Dale Hollow Fish Kill

[mhall]

I'm a smallmouth guy and want what's best for the smallmouth and dale. I don't dislike the slot limit, it doesn't effect me as I would never keep a smallmouth anyway and I don't fish many tournaments. this discussion just came up during a recent trip to dale. The 3 pounders seem to be dominating the lake while overs are few and far between. We haven't started a petition or anything like that, just an interesting question a few of us guys who love dale were having I thought I would toss out here.

I booked trips with Keith Palmerio the last two years and he says dale fishes in cycles. He predicted last winter that the up cycle was starting and expected fishing to get better.

I would also be in favor of a similar slot on Cumberland as it can be a great smallmouth fishery from time to time.

Good thoughts Pastor we knew you weren't slamming the slot it was just conversation. Have a good day sir.

[rickhise]

To protect an promote the best plans to grow the SM at Dale. Tenn. has it going. What we were told in regards to the fish kill, I'm suspect of that.

Now 2 years later I'm confident the recover is on tract. I log a lot of time on the water, my one over recently isn't near as impressive to me as the fish bouncing around the 4lb range I'm seeing.

I boated 3 fish mid day today each one had me on edge to boat. Feeling like a 6 lb er was there. Needless to say they all under 4 but still trophy's to me.

You are a good bunch on this site. I enjoy the back an forth. Great topic.

[Fishin is life]

Trying to post pictures from my phone, hope it works. These are some smallies from sunday. We had atleast 3 that we measured and maybe as many as 5 over 20", but no overs. All very, very healthy fish. Had one spit out a rather large bluegill on its way to the boat with the bluegill still swimming

[Fishin is life]

And a couple more. Also had 6 good keeper sized largemouth. Few on live bait, but most on jig

[mhall]

Purty fish fellas

[roadrunner]

Purty fish fellas

Boy I agree on the purty I love those ole brown fish with the bars and 18 to 20 inches purty purty

[thebassman30]

Hello guys...long time since my last post...hope you are well.

In talking with some of the best anglers on Dale over the last few weeks it is taking catching about 200 fish to get an over. That seems about right, although in reading through these posts I see some folks are catching them more frequently. Sounds like they got something special worked out.

We've been avg about 15-20 day with a majority of them being in the 19-20 range. Some of these are already pushing 5 lbs so I don't know if they'll ever make it to 21". Perhaps some of these upper end slots will grow some length, but I'm sure it will take a few years.

The overs I have seen are largely old river fish that are just long and skinny...some barely over 4 lbs.

The largemouth are substantially abundant and schooling up with the smallies and spots. It's a good time when you get on them.

One thing that I found interesting this year in the tournaments was that the people who caught the numbers didn't catch anything over. To me, this might mean that the big ones are loners not really schooled fish.

Ya'll take care,
Mark

[Fishin is life]

Hello guys...long time since my last post...hope you are well.

In talking with some of the best anglers on Dale over the last few weeks it is taking catching about 200 fish to get an over. That seems about right, although in reading through these posts I see some folks are catching them more frequently. Sounds like they got something special worked out.

We've been avg about 15-20 day with a majority of them being in the 19-20 range. Some of these are already pushing 5 lbs so I don't know if they'll ever make it to 21". Perhaps some of these upper end slots will grow some length, but I'm sure it will take a few years.

The overs I have seen are largely old river fish that are just long and skinny...some barely over 4 lbs.

The largemouth are substantially abundant and schooling up with the smallies and spots. It's a good time when you get on them.

One thing that I found interesting this year in the tournaments was that the people who caught the numbers didn't catch anything over. To me, this might mean that the big ones are loners not really schooled fish.

Ya'll take care,
Mark

Back 3-4 years ago when catching an over or two every trip was the norm, we noticed the same thing that a lot of our overs were long and skinny. 4 out of every 5 would be that way, and the 20" healthy fish would outweigh them nearly every time. Makes me wonder that if given the water quality, food supply, and growth rate, if the dale fish dont top out at 20" and not reach 21" until their lifespan is ending and they start losing weight. I still think you stand a better chance of catching a giant (8+) out of cumberland, but youll never catch the numbers or overall size there

[GeoFisher]

Trying to post pictures from my phone, hope it works. These are some smallies from sunday. We had atleast 3 that we measured and maybe as many as 5 over 20", but no overs. All very, very healthy fish. Had one spit out a rather large bluegill on its way to the boat with the bluegill still swimming

That is the second time I've heard of a smallie spitting out a GIANT bluegill this december.

Cool.

Nice Fish.

Later,

Geo

[mhall]

I'm thinking we need to start slow rolling a bluegill pattern crank and see what happens.

Good thing the smallmouth will only eat small baits and fnf in cold water....

[rickhise]

Trying to post pictures from my phone, hope it works. These are some smallies from sunday. We had atleast 3 that we measured and maybe as many as 5 over 20", but no overs. All very, very healthy fish. Had one spit out a rather large bluegill on its way to the boat with the bluegill still swimming

I talk an listen to a lot of reports, yours tops any I've heard for this cold weather, the day was so perfect for my style, the glass like conditions along with the low light, two days in a row nearly 3, was the best

[Fishin is life]

I talk an listen to a lot of reports, yours tops any I've heard for this cold weather, the day was so perfect for my style, the glass like conditions along with the low light, two days in a row nearly 3, was the best

We had 19 fish total. 12 smallies and 7 largemouth. Only one short largemouth and one smallie under 17". We didnt catch fish bunched up anywhere, but caught 1-4 fish pretty much everywhere we stopped. It was an above average day for us. We did have an over the weekend before but only had 8 fish and had no live bait