The best fishing in years on Dale Hollow

[fishfindergeneral]

It feels great to see it back near its best. Despite the absence of the large Rainbow Trout the lake hasn't fished this good in years. We've been averaging 30 to 40 fish on per day with some days exceeding 50 fish. It reminds me of the lake before all the work on the Wolf river and Centerhill dams. The Smallmouth fishing is fantastic during the day trolling crank baits behind boards and spoons on downriggers. We've also been catching walleye, white bass, largemouth, channel cats, drum and gar and even an occasional muskie. Most fish are being taken over flats or along bluffs in the mid section of the lake from below Mitchell creek up to Trooper island. tight lines. Dave
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/0F2D73CB-EFF8-46DD-B188-7C183E9D4BA7_zpssfpi8dkn.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/0F2D73CB-EFF8-46DD-B188-7C183E9D4BA7_zpssfpi8dkn.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/4BF04DD6-307A-4A32-88A8-0B95512F3FDF_zps9g1uhnbx.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/4BF04DD6-307A-4A32-88A8-0B95512F3FDF_zps9g1uhnbx.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/9A05664F-0977-40AA-8F47-3DA1BA7C74B1_zpsn1aedbma.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/9A05664F-0977-40AA-8F47-3DA1BA7C74B1_zpsn1aedbma.jpg.html)

[fishfindergeneral]

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/58468248-DA97-4839-980D-31171C76AF12_zpstkbdisaz.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/58468248-DA97-4839-980D-31171C76AF12_zpstkbdisaz.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/92AC190D-B351-45EA-8396-C733408E5ECE_zpsn7lhnwvg.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/92AC190D-B351-45EA-8396-C733408E5ECE_zpsn7lhnwvg.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/568249DA-B459-418E-80CB-4F73D1845FA3_zps1v49kpmz.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/568249DA-B459-418E-80CB-4F73D1845FA3_zps1v49kpmz.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/38286E6E-5438-45B4-9B1A-A152354893B6_zpsppygzqlc.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/38286E6E-5438-45B4-9B1A-A152354893B6_zpsppygzqlc.jpg.html)

[bates19]

Those are some great looking smallies man!


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[agelesssone]

You've got some awesome looking fish there, Dave!

[Alphahawk]

Good looking fish. My nephew told me the whites are making a big come back in the lake. Those are some good ones you have there.


Regards


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[MNfisher]

Great fish! Those whites are huge!


Mike

[thehick176]

Speechless!!

[CreekWalker]

That's great to hear the lake is doing so well! Thank you for the report. I keep hearing from one source that there was some massive fish kill last year(s) that hurt the bigger fish population but it looks like that source may be mistaken?!

[Dakota]

Awesome fish!!


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[nomad60]

Man those are some nice-sized fish!

[Transplanted Sportsman]

awsome fish Dave, thanks for the report and pics!!!

[fishfindergeneral]

Thanks fellas. Creekwalker, the lake did take a hit two years ago and the trout were the biggest casualty. The Smallies are doing well on the mid section and the upper section. The lower end is still recovering.

[browntrout]

Dave, As always you amaze me. Congrats on great spring season. Glad to hear the Hollow is coming back. Will have to hit it next year. Take care.

Roy

[Travis C.]

Awesome job man.

Browns should be pretty big in there by now.

[fishfindergeneral]

Thanks Roy and Travis. If you fellas want to see more pictures from my trips, I have a ton more at my blog at trolldhl@tumblr.

[fishfindergeneral]

Here's a few more white bass and a Goliath drum plus some others..
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/B1E3A416-5194-42B3-9E4C-823B4D2E0A25_zpsduzxpb0d.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/B1E3A416-5194-42B3-9E4C-823B4D2E0A25_zpsduzxpb0d.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/E3FCBAFB-1A01-4CF9-9AF8-5563DB10C7CF_zpsymxreluj.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/E3FCBAFB-1A01-4CF9-9AF8-5563DB10C7CF_zpsymxreluj.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/5A778B54-0A54-4224-9A7D-F7A58278E4E5_zpso1mmuw1z.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/5A778B54-0A54-4224-9A7D-F7A58278E4E5_zpso1mmuw1z.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/47D60803-8CE7-43F9-BEC9-9E361C6C4CD2_zpsnazhwpve.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/47D60803-8CE7-43F9-BEC9-9E361C6C4CD2_zpsnazhwpve.jpg.html)

[fishfindergeneral]

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/9CEEC167-F9BE-4D1A-9F33-E22A7BD2893D_zpskaia0jzj.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/9CEEC167-F9BE-4D1A-9F33-E22A7BD2893D_zpskaia0jzj.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/CCBBCEA1-0806-4604-B565-7A7184FBE243_zps8asqw36y.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/CCBBCEA1-0806-4604-B565-7A7184FBE243_zps8asqw36y.jpg.html)
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr36/FishFinderGeneral/BA1BA080-FAD0-4E56-B68E-BAD760AE1AAE_zpsepjmxjun.jpg (http://s467.photobucket.com/user/FishFinderGeneral/media/BA1BA080-FAD0-4E56-B68E-BAD760AE1AAE_zpsepjmxjun.jpg.html)

[Travis C.]

You boga that drum? The monster i caught on the caney was in that class but i never got measurements or weight. Go figure largest fish i ever caught was a drum.

Nice fish as always and cool jumping pic.

[TNBronzeback]

Man, that drum is a giant!
I havent seen any that big outside of the Detroit River....thats a TANK!

[jad2t]

Man those are some good sized white bass!! Yum yum!

[Transplanted Sportsman]

awesome fish and pics Dave, the jumpin ppic is unreal!!, I wish I could go soon!! making me drool too man, I'm with Jimmy looks ike good eating there!

[Alphahawk]

I have followed you for several years now and you have impressive skills. Of all the pics I have seen of you I have never seen any Gills.....LOL. Enjoyed the radio show Saturday. I first fished Dale back in late 60's and off and on have fished it for Smallies. As you said on the radio Dale holds big fish....and that includes Gills. I have had only two trips there where I got into them. One trip was a huge success and the other one only yielded two Gills...both of them trophies released to fight another day. I was wondering do you know where they go after the first spring spawn....which for most folks is the only time I know of that they can be caught in numbers. I do know that the Gills and shell cracker are caught by some through the summer but there is just not a lot of info out there about it. I know that around the docks you can see plenty at certain marinas in summer. Most schedule a bluegill trip on Memorial Day weekend and many times that is the right time...but if you miss their schedule it is hit and miss for the rest of the year. All the info may be a closely guard secret by those who have it but I know several guides there personally as well as Headrick, but if they know they aren't telling. Thanks for your reports and pics.


Regards

[fishfindergeneral]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. As far as those big stripes go, they rival walleye in the grease.
Alpha, that's funny that you mention that. We catch some big gills trolling for walleye in the winter and during the summer, at night for trout. I've never thought to take pictures of them. I do have some pics with my kids and gills though...

[Alphahawk]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. As far as those big stripes go, they rival walleye in the grease.
Alpha, that's funny that you mention that. We catch some big gills trolling for walleye in the winter and during the summer, at night for trout. I've never thought to take pictures of them. I do have some pics with my kids and gills though...

Next time you get some how about a few pics....those Gills up there are like pie plates with the girth they have....would really enjoy seeing them....thanks.


Regards