4th Annual trip to DH with high hopes and lots of energy. Tried everything from steep dropoff bluffs to inside of flooded hollows. Tried points, laydowns, everything. Fished eight hours. Tried Ned rigs, T-rigged worms, curly tails, crank baits, ect. Caught about a dozen youngins but nothing over a pound. Once again an afternoon at Dale Hollow has brought me back down to earth and hammered home the realization that I have so much to learn. Anybody out there having success at DH? 

I’ve only been once last year. We did ok but nothing crazy, got a nice 4 lber first day but that was the only fish that afternoon 

DH on my list now that I’m retired.  I’ve heard all my life that it’s challenging if you don’t know the lake.  I think February is probably the best time to go there.

21 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

DH on my list now that I’m retired.  I’ve heard all my life that it’s challenging if you don’t know the lake.  I think February is probably the best time to go there.

It’s full of big LM now 

Dang it, Bob! I'm happy when you've got a five-pounder in your net and sad when you don't boat a beast. 

48 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

DH on my list now that I’m retired.  I’ve heard all my life that it’s challenging if you don’t know the lake.  I think February is probably the best time to go there.

I have a book by Bobby Gentry that I have studied front to back, and over and over. It didn't help. I went there on a May weekend a few years ago and the boat traffic was the worst I have ever seen. I deliberately chose mid-week this time to avoid, but the lake was still crowded. The wake boats with the mega-volume music (so called) were unbearable, not to mention the wakes themselves. The only way to avoid was go deeper into the creeks and pockets, but that took me away from SM habitat. I did find a Rock Bass on a crankbait by a laydown and proceeded to catch a dozen on a jig. My next trip will be in late Feb. or early March. I'm just a grouchy old dude who wants the lake to myself. Besides, it's a 2-1/2 hour drive for me. Five hours driving in a day is a bit over the top.

33 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Dang it, Bob! I'm happy when you've got a five-pounder in your net and sad when you don't boat a beast. 

Thanks Katie but don't be sad. I did get to go fishin'! And I did get to fish again with my childhood fishin' buddy. We grew up on the Cypress and Willow swamp water, so the clear Dale Hollow water is like trying to understand a foreign language. I've only had three five or better LM in my life and have yet to net a 5lb. Smallie. I did get a 6.1 Channel Cat last weekend. It ate my Zman TicklerZ and now lives in my pond! I don't get 'em like you, Alex, and the rest of the gang! I'm going back to river fishin'. That way I know I'll bend a pole!

14 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I'm going back to river fishin'. That way I know I'll bend a pole!

 

As much as I love Maine's ponds and bogs, I love rivers even more. Current tugs at me. 

 

15 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

49 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Thanks Katie but don't be sad. I did get to go fishin'!

 

Atta, Bob! I'm the same way. This spring, three times, I caught only one bass. At least three other times, I've caught only three bass. All those times, I was happy on the water and happy remembering where I was and what I saw and heard.

 

16 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

The wake boats with the mega-volume music (so called) were unbearable, not to mention the wakes themselves.

 

^This,^ however would snuff my happiness. There are men in Maine who aren't happy unless they're making noise. They buy after-market exhausts to make their trucks louder than the next guy. I hear them pass and think, "I gotta buy some Miracle Ear stock." 

 

18 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I did get a 6.1 Channel Cat last weekend. It ate my Zman TicklerZ and now lives in my pond!

 

I hope to see that cat someday! 

3 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

As much as I love Maine's ponds and bogs, I love rivers even more. Current tugs at me. 

 

 

Atta, Bob! I'm the same way. This spring, three times, I caught only one bass. At least three other times, I've caught only three bass. All those times, I was happy on the water and happy remembering where I was and what I saw and heard.

 

 

^This,^ however would snuff my happiness. There are men in Maine who aren't happy unless they're making noise. They buy after-market exhausts to make their trucks louder than the next guy. I hear them pass and think, "I gotta buy some Miracle Ear stock." 

 

 

I hope to see that cat someday! 

Katie that's not just a "Maine" thing. Guys are just like that. I ran glasspack mufflers on my old pick up trucks way back in the day. Wanted to have the loudest exhaust. Had to buy the loudest truck stereo so I could hear over my exhaust!  Guys are annoying worldwide! Raising my kids was the same way. My daughters wanted to go outside and pick flowers. My son wanted to smash something!

6 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

4th Annual trip to DH with high hopes and lots of energy. Tried everything from steep dropoff bluffs to inside of flooded hollows. Tried points, laydowns, everything. Fished eight hours. Tried Ned rigs, T-rigged worms, curly tails, crank baits, ect. Caught about a dozen youngins but nothing over a pound. Once again an afternoon at Dale Hollow has brought me back down to earth and hammered home the realization that I have so much to learn. Anybody out there having success at DH? 

 

Don't feel bad. DH went to DH 3 years ago in mid May and it was a major disappointment. We caught about a dozen smallies up to 4lbs the first day fishing with a guide using live bait. Subsequent days were on our own & only caught largemouth using artificials. The locals we talked to fish mostly at night come late May. Beautiful waters but not my choice for trophy smallmouth. 

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

Don't feel bad. DH went to DH 3 years ago in mid May and it was a major disappointment. We caught about a dozen smallies up to 4lbs the first day fishing with a guide using live bait. Subsequent days were on our own & only caught largemouth using artificials. The locals we talked to fish mostly at night come late May. Beautiful waters but not my choice for trophy smallmouth. 

I’ve also heard daylight fishing is nearly impossible once it’s warm out 

@TnRiver46 Yes the week we were there it was low 90's and were off the water at lunch time. 

@Dwight Hottle, I’d like to see how big of a smallmouth you’d catch there in a February snow flurry , I bet it would be 8 lbs 

Your right the winter season is probably the best time to fish it. The pressure is off & the smallie population might be easier to locate.