The next WR Smallie?

[TEE]

Agree...it will probably come on a 10" shiner! LOL Seriuosly though I agree that it will come from Dale and more than likely it will be someone who doesn't frequent the lake that much and will probably be trolling for Muskies or somethin'...usually the way it works:)
And I also agree it will come from the dam side of the lake vs. the KY side like before. The lake has changed since then and most all the good structure (drop offs) are on the dam side.
Just a cents worth....

[Chubminnow]

However the fish is caught as long as it is caught by legal means is quite alright by me...whether it be a tried and true smallmouth fisherman or someone else, it doesn't matter to me as long as the means of catching it is legal...

Elnut - It's a fact that Mr. Hays was using a Bomber when he caught the record out of Dale, a pearl Bomber to be exact, and you're also correct in mentioning that he wasn't necessarily fishing for small mouth when he caught the fish...although like you, I can't remember all the details in how he caught the fish that day either...

I do have a question for anyone here that can answer it...As Elnut mentioned, he knows a guide who scuba dives Dale and saw a fish that "looked" to be 12lbs...my question is does anyone have a guestimate as to how old a 12lb smallmouth would be??

[MASBASS]

I believe there are new WR's out there as we speak in a lot of lakes, not just Kentucky or Dale. What about Cumberland which has several good smallmouth in it or even Green which has a good population of smallies in it. I have a friend that scuba dives in green and has seen some very large Smallies in it, but the question is will someone catch one of them.

Now if one is going to be caught I would put money on Dale for the simple reason every year there are thousands of fisherman fishing for smallies only. The funny thing is I believe it will be someone using minnows fishing for Walleye or Crappie or something like that, it is just the way it goes.

As far a Scuba diving and seeing a new world record. I scuba dived in Dale, many years ago, and have see some VERY large smallies in there. I will also tell you I do not have the experience to judge a fish size underwater because they do look about 20%-30% bigger. I am not saying I do not believe they story I am just saying I know enough to mistrust my estimate on size in the water. I have bow fished some and I can judge fish pretty well several times I have shot a 6-7 lb carp in the water to find out that it was 4-5 in the boat so I know how it works. I also know that some people that scuba dive a lot have the experience to judge the fishes size underwater so you do not know until it hits the scales I guess.

[jigman73]

I personally believe that there are WR and SR fish out there in the lakes swimming around right now. I also believe that they will not be caught be a bass fisherman. I have friend that dives for the KSP and he goes down in Cumberland and Laurel frequently and he has told stories that will amaze you (unless you dive yourself),at least they amazed me. I also talked to a elderly gentleman that used to striper fish all the time on Cumberland before the Hayes fish was revoked and he had caught a few smallies 10-11 lbs in his day, not to mention the fish that he had caught over 8 lbs. He swore that he had a smalley on one day that would have been around 15 lbs. He said that he that it was a small striper until it started jumping and came off 10 feet from the boat. He said that all the big smallies that he had ever caught come from very deep water (in excess of 80 feet). Now I don't know if he was telling the truth or not, but, take C-land for instance, where the water is very deep and where there are some shad that stay relatively deep year round, why would these fish need to come to up to depths where bass fisherman would have a chance to catch them. There is none other than to spawn and with clear water fish can spawn deeper than we all fish during the spawning season. So, yes I do think that there are some really large, record breaking fish in KY, but us bass anglers will not ever catch one. IF one is ever caught, it will be caught by someone fishing large, live bait in very deep water.
Lee

[plowboy]

Maybe I did take you the wrong way thebassman30. I'm just taking up for all those guides and fishermam in general that use live bait sometimes. Even Fred McClintock who is a legend in the Dale Hollow area, as well as being inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame uses live bait (at least for stripers). Live bait fishing is also the life blood of bass guides in places like Florida. Everyone has a right to an opinion including you. By the way I've had my butt kicked fishing live bait in the same boat when another guy was fishing a jig and other days I've kicked his butt 10 to 1. You just never know.

[TEE]

Lemme' let you in on a little known secret...At certain times of the year, shiners is the only way to go.
I won't go into detail but, right before winter hit..my wife and I spanked em' good in 40 to 50 ft. of water. What other bait you gonna' use besides a spoon or drop shot (and neither will work that good when drift fishin'that deep)?
That's why even the guides use em'. I have also seen times in the spring when they wouldn't even sniff a lure and absolutely KILL a shiner.
I always have em' handy and what's not used goes into a aereated tank until the next time:)

[Chubminnow]

I asked earlier but didn't recieve any response, figured I'd ask again...Does anyone here have any idea how old a 12lb smallmouth would be?

[plowboy]

Chubminnow here is what I have read about the Hayes record smallmouth.
The Hayes record smallmouth bass was between 12 and 13 years old when caught. “That was probably a pre-impoundment fish,” Kinman said. “The fish had that excellent growth rate that comes with new reservoirs.
You can read the entire article at http://www.gcnewsgazette.com/article...ews/news62.txt

[TEE]

Here's what I just read in Bassmasters...they say a 12" smally up north may be 6 years old. Smallies down south are rarely older than 12 to 13 years (guesstimated).

[Fishin_4_Fun]

at least by any natural means. Maybe some genetic engineering, or stocking abundant SM forage of some kind might get close, but I doubt it. I wouldn't bet my life on the validity of the 11-15 either. Records back then are simply not as reliable as records being recorded today.

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I'd rather be catchin! :7

[elnutsmalljaws]

If they keep stocking rainbows in Dale and keep the slot in place for another 5-7 years, I believe the record will be broken and Dale. There is no comparison to the QUALITY of fish that I have landed this year versus last year on the FNF. I don't get to fish Dale very often and maybe I have just lucked into a bunch of good quality fish but everything I hear from those in the know at Dale say the fishery is making leaps and bounds every year.

Dale Hollow record Smallie, Late March 2011, Smithwich Rouge, 10lb Test, Curado, G Loomis, Woody's Cove caught by ME.......I sure hope Cliff or Rob are in the boat to play the role of NETBOY and PHOTO-OPPORTUNITY BOY when the big girl is landed.

Just my opinion

Tight Lines