Dale Hollow Lake Familiarization

[FlyLie]

Retired on Lake Cumberland earlier this year and enjoy fishing there. This location also puts me about 30-45 minutes from Dale Hollow and I want to get started chasing those Dale Hollow Smallmouth I hear so much about. I'm not familiar with DH at all and need to get some basic information on lake structure. Currenty, I have a Novionics (chip) map in my GPS unit and a "Fishing HotSpots" map. I also plan to purchase an "Atlantic" map, which I understand is superior to HotSpots. However, to the best of my understanding, none of these identify the locations of the "grass beds", which I am very intersted in locating. So, my question is "can anyone recommend or steer me toward a source for such informaition, i.e., maps, books, articles? Any and all information will be appreciated.

As I will be coming in from the Jamestown, KY area, I suspect most of my fishing will be in the Northeast area of the lake; Illwill -Sulphur Creek, Wolf and Obey river areas. At least, those are the areas of interest at this time.

Good Fishing To All,
Boone

[know1]

Retired on Lake Cumberland earlier this year and enjoy fishing there. This location also puts me about 30-45 minutes from Dale Hollow and I want to get started chasing those Dale Hollow Smallmouth I hear so much about. I'm not familiar with DH at all and need to get some basic information on lake structure. Currenty, I have a Novionics (chip) map in my GPS unit and a "Fishing HotSpots" map. I also plan to purchase an "Atlantic" map, which I understand is superior to HotSpots. However, to the best of my understanding, none of these identify the locations of the "grass beds", which I am very intersted in locating. So, my question is "can anyone recommend or steer me toward a source for such informaition, i.e., maps, books, articles? Any and all information will be appreciated.

As I will be coming in from the Jamestown, KY area, I suspect most of my fishing will be in the Northeast area of the lake; Illwill -Sulphur Creek, Wolf and Obey river areas. At least, those are the areas of interest at this time.

Good Fishing To All,
Boone

I hope you become an expert by Dec. 18!

[elnutsmalljaws]

A rule of thumb that I started with is MOST of the areas on your Atlantic Mapping system map that shows areas of water in less than 20 feet at summer pool will have grass growing. There are some grass beds as deep as 30 feet or so at summer pool. The better grass beds are located next to deep water (ie, river or creek channels), with possibly a point or some black shale close by as well. The grass is tough to get used to as far as fishing goes. Took me some time to figure out how to best fish it and I still barely know how and don't consider myself close to being fully educated on the topic. I will say that I fish Dale in the summer at night and all winter long. I travel from central Ky and can be at Wisdom Dock, Illwill, the easiest of all the docks. But 98% of my fishing is done in TN water. I rarely fish the Wolf River, unless there is a major temperature change, water clarity or something else that my spots in TN are not producing. You will find more grass beds, islands, humps, ledges, etc in TN water than the Wolf River. Again, I don't fish the Wolf unless the TN bite is completely off, but just me, but I catch more and bigger smallmouth in TN water. This being said, most winter Black Bass tourneys, are won up in the Wolf River where they catch more Greenfish and Spots. But for pure Smallie chasing, I would make sure I got me a TN liscense and just did not limit myself to Ky waters. I fish First Island north to Lillydale most of the time plus some spots a few miles up into the Obey and just think more Smallies are available there than and Reciprocating Water area, just my opinion.

By the way, I will get with Steve Headrick, for he was in the process of writing a book on "How To" fish Dale Hollow with maps, outlining the grass beds and other structure, lures and other stuff for all seasons. He was in the process last year and I don't know if he is done with it or not, but with the recent passing of Cobby Hayes, my guess, hands down, NOBODY knows more about that lake than Steve. I know he has been busy with BPS, Gander Mountain, his store, BBQ, internet and lure making business and the book was the lowest priority but maybe he will get it done soon

See you at the get together

[FlyLie]

Elnut,
Thanks for all the good information, especially on locating the grass beds. Also, would be very interested in getting a copy of Steve's book when it comes on the market. See if you can jack him up!

Also, looking forward to meeting you at the get together. Looks like we are going to have a good group present. Also, noticed the get together was announced on a relatively new TN site which focuses on Dale Hollow (Dale Hollow Lake Fishing).


Fish Long and Prosper,
Boone