BORNTOFISH55 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Hi, I'm going to Dale Hollow lake in 10 days for a 3 day fishing trip for the smallies. I am new to smallmouth fishing. I have hired a guide. Any advice on what to bring, tackle, line, lures, strategy would be greatly appreciated Quote
Daniel My Brother Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Good move hiring a guide. I hope you have him on the first day. I've hired guides on a few occasions and have always caught fish. The one problem with guides is that they can make the fishing seem too easy. They put you on top of 'em, you chuck and wind, and soon enough you're catching fish. In real life it's never that easy, especially on new water. Make sure and ask plenty of questions of your guide, especially in regards to locating fish. Once you figure that out, selecting the right bait is just icing on the cake. Quote
BORNTOFISH55 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 i've hired the guide for the 3 days, but guides are there to put you on fish and all the guides probably find the same fish and use the same lures and techniques to catch them. I want to catch fish but i also want to catch them the way i want to catch them. the world record smallmouth came out of Dale Hollow back in 1955, i think the reason it hasn't been broken because the fish are condition to seeing the same lure over and over. wouldn't it be prudent to throw something they have never seen? Quote
bowfish12 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I would say you really need to ask the guide what you need to bring. If searched some of the guides websites and believe most will provide all tackle needed, but you will most likely want to take some jigs. Quote
NBR Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I'd ask the guide for suggestions on lures. Further, I'd question him regarding water temps and where the fish are and in what stage. I would think they would be in prespawn or spawn but I don't have a clue to the current water temps. It's been too long since I fished DH to recall for this time of year. If you are staying in a resort the folks there could also be helpful. Don't hire a local expert (guide) and micromange him. You are paying him to know the fishes stage, where they are and what works. Does the guide know how you want to catch them? Big question particuarly if you desired method is not effective at DH. If he is furnishing the tackle including lures go with it. Quote
ks cranker Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 i've hired the guide for the 3 days, but guides are there to put you on fish and all the guides probably find the same fish and use the same lures and techniques to catch them. I want to catch fish but i also want to catch them the way i want to catch them. the world record smallmouth came out of Dale Hollow back in 1955, i think the reason it hasn't been broken because the fish are condition to seeing the same lure over and over. wouldn't it be prudent to throw something they have never seen? LOL, that made me laugh! Quote
Chris W Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I fish Dale Hollow all the time live about 20 min away. The smallmouth fishing has been kind of spotty lately the largemouth fishing has been really good. We have had unseasonably warm weather the last 2 weeks but it looks like things are going to go back to normal after today. On D.H. hair jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are usually a good bet, the water temp has been as high as 58 degrees but looks like it is going to be falling after today we have some very cold rainy days coming. Good call on hiring a guide I have fished D.H. for over 20 years now and it is still the toughest lake I have ever fished. Listen to what the guide says he knows the lake better than you. Quote
BORNTOFISH55 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 why you laughing KS cranker? to busy to reply just make fun? Quote
BORNTOFISH55 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 Bob Coan is the guide i hired. he said he only guides for smallmouth because there weren't many largemouth or spots in Dale Hollow. Quote
ks cranker Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 why you laughing KS cranker? to busy to reply just make fun? Never been to DH, so don't have any suggestions to you. But just because it's in the sticks doesn't mean they are still using Pradco Spinrites... Quote
BORNTOFISH55 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 ya think but all the guides are using the same lures and baits on the same fish, any animal, warm blooded or cold that sees the same thing over and over is going to get spooky. smallmouth are aggresive and curious and if something different comes by they will check it out Quote
Chris W Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Bob Coan is the guide i hired. he said he only guides for smallmouth because there weren't many largemouth or spots in Dale Hollow. There are tons of Largemouth and Spots they are just up the lake more so than the Smallmouth there are some very big largemouth too. My neighbor had a 7lb15oz and a 8lb1oz largemouth last week. Quote
NBR Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 BORNTOFISH55, There are thousands who pull their boat to DH every year and thousands more who bring their own tackle and rent a boat so your chances of bringing a heretofor unseen lure are slim and none. Quote
stratosjoe Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 I have fished with Bob out of Horse Creek three times good guy what he meant was at the dam end smallies prevail. If you go with the attitude that you are going to catch them YOUR way on YOUR baits you are in for a rude awakening. If you truly feel this way about seeing something new why did you hire a guide? Just curious Joe g Quote
Smalleychaser Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 Hello, first time here but wanted to drop my 2 cents worth. Was on Dale a week ago and went out with Keith Palmiero, also out of Horse Creek Resort and had a great day. 20 fish all between 3 and 4.5 lbs. We were fishing flats off the main lake and up in the creeks a little ways. Fishing pea gravel flats with a swim bait, the Big Hammer in a shad with chartruce back. we were staying over 20-25 ft of water and making long casts to the bank and swimming the bait back really slow just ticking the grass and bottom now an then. The only thing I can say is hold on to your rod because they will try to take it away from you. LOL! Also you may want to take a red craw Bandit 300 with you, also were catching fish. Before you go check out smalljaw.com. Those guys on there are really helpful and will give you some great advise. Hope you have a great trip and hope you get a sore arm. Quote
ks cranker Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Hi, I'm going to Dale Hollow lake in 10 days for a 3 day fishing trip for the smallies. I am new to smallmouth fishing. I have hired a guide. Any advice on what to bring, tackle, line, lures, strategy would be greatly appreciated Borntofish55 How did the fishing go? Quote
stratosjoe Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 If he told Bob Coan how to fish Dale he might be an anchor Quote
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