Dale Hollow Lake (Report)

[BRS]

Probably since the 1st of Oct we have fished Dale about 3 times and that is pretty well all we did. As for as catching any smallmouths they were very very few. It is just like the fish quit biting and none to be found. Just wondering if anyone else is doing any good on the lake? Fish Laurel I think it was Tuesday night and my partner caught 1 smallmouth probably a good 3 pounder and that was it. Fished from daylight up to about 11PM. Thinking about going back to Dale for one more night of fishing but would like to know if anyone else has been catching anything before making the trip.


Thanks

[bigwormy]

you are one dedicated fisherman to fish from daylight til 11pm with only one fish! you da man!!! and i have had many, many days on dale like that. but, it will be rewarded by an all out slugfest day!

[BRS]

[QUOTE=bigwormy;388789]you are one dedicated fisherman to fish from daylight til 11pm with only one fish! you da man!!! and i have had many, many days on dale like that. but, it will be rewarded by an all out slugfest day![/QUOTE

Sorry about that quote daylight to 11pm. I meant to say it was daylight when we started fihing probably around 5 that evening. The way Dale hollow or Laurel lake is right now it would not surprise me if I did start at daylight and catch nothing though.

[elnutsmalljaws]

[QUOTE=BRS;388798]

you are one dedicated fisherman to fish from daylight til 11pm with only one fish! you da man!!! and i have had many, many days on dale like that. but, it will be rewarded by an all out slugfest day![/QUOTE

Sorry about that quote daylight to 11pm. I meant to say it was daylight when we started fihing probably around 5 that evening. The way Dale hollow or Laurel lake is right now it would not surprise me if I did start at daylight and catch nothing though.

How deep have you been fishing is my first question? The fish at Dale have still been fairly deep in the 10-25 foot range on main and secondary points but are being caught on jigs. Dale can be very stingy at times but pretty good other times but I have not seen a clear lake that is not this way.

[redrockerbassnutt]

fished dale today and struggled big time.had 9 bites from daylight to dark and only swung two in the boat.they were'nt holding on to it just thump it and not move off.most all bites came about 20-25'.never left ky side and i dont think anyone else from ky did either,kept seeing the same boats over and over.the last couple years it seems nobody wants to buy a tenn. license.cant say i blame them with the economy in the crapper but ky side is getting hammered!i might have to join ELNUTT on the tenn. side!!

[gillman]

A friend and I fished all day on the Tenn. side Wed. and caught only three short fish. The guy I was fishing with is fishing a tornment down there today and said caught six fish. They sound like some good fish,with two 19"smallmouth, but could not keep those. he said he had one largemouth he could weigh in.

[elnutsmalljaws]

fished dale today and struggled big time.had 9 bites from daylight to dark and only swung two in the boat.they were'nt holding on to it just thump it and not move off.most all bites came about 20-25'.never left ky side and i dont think anyone else from ky did either,kept seeing the same boats over and over.the last couple years it seems nobody wants to buy a tenn. license.cant say i blame them with the economy in the crapper but ky side is getting hammered!i might have to join ELNUTT on the tenn. side!!

Come to the dark side or is it the TN side of Dale Hollow Lake. A lot more water, lot more structure and a lot better opportunity to catch some really good smallmouth in TN waters versus KY waters. Spend the extra money on the TN liscense and stop wasting all that money on the trips only to fish part of the lake and it is the worse part of the lake at that. Basically you are limiting yourself to the Wolfe River system unless you run to the north side of Sulphur or Pusley. The Obey River is what originally provided the Smallmouth action and it is clearer water better smallmouth water versus the Wolfe. Spend the money and come to the dark side.

[opie13]

Fished last Sunday and had 10, with 4 over 4 lbs. The biggest weighed 4lb 12 oz. They were caught fishing live bait on the bottom. I do almost all of my fishing in Tn. Can't wait for the FNF bite to get started. I'm ready to throw the buggy whip.

[BRS]

fished dale today and struggled big time.had 9 bites from daylight to dark and only swung two in the boat.they were'nt holding on to it just thump it and not move off.most all bites came about 20-25'.never left ky side and i dont think anyone else from ky did either,kept seeing the same boats over and over.the last couple years it seems nobody wants to buy a tenn. license.cant say i blame them with the economy in the crapper but ky side is getting hammered!i might have to join ELNUTT on the tenn. side!!

This is the same thing that me and my partner have been going through. Fish very hard and not very much to show for it and I am talking about the last 3 times we have fished Dale and that has took place probably since first of Oct. Did real good through the summer months fishing deep on main lake points and we thought the fish would be on the banks by now with the water temp in the low sixtys. I have no problem fishing deep if they will bite but it is just like they have quit biting all together since the water temp has dropped. I thought with the water temp down around sixty a person would get eat up throwing the banks but I got it figured wrong somewhere. Very strange I think but me and my partner are thinking about going back tomorrow since it is looking to be a very nice day and night to looks like. Thanks to everyone for the reports!

[BRS]

Come to the dark side or is it the TN side of Dale Hollow Lake. A lot more water, lot more structure and a lot better opportunity to catch some really good smallmouth in TN waters versus KY waters. Spend the extra money on the TN liscense and stop wasting all that money on the trips only to fish part of the lake and it is the worse part of the lake at that. Basically you are limiting yourself to the Wolfe River system unless you run to the north side of Sulphur or Pusley. The Obey River is what originally provided the Smallmouth action and it is clearer water better smallmouth water versus the Wolfe. Spend the money and come to the dark side.

Elnutsmalljaws I would not brush the KY side off altogether that is where the world record came from if not mistaken. But with out a doult there is a lot more fishing on the TN side.

[BRS]

[QUOTE=elnutsmalljaws;388805]

How deep have you been fishing is my first question? The fish at Dale have still been fairly deep in the 10-25 foot range on main and secondary points but are being caught on jigs. Dale can be very stingy at times but pretty good other times but I have not seen a clear lake that is not this way.

That is the pattern that we used all summer and done pretty good but it has not produced since the water temp has started to drop. Last 3 times back it was like the fish had lock jaw could not hardly get a bite of any kind. I thought with the water temp dropping things were only to get better but for some reason it just has not happen. Thanks for the report.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Elnutsmalljaws I would not brush the KY side off altogether that is where the world record came from if not mistaken. But with out a doult there is a lot more fishing on the TN side.

It was caught on the Ky side, which is why it is also recognized as the KY record. The spot it was caught is no more than a mile or so from where the Wolfe and Obey meet each other in the Lillydale area. I do fish this area but no where near as much as the TN side. Just too much water and different opportunites on the TN side and when you pattern the fish, you can run this pattern to so many more spots on the TN side versus the KY side. Plus, I am speaking of FNF winter fishing and the water is just more stable when it comes to water clarity when you get out of the Wolfe River. The Obey is clearer and does not dirty up as bad and the mid lake area down to the dam is clearer and it takes a lot to dirty it up. True believer that the fish HAVE to see the fly before it works its best because not a lot of movement in the presentation for them to use their lateral line, no rattle or noise for them to focus in on so pretty much the fish dope for smell and the sight is how they find the bait. this is why depth and presentation is so much more important in fishing the fly than any other thing because you have to put it in front of them to hit it. Just too many opportunies to fish deep grass, shallo grass, black shale, chunk riock, ledges, humps and other stuff in TN waters versus the Ky waters. I have spent a lot of time on Dale Hollow overall and spent a lot of time in KY waters but never had the luck or whatever you call it to catch the better quality smallmouth. I did lose my biggest fish ever after she straightened my hook out on my FNF jig in Feb 2005 in Ky reciprocating water less than a couple 100 yards from where the world record was caught but have yet to land a 5+ pounder and not many 4+ pounders on the Ky side. I catch way more Spotted bass and largemouth in the Wolfe River versus Smallies. The other thing that I have to fight is in my own mind with 3 over 6 and another 35 or so over 5 and 200 or so over 4 all caught in TN water, just can't leave these spots to go fish the Wolfe or any other part of the lake unless I absolutely have to. I catch 99% of my fish from Lillydale down to a couple miles south of First Island on the main lake and a couple of miles south of Lillydale into the Obey River. Pretty much almost 5-6 miles either way of Hendricks Creek is where you will find my boat.