Reply With QuoteI have fished with Dave Stewart and Tim Griggs personally on Ky Lake. Dave has told me that he had the "Old" State record on, before Mr. Hayes fish was re-instated, but it broke him off. I believe Dave said he hooked it around the first of July at night on a Drop Spinnerbait. Tim Griggs won the Jet-A-Marina tourney last year plus a couple others on the lake. In the Jeta he weighed in a limit of Smallies to win the tourney. Dave told me that Tim was one of the best if not the BEST Smallmouth fishermen on the lake. Tim told me that he hooked 2 different fish that were easy over 10 and possibly 11 at Ky Lake within the last couple of years. Smallies are not targeted that much on KY as Dale and with it being a Tennessee River system lake, why not. The Tennessee River is responsible for lakes all up and down the trail that coincidence or not, hold an excellent smallmouth population. I just finished my first year fishing Ky and am still learning the lake but did manage to catch some good smallies out of the lake. I don't know KY as well as Cumberland or Dale but after 2006, should have a much better idea for I plan on spending a lot of time there. In closing, I do think Ky has an excellent shot at producing the next Record. I only hope to get my shot at the big girl. Personally, I think the record will be caught within the next 5 years somewhere.
Note on Dale, the slot limit and Catch and Release has made a 5lb fish almost non-mentionable at the tackle shops around the lake. Even the guides will not mention size until the poundage is in the 6's. Plus, the fish are just plain huge at Dale. I landed a 6-6 on Dec 30 that was just barely over 21". I know a guy that landed a 18 1/2 incher that weighed 5-6. The fish are so broad it is incredible. I think Dale has a much better shot of producing the record for they stock Rainbow Trout in the lake and Bass love trout. The Smallies rule the roost at Dale. Yes there are Largemouth, Crappie and a few Muskie but they stopped stocking Muskie several years ago. Look at Clear Lake in California that is producing all the (OH MY GOD IT'S A GIANT) Largemouth, Clear Lake stocks rainbows and I read that a rainbow swim bait is producing huge fish, both numbers and weight. I know a guy, even saw a picture, that caught a 5 lb smallie at Dale last year that had a 12 inch rainbow in it gullet MINUS THE HEAD. This had to be a 15 inch rainbow to begin with and the fish still got caught on the fly. The trout stocking at Dale plus no Stripers means more food for Smallies.
Just my opinions.
Tight Lines
