don't think Smallies travel long distances at all. I have heard about the migration that some take place but there is plenty of 50-70 feet deep water (normally) in the Wolf for the fish to stay in their area. I personally think the fish don't migrate much at all. Find spots that offer shallow cover, a little deeper grasss next to deeper water and there is no reason for that fish to ever leave. I think the Smallie lives relatively close to the same area all its life. The world record was caught on the Ky side and my biggest ever that I had on before a long distanced release that was an easy 7 and possibly 8 was hooked on the KY side but I will take my chances in TN the majority of the time.[/QUOTE]


As I was told one day while fishing with Phillip Haley," When all else fails run to Ky."

BJE and I used that advice last December....(during the turnover)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5355/img0464ei9.jpg

Here were the results.

During the turnover, I agree that you need to find the clear water and Dale will clear up in the Wolf River first. Last years turnover took FOREVER due to the 60-70 degree days we had in December and the mid lake area never cleared up until January. The Wolf was the place to fish last December.

I'm not that good a fishermen as most of you guys, but since I live only 20 minutes from dale, i get both licenses, my ky one is senior rate, and even with the agreement between the states, most of dales fishing that interests me, is just out of the agreement zone.

Elwood, I am glad you are out of the hospital, and I hope you are feeling much better. It was a pleasure to meet you and your wife. Thanks for your reply. I have heard so many people voice their opinions on whether TN or KY was more productive, I thought it would be a good discussion topic. I personally think you are right on the subject, just for the fact there is more and deeper water in TN, but you just never know where that big brown fish will be living. But I bet there is one both for TN guys and one for the KY boys.

[QUOTE=Bonefish;308459]Elwood, I am glad you are out of the hospital, and I hope you are feeling much better. It was a pleasure to meet you and your wife. Thanks for your reply. I have heard so many people voice their opinions on whether TN or KY was more productive, I thought it would be a good discussion topic. I personally think you are right on the subject, just for the fact there is more and deeper water in TN, but you just never know where that big brown fish will be living. But I bet there is one both for TN guys and one for the KY boys.[/QUOTE]

Cliff and I had a Mon and Tue last winter that was pretty good then a horrible Wed (skunked for the first time in a couple of years for me) fishing mid lake, went up in the Wolf on Thursday and caught around 17 fish some smallies some spots but no really good ones. Water was clearer and actually a few degrees warmer in the Wolf. I just think there is more opportunities in TN, obviously more water, but more Grass, more black shale, more big deeper flats, so you won't catch me fishing Dale without a TN liscense. I have heard of several that don't want to pay the money but what is $40 more when you spend all this money on transportation, lodging, and others for a trip down. I have too many spots around Lillydale, Sulphur, Big Goat, 5 fingers, Never fails, Holly Creek, and Willow Grove to not get a TN liscense. Caught 2 over 6, another 20 or so over 5, and no telling how many over 3 with 99.9% of them coming out of TN waters the last couple of winters on the FNF. Good Luck to you wherever you fish, wish I could come with you.

One thing about it, Elwood, sitting out on the water when you are well enough will be one sweet day. Just do whatever it takes on a daily basis and before you know it, you'll be back. Keep the faith and enjoy your time with your family during this time of healing. Thanks for your continued comments. They are always forthgiving.

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