Night Fishing Dale Hollow 7/2, 7/3

Hey.......

theBassMan30 and I went to Dale to try the night bite.......

We hit the water around 8:00pm CST each night, and managed to have a decent time trying to catch smallies. Had 6-7 fish Friday, with options on probably 20 more.

Saturday, I think we caught 4-5, with options on probably 20 others too.

The bite was really funky for us. We'd get plenty of hits, and actually had a lot of hookups that simply came unbuttoned. I'm not too sure if we were just having a bad day or bad technique.

I will definitely do it again...........If I can figure out how to stay awake. :) :)

Also, I'm a saving some smack for a set of punisher blacklights.......those are COOL........not too sure I'm going to mount them the same way.....Not sure I wanna go drilling and cutting holes in my boat.

Finally........a couple questions.

What do you guys use for tools on the boat. On sunday, when we went to crank and leave..........my starting battery was completely drained. I had forgotten to charge it the night before, and we really did not run enough to get a good charge on it. I've never had a problem before, but I think I Need to start taking some more tools with me.

I used my multi tool to change the starting wires to one of my trolling batteries, but had I had some jumper cables, it would have been a lot easier.

Oh well........LIVE and LEARN..........

Later,

Geo

George I carry a multi tool kit that is all in one case. Socket's, Spark Plug size on down. It has a full set of screwdrivers, phillips, and flathead. Cresent wrench, pliers, large and small. It's really has everything a growing boy needs, wasn't to costly either as it was a Popular Mechanics set, but hey that's plenty good for the boat, decent quality really.

Tools in my boat because I have needed them at one point or another over the past 6 years and did not have them the first time but made sure it did not happen again:

Marine Tool Kit that I got at BPS - has standard sockets, pliers, needle nose, screwdrivers, and other misc stuff in it.

Spare male and female light plug kit
Wire strippers
Electrical Tape
Fuses of all sizes
Spare fuel bulb assembly
Battery terminal cleaner tool and cleaner spray
De-Icer spray
WD40
Vice Scripts (sp)
Cable Ties of different sizes
Duct Tape
Silicone Adhesive
Spare Bulbs for both front and rear running lights
Spare baseball cap to hold headlight for night fishing (when first one blows off)
Reel Cleaning kit - holds all parts to make any reel repairs on the water
Hose clamps of various sizes
Spare actuator switch for trolling motor


Have had to do everything from put on new trailer light plug in assembly on the side of the road after a cop stopped me and told me that I had no trailer lights, to replace the whole fuel bulb assembly on the water after my buddy set the hook in the back of the boat - lost his balance and stepped on it and punctured it, replaced fuses for bilge pumps and livewell pumps, replaced light bulbs for running lights, replaced actuator switch on trolling motor, de-iced rod lockers and steering cables, etc....

Pretty much if you need a tool once and you don't have it, put it in the boat because chances are you will need it again. Better to have a few extra pounds of weight and dollars in tools in the boat when needed versus ruining a day on the water and all the expenses involved in getting there.

I purchased a waterproof marine tool kit for my boat. Didnt have all the tools listed above but enough to get minor problems fixed. I think bass pro sells it for around $40.00. I had to get a pair of pliers out sat. And all the tools looked brand new and i have had this kit for 2 years

Dale is a special lake to fish at night or otherwise. I have only fished it once at night over 3 nights while camping some years back. I have much of the same problem on KY with having as many or more hookups and bites as landed fish when it comes to the brown ones. They just jump and shake so vigorously it is difficult to keep them buttoned. Got to keep the hooks sharp and line as tight as they will let you but honestly I don't mind too much any more when they get loose. It is nice to touch them and maybe get a picture but just to be graced by their presence for a few moments as she nearly yanks the rod from my hands dancing in the moonlight is pretty special to me.

As far as staying awake I just don't try very hard any more. In the day I remember times of being on the water for 20+ hours and practically falling over from exhaustion we would push it so but I rarely do a whole night these days. Catch the late surface bite and pull out at 2 or 3 is good enough by me. Man it is heck sprouting these gray ones!

I keep a small toolbox in my boat with all of the usuals for dealing with electrical issues and some spare parts for the motor and boat in general. Needlenose, regular pliers, channel locks, hammer, razor knife, wire strippers, screw drivers, tape, and I even carry a spark plug wrench for the big motor. I used to carry jumpers in my boat in case the starting battery went dead but any more I'll switch in a trolling motor battery to get back if the starting battery goes dead. If you were to seriously think about carrying jumpers you might consider making a special shorter set than the ones you buy. If your boat is anything like mine jumping off your trolling motor batteries you would only need a 18" to 2' length.

Sounds like your starting battery had trouble staying awake too!

kc

Geo:
A friend and I took a set of jumper cables and cut them in half put new ends on the cables and made two sets of jumpers for a boat gave As for tools I have duct tape and WD 40; if it moves and it not suppose to use the duct tape, if it does not move and it is suppose to use the WD 40.

Beep Beep

A pair of snips that can be worked with one hand while shearing a hook imbedded in the other. You just never know . . .