KevO

I haven't been back since, the 2nd but the temps have dropped back into the high 40's. I'll probably go Saturday, look for transition banks near spawning areas. They will be loaded up with smallies, and LM.

red clay banks, with grass. I still keep the boat in 25-30' but they will be shallow. A-rig, C-rig, Jerkbaits, flukes, jigs.

It was 50-52 from the dam to first island Friday. This week is going to be cooler so the temps will drop some, I'd imagine they will be around 60 if it gets warm again, and stays that way.

I caught this one Friday. 21.5" 5lbs even.

It's pretty tough right now, we had a big shad kill a couple weeks ago when the lake froze. The fish are pretty keyed on dead shad. I may go saturday, not sure yet. If I do, I'll be throwing a shad rap, jerkbait, a-rig or blade bait.

I'm going Saturday to try the day time bite, a buddy caught a few last weekend during the day but its still slow. Cooler weather will help, I'd wait until November if I was you.

I just put one on a Megabass Orochi XX F5-75 extreme mission. It's a pretty sweet combo!

Other than Ralph, I recommend Greg Brisendine or Bobby Gentry. I haven't heard of the other two guys. When are you wanting to go? Unless you are interested in night fishing, I would wait until late October if not later. Day time bite is non existent right now.

I use hog farmer bladed rigs, they use the best components. Man it sure does hurt to lose them though. I lost 2 two weeks ago and 1 Sunday, that's about $130 between rigs, jigheads and swimbaits. At least the smallies were eating it. I like keitech, big hammers, big bite cane thumpers, or skinny dipper swimbaits. I use 20# yo zuri hybrid but after losing a few rigs I am considering going up to 25# FC or back to braid. Haven't decided yet.

Nice fish. You should fish that bluff bank in the background... just saying

I read Billy's book once a year, and I learn something new about Fishing Dale Hollow every time. It really has made me a better fisherman.

Fishing wasn't very good for me at Dale hollow, but we still put a few in the boat. The ones we caught we're good ones though.

I ordered a St Croix avid X 7' MF last week, and received the 7' MM. I almost kept it for exactly what you are looking for.

In the truck.

Good to know I just bought this rod for all these same applications. Unfortunately, when it showed up it was the 7' m/m so I had to send it back. Hopefully I get the right rod by this weekend.

I would fish any point close to a channel swing even if its just a straight drop at the end of a bluff wall. Go back into the pockets and look for bait, if there's shad there will be something close by. I caught 5 Saturday, lost a couple, but had a lot of bites. It's still early and the water was pretty warm but the fish are moving up regardless. It will only get better from now until the end of the year. One thing to remember is the worse the weather is the better the fishing is at Dale. If its cold, windy, and raining/snowing don't cancel your trip.

I was up there 3 weeks ago, going again Saturday and every weekend from now until January. First day trip of the year 3 weeks ago, caught 2 on swimbaits, lost 3 others. Not bad considering the water was still way to warm. Hoping it cooled off some more by Saturday but my guess is its still too early. Anyway, Thanksgiving weekend I will be there all weekend too. Throw 1/2-3/4oz football jigs, swimbaits, talispinners, or blade baits. keep the boat in 30-40' and fish the points, main lake and in the creeks 15-30' deep. Just keep driving around fishing different type banks until you find which ones have fish. Make 10-15 casts and move on if you don't get any bites. It will work all over the lake.

I throw #5 shad raps on my 702 champion. They are only 3/16oz and I get plenty of distance with it. It is a great rod and IMO its more of a medium than a medium light. Night fishing in the summer, I throw 3/8oz hair jigs on it, with a trailer its pushing 1/2oz and it does not feel overpowered.

anything else? same rod blank?

Is there any difference between the original and the new X model besides the split grip? I guess the price went up since the last time I looked at them too.

Well, I've only had it for a month now, but it is an awesome trolling motor. The lift assist is worth its weight in gold. I had a maxxum on my previous boat and it was great too. I didn't know it when I bought the 70# maxxum, but if you get the 80# or higher model you can add the lift assist to it like the old maxxum pro's or the new fortrexx.

Caught a few this summer on the community hole at Wheeler state park, right in front of the cabins. Not much help I know, only been that one time.

The 3d structure scan looks awesome. I will be buying it.

You can buy jig heads and skirts from bass pro, cabelas, TW anywhere really. I buy my jig heads from Legal Limit Lures.

You can make your own. I buy the heads from a friend who makes jigs, and buy the skirts from other places. My jigs cost me about $1.50 each.