Best smallie action of my life w/ a net busting triple

[lunkerbustin]

Thanks for the awesome pics, FishFinderGeneral.

Reading parts of this thread I'm reminded of Twain's famous quote, "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

I agree jealousy is a hard thing for some to deal with. That would be an awesome experience for anybody. Great job.

[Jbyrd]

I agree jealousy is a hard thing for some to deal with. That would be an awesome experience for anybody. Great job.

Jealous , are you refering to my reply? Not at all . Just looking at the pics looks like they were using live bait. An old timer once told me anyone can feed a fish, but it takes a good fisherman to fool one with a lure.

[bassmanshawn]

try ya something other then live bait see what ya catch lol good job guys hope ya put some back for seed anyways good luck

[Dave Clark]

I have an answer about the line question.I use low vis green so you can only see the line when the water is not the back ground.As far as live bait goes,I never have and never would.I used X raps and spoons.When pulling spoons behind boards I use the appropriate amount of weight to get them to the desired depth.Any one who does not believe me can hire me and I will turn you on to trolling for trophy smallies.Also,I have a strict rule,catch and release of all smallies and muskies.The muskie we got in March was not only a lake record but a state record and she still swims today because I was not willing to end her superior gene pool.(she was full of eggs)With the advances in repoductions a photo w/ length and girth mesurments is all you need.The small mouth is the life blood of the whole area around Dale hollow I can proudly say that I never keep smallies for any reason.Last year I had the pleasure of having the world famous Ralph Dallas (striper guide and taxidermist)share my boat .If anyone has a doubt about me releasing smallies and using live bait,ask him your self.Also I did 2 episodes of Fishing Country t.v. w/ Tony "Country" Dodson for Stike King Lures.Last i saw I don't think they make live bait.Although they probably hope their product resembles live bait.Thanks again for the kind words.....Dave http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/r...eptfish005.jpg Ralph Dallas with a sweet Dale Hollow Smallie on my boat......

[jcb]

FishFinder, a great fisherman must be patient and you sure are with the jealous ones on this board. Thanks for sharing the stories and pics.

[Jbyrd]

try ya something other then live bait see what ya catch lol good job guys hope ya put some back for seed anyways good luck

Fish only with lures ,no live bait and do quite well. And as Mr. general stated they where caught on lures so i guess that answers the question of what can be caught on something other than live bait.....
How many where keepers or did you measure them ?
AND once again nice fish

[Jbyrd]

I have an answer about the line question.I use low vis green so you can only see the line when the water is not the back ground.As far as live bait goes,I never have and never would.I used X raps and spoons.When pulling spoons behind boards I use the appropriate amount of weight to get them to the desired depth.Any one who does not believe me can hire me and I will turn you on to trolling for trophy smallies.Also,I have a strict rule,catch and release of all smallies and muskies.The muskie we got in March was not only a lake record but a state record and she still swims today because I was not willing to end her superior gene pool.(she was full of eggs)With the advances in repoductions a photo w/ length and girth mesurments is all you need.The small mouth is the life blood of the whole area around Dale hollow I can proudly say that I never keep smallies for any reason.Last year I had the pleasure of having the world famous Ralph Dallas (striper guide and taxidermist)share my boat .If anyone has a doubt about me releasing smallies and using live bait,ask him your self.Also I did 2 episodes of Fishing Country t.v. w/ Tony "Country" Dodson for Stike King Lures.Last i saw I don't think they make live bait.Although they probably hope their product resembles live bait.Thanks again for the kind words.....Dave http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/r...eptfish005.jpg Ralph Dallas with a sweet Dale Hollow Smallie on my boat......

Man I wish you hadn't said xraps and spoons only, because I blew up the photos and guess what NO BAITS IN THE FISH's mouths . That is why I said live bait because you can't see a hook. I know that fish can swallow a hook when using live bait so I had decide that yes it may be legit and not just an ad for guide service. THEN you said x-raps and spoons. Yea fish may swallow one out of sight ,but all three ???? HMMMM.............

[Jbyrd]

who cares if its dead or not. them some nice fish right there. let the guy have his peace and fun!

Well if it was dead I bet it was easy to net lol That was the point of the story all three at once and no baits in the mouth..........?????????

[Dave Clark]

Man I wish you hadn't said xraps and spoons only, because I blew up the photos and guess what NO BAITS IN THE FISH's mouths . That is why I said live bait because you can't see a hook. I know that fish can swallow a hook when using live bait so I had decide that yes it may be legit and not just an ad for guide service. THEN you said x-raps and spoons. Yea fish may swallow one out of sight ,but all three ???? HMMMM.............

You have 2 much time on your hands,I suggest you fish with some of that time instead of belittling others.If you look at the first photo under the triple you will see the middle fish CLEARLY has an X rap in it's mouth.The other two were caught on Little Cleos(barely over an inch long not visible through a rubber basket net).Do you have a rubber basket net?I got one because the Smallies tend to lay still in them making the quick and healthy release easy.In my original post I said nothing about being a guide.If people like what they see they can follow my link but I never push the fact on anyone,ever.Through out this exchange I believe you have shown your true strength of character.

[Jbyrd]

You have 2 much time on your hands,I suggest you fish with some of that time instead of belittling others.If you look at the first photo under the triple you will see the middle fish CLEARLY has an X rap in it's mouth.The other two were caught on Little Cleos(barely over an inch long not visible through a rubber basket net).Do you have a rubber basket net?I got one because the Smallies tend to lay still in them making the quick and healthy release easy.In my original post I said nothing about being a guide.If people like what they see they can follow my link but I never push the fact on anyone,ever.Through out this exchange I believe you have shown your true strength of character.

Good luck with your guide service and have a great day. Like my uncle always says it is your story you tell it like you want to.

Have a nice day and be careful out there on the water .

[stripernut]

by the way....what is wrong with live bait? and before you start, i use circle hooks and there is 100% hook rate in the corner of the mouth, and i mean 100%, better odds than the often gut hooked smallies and spots caught on shakyheads that we've caught over tha last few years. Man at the end of the day we are all fishermen, we all want the same thrill of catching the best the species has to offer, choose your weapon i'll choose mine somedays yours will beat mine others mine will beat yours, but i will never snort at your tecnique. and for the guy trolling on dale hollow, you have mastered an art....tight lines to you!

[Bass_King2007]

100% hook up??? yea come on nothing in life is 100%... espically smallies..