Fishing Deep....What would you use?

[mhall]

Couple yrs ago I read on this site where some guys really whacked em on DH with jigging spoons in December. They were marking fish, if I remember correctly, in 35-50'. Me and my buddy were down there at the same time throwing FNF and Little George. We marked fish in 35-50' but didn't have spoons with us. When I see that again on DH I'll be ready.

How many guys on here catch fish at DH or C-Land on jigging spoons? If so, what months do you have your best luck?

When I set out to do it for some reason I usually fail. However I have had some good success sporadically when chasing fish in open water. I keep one tied on for when they are schooling or in the jumps. After the jump dies down and the pod or pods of shad go down pulling the fish throw that spoon under where you were just catching fish on top or your shallow water column you were in. Bingo, they will usually whack it and I mean hit them hard to. Let it fall and rip it up aggressively and hang on, it can be bone jarring strikes or just a simple little tick on the line. They usually hit it on the fall after ripping it up.

I did this a few yeas Ago at Dale and was catching Smallmouth, largeheads and Magnum Spots doing this, too much fun.

[mybentrod]

What time of year was that?

[mhall]

First week of June believe it or not. I whacked'em that week, I caught alot of fish that week with several honker smallmouth. Had one that weighed 5lb and 2oz, but that one came on a spinnerbait. All of it was daytime early morning bite to, it was a family vacation and I was sneaking out when I could.

[mybentrod]

Thats why Dale Hollow is so hard. Wouldn't have expected to get that kind of bite in June. Thats a rewarding sneak away. I always think that the Karma God is watching when I do that kinda stuff. OHHHHH SNEAKING AWAY HUH???......How about some mechanical trouble. or a good morning storm. It seems to always keep me true.

[mhall]

If somebody would have told me I was gonna have that kinda bite that time of year on Dale I would have laughed at them but it happened. I had four mornings in a row where I was catching fish on topwater and slightly subsurface. Two of those four mornings I caught fish in the jumps busting threadfin shad pods. Maybe it was just meant to be I guess. Go to the photo board and I think it's on page four or so and you can see the pic of that 5.2 brown one. All fish released and hopefully still swimming. I did keep a few Spots one morning for a family fish fry, but certainly no largeheads and especially no smallmouth.