smallie question

[hydrasport175]

just got back from a fishing trip on dale hollow the water temp started at 59 degrees and at the end of the day was about 63 64 lake very clear i mostly fished lay down logs and trees from 8 feet to 25 feet of water did not catch anything was wondering the best lure to use in these trees and what other techniqes might have worked for this time of year in Tn thanks

[roadwarrior]

First of all, your temperature readings are misleading, lakes don't warm or cool quickly. The temperatures were a result of specific differences in surface reading at the various sites you measured.

I would be interested to hear what the guys that fish Dale Hollow regularly have to say, but as a general response, smallmouth relate to structure, not cover. I think you should focus on points, ledges, humps and boulders or rock piles.

Soft plastics are what I would suggest fishing, specifically tubes in deeper water. Grubs, GYCB Hula Grubs and Fat Ika (shallow) are other alternatives. A Silver Buddy is something else I would throw.

This time of year, jerkbaits and topwater are hot when the conditions are right. A 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade spinnerbait is something else to try, especially if you are targeting bigger smallmouth.

8-)