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My Dad and I have never fished Dale Hollow, and my Dad has NEVER caught a smallmouth. I have some days off in mid-to-late December, and we have decided to try and fish Dale Hollow. Where would be some good areas to target for a person who has never fished this lake? What baits/techniques should we try? Please give me any information you can, this Dale Hollow rookie could really use it. If you don't want your info all over the site, just PM me and I'll be sure to keep in between you and me.
very tuff lake for 1st timers as well as 5th timers, wont give u all the reasons Y to try this, but think about it..... your dad... your son, first time,....all. the expense getting there, coupled with "priceless experience " add 150.00$ more and hire a guide then try what they show you the next day........all that being said ..... look at some of my past post keep in mind this is for live bait only fishing, add 6ft plus spinning rod clear 8-10lb test, split shot about 18 inches above your hook, mine are 3/0 wire aberden style hooks, with shinners in water I told you about pulled boat on the bank free spool u cant miss
Contact Steven Headrick at DAle Hollow One Stop or go to the Punisher lures web site. He has several great guides and they will put you on the smallies.Bobby Gentry and Bob Coan are the best in that area. And for your first time there it would be the best bet to hire one of these guides.
Listen to these guys.
Most in the know can tell you it can be very tough at times even for someone who's fished it all their life. ;)
Get a guide and go floatn'flyin!
Then start pickin brains and talkin to these guys and learn all ya' can about one of the toughest and best lakes around.
Still #1 on Buckeye Boy's list :)
If you really want to learn to fish the lake, do like Mr. Headrick said and hire a guide. If you're bound and determined to explore it yourself, do some searches on this forum and spend a couple hours (at least) reading old posts on the subject. There has been a wealth of information posted in this forum about Dale Hollow.
Gee's,
You guys make it sound tough for a first timer at DH! I am retired and thus on limited income (no guide service for me). I'll be fishing DH for the first time (out of horse Creek) , also first time FNF this week end. Hope my time reading the maps will pay off.
Given the above, sounds like fishing DH is not unlike my eary years of bow hunting for deer. You have top pay your dues by spending time in the woods (on the water). It took me a couple of years of scouting before I took my first deer with a bow. From then on, it was a natural.
That is not to say that I don't need or would welcome some help and suggestions on Dale Hollow. If the FNF does't work, then what and where. Live bait, drop shot, etc.
Gary
Find the shad find the fish. Learn to use that graph. Smallmouth will be in about 10 to 20 feet of water right now busten shad. The water temp is around 53 right now on average so there just gettin primed up. They like to move around so dont be afraid to do the same. Ive been down there the last 3 weekends and have had pretty good luck. This wekend should be awesome with the rain and warm temps coming. If I had to use 4 poles it would be crankbait (suspending), small jig with small trailer, silverbuddy and a spinnerbait around the grass while its cloudy and raining. Good luck on your trip and I hope you guys wear em out. Please put em back for next time.
The lake is turning over right now in the middle and moving towards the dam. Stay away from any black looking water by heading up lake where it's already past or down lake where it hasn't happened yet.
Best bet other than the fnf are a 6'6" to 7' Med action spinning rod with clear 8 lb test using a 1/4 oz brown or green jig with a trailer or silver buddy.
As Crankion said, find the bait fish balls.