Smallmouth on bed

[gillman]

I thought i would get to go to Dale Hollow this weekend, NO that not going to happen, life get in the way. Got to go to Chicago to help move my baby girl, she will always be my baby at 24, back to Lexington. Anyway its going to be April 6 0r 7 before I,ll get to go.What is the thought about the smallmouth bite a week down the road, will they be on bed or are they already, what do you guys think.

[TEE]

You'll be fine at that time....probably not til the end of April (usually)

[Chubminnow]

I don't think you're going to be missing anything by not making to Dale this weekend, not judging from the weather forecast anyway. From what I'm hearing the water temps are in the 51, 52 and 53 degree range. They need to come up just slightly and the bite should be on....so hopefully by you're April 7th or so date you mentioned things will have have improved over where they're at right now. But then again, regardless of weather conditions and water temps you can't catch'm if you don't go.

[smljaw]

Hope you're right about the bedding fish. I'll be on Dale April 9-11. I hope the weather is stable for us at that time. You never know about April though. I do know that April 9 is full moon so that should help.

I was looking through my tackle last night and respooling some reels. It sounds like I'll want to focus on fishing flukes, senkos, jerkbaits, grubs, hair jigs and the like. Maybe focus up in the creeks and work our way out? Am I on the right track here? I've never fished Dale in April. I've always been there October - Decemeber.

I can't wait to give it a go... All you guys heading to Dale Hollow!!! Keep the reports coming!!! Thanks!

[ryan_ekubass]

Hope you're right about the bedding fish. I'll be on Dale April 9-11. I hope the weather is stable for us at that time. You never know about April though. I do know that April 9 is full moon so that should help.

I was looking through my tackle last night and respooling some reels. It sounds like I'll want to focus on fishing flukes, senkos, jerkbaits, grubs, hair jigs and the like. Maybe focus up in the creeks and work our way out? Am I on the right track here? I've never fished Dale in April. I've always been there October - Decemeber.

I can't wait to give it a go... All you guys heading to Dale Hollow!!! Keep the reports coming!!! Thanks!

also check out smalljaw.com becuase it is a board much like this one that is solely dedicated to fishin the hollow.... i am sure them guys can help out alot too the website comes from horse creek i think...

[smljaw]

Thanks, Ryan! I checked that site yesterday. I will be do my best to stay connected before heading down on the 9th.

[demodan]

I'd say the brownies will spawning very very soon....55 degrees, and they will be getting right!

[gillman]

Thanks for the infor. and throughs fellows I feel must better now about having to wait until next weekend. And the through on what they maybe hitting, thanks also. that old Bumble Bee is setting up there in the barn biteing at the bit.

[thebassman30]

Last weekend we caught several male and female combos already paired up. I would say they are going to move up on the next moon and spawn then right back down. This would make for a pretty short window 5 days or so. However, there are many areas of the lake that aren't that far along so there will be a good batch on the new moon as well.

You can pretty much run the banks with grub and catch a bunch of bucks.

[gillman]

I don,t know about that moon busness but I do beleve there is something to it. I know it makes a differant in weening a calf or planting crops.I'll going to beable to go to the Hollow one or two days the week of the 9th, do you fellows think before the full moon or after would be the better bite.

[Barry2780]

what kind of grub?

[smljaw]

I want to hear more opinion about the moon. I'll be on Dale Hollow April 9-11. April 9 is the full moon. I've alwys heard that 2-3 days on both sides of the full moon is good. Any thoughts on this?

As for grubs, you will get lots of opinion on this topic. Most folks say 3"-5" grubs in green pumpkin, smoke, salt n pepper. Fish them on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz. head with 6-8 pound line. There is a really good article about grub fishing on www.smalljaw.com that gives more details and info.