Dale....Thur and Fri

[elnutsmalljaws]

Went to Dale to pre-fish for the Toyota Tourney that was scheduled for today. Thur 65 degree air temp and I think 65 MPH winds, actually 15-25 with gust to 35 ALL DAY LONG blowing straight out of the south. Water temp was anywhere from 45 to 51 depending on where I was at on the lake. Ran 30 miles total trying to find some largemouth and spots to go along with a couple of Smallies for the tourney. Caught 4 smallies all day, 1 main lake bluff, 1 creek channel bluff, 1 deep main lake point, last fish on a creek bluff way up in creek. Fish spread out which I thought they would be with the unseasonbly mild temps I figured the fish would roam all over the place. All 4 were smallies, all 4 FNF with 2 under the slot and 2 in the slot. 1 was perfect 15 3/4 incher for tourney that weighed 2-4 with biggest being 5-0, 19 incher. Fished from daylight to dark, rough ride all over the lake trying to find some fish. First of 4 took a while to catch and then I made a change to my FNF and caught the last 3 rather quickly. Sorry not going to reveal my change just yet in case the Toyota tourney is rescheduled. Friday, 30 degrees with COLD wind straight out of the NORTH about 10 mph just enough to make it uncomfortable. Started on the Northern banks that I could not fish on Thursday for I figured the wind would have stired up the bank plus found warmer water that had been blown in. Caught 3 smallies immediately on main lake bluff all under the slot and had 1 real good fish around 5 get off at the boat thanks to me hitting the anti reverse button as I am trying to net the big girl. Went to one other Northern bank and caugh 2 more smallies before abandoning that pattern to try to find some bucketmouths. All 5 were caught on FNF with the new method from the same day. Went to a couple of new spots that I had never fished before on a tip from one of the local guides that I got Thursday night. Paid off very well with 3 keeper largemouths, one being 3 1/2 pounds and 2 keeper spots within about 3 hours. Sorry but not going to tell what they were caught on just yet. Then the real fun starts, I go to start my boat and no luck. I continue to try and try to start my boat with no luck. 30 minutes later and no luck. I don't even smell gas from all the choking that I am doing so I presume it is fuel filter or fuel pump related. So I start trolling out. 2 hours later working on my 2nd battery and finally I flag someone down and it is the game warden that has checked me 3 times in the last 4 trips. He tows me to the marina and I call Mercury and Bass Pro for my boat and motor are still under warranty. 2 guys at the marina help for a while to no avail. Mercury tells me that there is no authorized service dealer in the area that can fix my motor. So I load her up on the trailer and head to the cabin to load up and head back to Newburgh IN. Not a happy camper at all. Best part was wading my big hind end out in 45 degree water to hook the wench strap to my boat out behind my trailer. 45 degree water, 35 degree air temp, with north wind blowing to boot, 350 pound man, layered to the tilt, wading in 3 feet of water. I was so mad at Mercury and Bass Pro at this time, I was not even cold. So mad that I had everything itemized to sale by the time I got back home (5 hour drive) that night. Down to price tag and all. I figured that I could sale all my tackle, rods and reels to make up what I will lose off the boat. As you can tell not a happy camper. I have come to my senses but my boat better be repaired by Thursday or you may hear of some big man going postal at the Cincinnati Bass Pro very soon. The trip starts out with supper with Bobby Westmoreland and ends up with me wading in ice water to trailer a broken boat. Luckily for work and my wife, I got out before the weather hit or I would still be there (unlucky for me for where better to be snowed in than Dale Hollow Lake in the winter with a world record swimming somewhere in that body of water). Yes, I would have been out in it Yesterday and today, tourney or not, cold or not, snow or not, ice or not.

Tight Lines

[scaly1]

Sorry to hear about your boat troubles. Hopefully Mercury and BPS will make things right for you. Keep us posted on how things go.

Newburgh is a real neat community. I have several relatives out that way.

Better days, Brian.

[bassinman]

Hey there fellow smallmouth hunters.I am new to FNF and going to dale this weekend. I would appreciate some info on how the float attaches to the 3-way and what kind of float works best.We dont have much call for this rig up here on the north fork of the elkhorn(cant find any water much over 10 feet deep)I"ve been fishing with shiners and was wanting to try fnf.we got into big school of smallies last janurary down at cumberland lake.We caught 2-6.5"s,1-7 and 1-7 largemouth and 10 keeper spots that dayon shiners. Would appreciate any advice.

[elnutsmalljaws]

I will be taking out of the State Park Saturday morning at sunrise. Tracker Pro V 17, 90 Merc (If it gets repaired in time) Will gladly show you what I know if interested. I don't fish the 3-way rig but can show you how it is done. I wrap the bobber straight to my line. Look me up if interested.

Tight Lines

[bassinman]

Thanks for the info. A bunch of us (6 in 3 boats}are headed down on friday morning to fish friday and saturday. I'll be in a 1957 Richline Smallmouth Special with a 85 Johnson,hope to run into you.

[elnutsmalljaws]

I still have not gone to the 3-way swivel rig as of yet. Considering trying it and even bought a spool of Fireline for this very reason. I still use 6lb test P Line the majority of the time and wrap the line around the bottom of the bobber 3 times. It has worked real well for me. I did spool up with 4lb test as I did this time last year for I believe the bite gets tougher the later in the year and whether or not it helps I think it does. The advantage I believe in going to the 3 way will be the added distance in casting the Fireline. 8lb test Fireline has 2lb diameter so I should get added distance on each cast. I will still use 4 or 6 lb P Line leader below the swivel.

Tight Lines

[Don Smith]

Attach your leader to the 3 way, then to your main line (if you tie palomar knots), otherwise, good luck. Bobber simply attaches to the only loop left on the 3 way, the same way that it attaches to your line.

I use the 3/4 to 1 inch round weighed bobbers. Stop in at one of the local bait shops and get one designed for the FNF if possible. You won't be able to see the weight, it will be removed from the end, and placed in the center of the bobber.

Using a weighed bobber out of the package will still work, but not as well. Its great to know when your jig has hit bottom (the floater will not stand up), or when a brown gets real sneaky and comes up with the jig, it will lay over. Thats a real plus in my book.

If you want detailed information on how to modify your own bobbers, find a post by jigman73, I stole all mine off him, lol.

I'd tell you how myself, but I usually end up throwing away 4 out of 5!

Don

[redneckshadrap]

Excellent report...I have some pictures to post from Sat. A couple of buddies of mine went down to fish to Toyota tourney....

Redneckshadrap
www.thecreekbank.com
[email protected]