Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Hey........
I'm putting together a 4 day trip in March, and am trying to figure out if I want to still hit the Hollow, or try KY lake that early.......
I know it can and probably will be BRUTAL either place, but was figuring I might hammer a HOG at either place........
Any ideas, and what are your opinions........Dave Stewart.......I'd love your opinion, and maybe, we can hookup 1 day for a guided trip.......2 guys...
Later,
Geo
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Geo
If you hit conditions right Dave can put you on some biguns. I can attest to hooking up with Dave will make the trip to Kentucky worth while. The Hollow would probably be less dependent on weather.
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Would also highly recommend Dave. Had a blast with him some time ago. I would have to hit Ky/Barkley.
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
ky lake with a jerkbait and rattle trap would be fun...smallies there too..
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
You know THE KY is the Rizzle Dizzle. Especially with 20+ mph, I think I can hear the meow's from here. lol...good luck with that call friend.
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
We use to do a three to four day trip to Irvin Cobb resort every year in Blood river. A few of those were made in March each year, and although we never had big numbers it seemed somebody would hook up with a big Mama. March is a special time for the sows down that way, go to Kentucky, just my humble two cents.
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Hey TheBassMan30.............is this the response from a guy who has, or has NOT had back to back to back years where he has caught at least 1 7lb largemouth?????
Maybe the ole KY will produce a couple 8's for me this year :)
Later,
Geo
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Here is my opinion on Ky Lake for March, I can't speak for Dale Hollow as I have not fished it in almost 20 years now.
Obviously the weather during the month of March anywhere in this latitude can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It can be 60 degrees one day and sub freezing the next. March is a month that ol man winter is thowing some of his last nasty cold fronts at you and Spring is trying to get a foothold. Basically, what this means is when you plan a trip here in March, you just never know until the time comes what the weather will be.
Having said all that about the weather, let me say that March on Ky/Barkley is the prime time for prespawn Smallmouth and your best time at for having a shot at a trophy Largemouth. I would suggest highly that if you come down here in March you keep your boat on the trailer and stay on the north end of the lakes area. The wind can dictate where you can fish here probably more in March than any other time of year...if you have your boat on the trailer rather than in a slip, you can always find an area to fish on one lake or the other in relatively short distance if you are on the north ends of the lakes.
Typically, March produces more numbers of BIG fish for my clients than any other time of year, both Smallmouth and Largemouth. If you check back tournament records you will find this to be pretty much true for everyone here. Last March was my worst year for trophy Largemouth in March...that is to say...we only had two in the boat over 8lbs (I do not consider a LM to be trophy sized here unless it is 8+). One of my clients did manage to get another one over 8 fishing a spot I showed him the day after he went out with me. We did lose 4 others that did not make it to the boat during March but that is typical of the trophy pattern....it is mainly a rattletrap pattern and big fish plus traps can be a challenge. We did however have a good number of 5 and 6 lbs fish. Note here that this trophy Largemouth pattern typically takes a particular weather pattern to make the odds good at getting one of these big girls. Also, note that due to the July type heatwave we had here last March that it cut short this seasonal pattern last year.
The primary pattern here for the Smallmouth in March is suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled crankbaits and some jig. Smallmouth fishng is always a challenge but if you hit one of those good days you can put some really nice Smallmouth in the boat. Almost all of the 6 lb plus Smallmouths I have had in my boat here come in March...and every one over 7lbs has come in March.
If you have any more questions about March I would be happy to talk to you or anyone about it...just give me a call..I am pretty much sitting home this winter and talking fishing is good therapy for me to keep me from going nuts...lol.
If you would like to book that March trip...be happy to do so....but you need to make your booking soon.
Dave
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Hey..........
MUCH Thanks for the info.......I think I will talk with my buddy, get some final ideas, and give you a ring.....I'd love to do a guide trip so I can get an idea of some other areas on the lake.......
I've been down to KY a couple times, and have some areas that I like......With a guide, I can see what I like and what you've been fishing for YEARS, and see how they compare........and just how much I don't know.......
Much, MUCH thanks for the info..............
Later,
Geo
Re: Mid March.........Dale or KY Lake
Sounds like a plan...if you do make the trip you can bring your maps with you....maybe we can have breakfast prior to the trip and I can go over your maps and we can talk about how and where you have been fishing here the rest of the season also....you will find me pretty user friendly when it comes to giving my clients information and teaching them about my lakes.