Dale Hollow vs. Watts Bar for Big Fish

[Smalliehound]

I'm curious if anyone has an opinion. I've been fishing DH for a couple of years now and have had some success.  Caught my first fish over 5lb and many 3-4+ fish.

But, for that fish of a lifetime, I'm wondering if you have to try WB or somewhere in the Tenn River chain. It had the lake record broke twice earlier in the spring. I just don't see DH producing thise type of big fish anymore.  At least on any consistent basis. I may be wrong. 

Anyway, just curious if anyone else has thought about it.

[Shimano_1]

I'm not a fan at all of dale hollow. Beautiful lake but desperately needs fish and game to step in and try to get the fish population up to speed. Lotta guys locally fish tournaments down there and never hear anyone say much positive.  The fishing can be decent but just isnt somewhere I'd be visiting often unless I lived really close.  

[22RangerZ520R]

Like Shimano_1 said, it's a gorgeous lake but for a true trophy I'd go elsewhere.  Yeah, it holds the world record smallie, but that was a while ago and there's a video on Utube that talks about how the lake isn't what it used to be as far as nutrients, etc.  Forgot what it's called, but it's the fish and wildlife guys talking about it.

[Smalliehound]

I've heard some of the biologist talk and think they're probably right. It's best days are behind it. 

It maybe takes something like what Cumberland went through to re-nutrient a lake. I've heard the smallmouth fishing has improved since the dam has been fixed andc water has come back up. Not that I've heard of any monsters yet. But, maybe soon. 

So, any recommendations?

[TnRiver46]

Watts bar is a great spot for them, theres also some great big ones in watauga and south holston . 

[Dwight Hottle]

Legendary waters but the great lakes system is a much higher percentage of catching a trophy as you define it. 

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Legendary waters but the great lakes system is a much higher percentage of catching a trophy as you define it. 

That certainly seems to be the case, those northern SMB are way fatter. If you fish TN for throphies, go from dec- Feb and dont forget Pickwick

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

That certainly seems to be the case, those northern SMB are way fatter. If you fish TN for throphies, go from dec- Feb and dont forget Pickwick

The Tennessee River below the Pickwick Dam might be the ticket.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/smallmouth_record.html

 

 

[Smalliehound]

Thanks guys. 

Speaking of great Lakes smallies, my wife and I got a chance to fish Traverse Bay in June. Absolutely amazing day.  See pics below. Unfortunately, those lakes are out of my reach for a quick weekend trip. 

But, watts bar and some of the others are not. I have fallen in love with night fishing. Are the mentioned lakes clear lakes like DH that are good for night fishing?

 

[TnRiver46]

Good gracious those are fat smallmouth! Watts bar is clearish right now but it can be a mud hole when it’s rainy. And it’s never as clear as the tributary lakes. South holston and watauga are almost always clear like DH. Norris is another good one like DH

[Oregon Native]

So many places....so little time

 

[Smalliehound]

You got that right.

[RB 77]

On 10/7/2019 at 3:41 PM, Smalliehound said:

Thanks guys. 

Speaking of great Lakes smallies, my wife and I got a chance to fish Traverse Bay in June. Absolutely amazing day.  See pics below. Unfortunately, those lakes are out of my reach for a quick weekend trip. 

But, watts bar and some of the others are not. I have fallen in love with night fishing. Are the mentioned lakes clear lakes like DH that are good for night fishing?

 

Those are some TANKS you two caught! That last one your wife is holding... HOLY COW!

[Smalliehound]

They were tanks for sure. It was a late spawn so these were all pre spawn fish and they were fat. I'm glad we didn't have to pull them off the nest because I'm not really into that. And amazing enough, that last fish my wife is holding wasn't the heaviest.

[Bird]

Smallmouth are legendarily beautiful fish. 

[GANGGREEN]

Yep, I love those beautiful TN lakes and very may end up there, at least seasonally before I'm done, but the smallmouth fishing up north is really hard to beat.  Admittedly, I've never caught an 8 or 9 pounder, but I can't imagine there are many/any southern guys who have caught as many 4s, 5s and 6s as I have in northern waters (and I watched a buddy catch a 7 LB 4 OZ fish in one of my spots this spring).  They're fun and beautiful most anywhere though.