5 day trip to Dale (REPORT)

[BubbaBass1]

Tough!

THis was going to be a one word report. But I can't do that.

most of the places we went was high 50's water temp. most of the lake had good clarity. Not the typical Clear water that Dale is known for.

My brother had his boat and my son and I was in my boat.

Wed - (Blue Bird Skies) On the water less than an hour. My brother was cranking a point about 100 yards from me and spent 20 minutes bringing in 4 smallies. biggest 19 inches smallest 14 or 15. Nothing the rest of the day. (his 1st time ever on Dale Hollow). I thought he was going to fall out of the boat. He was shook. I think he may be back just because of that flurry the first hour on the water. My son and I blanked for the day.

Thurs. another tough day. I managed to catch 2 KY's (jig). My brother had a SM (jig) right before the rain Thursday night. My son blanked.

My son is 16. very competitive. and knows how to fish. he is absolutly beside himself(blanked two days in a row). he has thrown most everything he can think of. (cranks, shakey, lizard, jig, jerkbait, speed craw, brush hawg) he's not very happy.

Friday - Real windy - my son and I caught 6 - 2 SM and 4 LM. He is not so mad now. jerkbait - spinnerbait. We spent 5 hours in about a 200 yard stretch of bank. mostly sandy or pea gravel with some trees at the edges. We just kept going back and every pass we would catch a bass or two.

My best fight ever (with a fish). We are frustrated so we went to the marina and bought two dozen minnows. Drag a minnow mabe pick up a crappie or even a SM. We where in a pocket on this stretch and a SM broke the surface behind the boat. I seen her swirl and told my son and he said where did she go; about that time my crappie rod almost went into the drink, and I said right there. I picked up that spinning rod and set the hook. I THINK SHE GOT MAD. She went berzirk. I thought she should have had a pilots license. SHe went airbourne at least twice, under the boat twice, and strippin drag the whole time. My son (best net man in the business) not his favorite title, gets her in the net. 19" smallie. I almost went IKE. I WAS JUICED. My son had two LM and a SM this day and I had the same.

Saturday - FOG - THICK FOG - I caught 1 LM 18" and a SM 13" back to back cast in the same spot. (spinnerbait) this was real late in the day. Creeks muddied up. Can't remember how my brother did.

Sunday - bluebird day - My son and I went back to the 200 yard stretch came up with 2 SM. 16.5" and 13.5". The last 30 minutes of fishing - throwing a spinner bait. Get the bait almost all the way back to the boat and BAM! Fish hit and instantly stripped drag. I got maybe three cranks and she came unbuttoned. This was a big fish! As usual the big one got away. Off the water around 11am and back home. SAD TO GET BACK HOME. My wife won't read this so I can say that here.

Pretty slow for the most part. But we had our moments.

I hope this helps someone. If not I hope it was entertaining.

BB1

[Tyme2fish]

Great report and good read on the story telling. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[Chubminnow]

Nice detailed reoprt, appreciate the effort. I agree about the sad to be back home thing, you would think after plenty of time on the water like that going back home would be ok, but this is usually not the case, at least not for me. But on the bright side there are plenty of folks out there who only dream of spending a week on a lake somewhere.

[mhall]

Great report and good read on the story telling. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Ditto.