This lake is known as one of the top smallmouth destinations in the country. These crushers are bony, toothlike patches capable of grinding snails and small mussels. Fishing times for dale hollow lake near celina, tennessee. Dale hollow lake smallmouth bass fishing legend billy westmorland. Larry bell spends a few days each spring devoted to catching redears. Lake cumberland, dale hollow, laurel river and carr. Panfish are the focus on this weeks show as guesthost crispin powley probes spawning beds for kentucky lakes bluegill and shellcrackers. Snakeden hollow state fish and wildlife area mcmaster. Despite a forecast of clouds and wind, day one of the costa flw series southeast division finale presented by powerpole on the south carolina fishery has been nothing but blue skies, sunshine and little wind. Most of the fish we caught this week came slow working tube jigs around and near main lake brush and lay downs. Brett graham of cold spring, kentucky, brought a fivebass limit to the scale weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces to win the 2020 phoenix bass fishing league presented by th marine mountain division opener at dale hollow reservoir in byrdstown, tennessee. This forum is for fishing reports and general lake info for dale hollow lake. Santee shellcracker fishing ive been wanting to go down to santee to do some shellcracker fishing the spring. Dale hollow lake is in northern tennessee along the kentucky and.
My trips are fun and affordable fishing adventures, family vacations, or group outings on lake marion, lake moultrie and the diversion canal, known world wide as santee cooper. Check out the latest dale hollow lake fishing reports posted by pro anglers. Discussion in fishing started by pastorbass, may 4, 2009. However, the clear water makes it difficult to fish much of the year. I plan on trying to do as much fishing as possible so ive got some questions about that but ive also got. Apr 26, 2012 to book a day of bream fishing with bob latendresse, call 731 2200582. Dale hollow lake winter smallmouth north georgia fishing. About best fishing times for dale hollow lake near celina for you next fishing outing to dale hollow lake refer to our fishing times chart to determine when the fish are expected to be most active based on solunar tables and our detailed fishing calendar.
I fish dale hollow in the spring for bluegill shell cracker but stay off the lake in summer. Dale hollows deep clear water holds many trophy largemouth and spotted bass. Unfortunately, i have never fished in the winter before and alr. The forecast is based on 2019 fish population surveys, creel surveys, fish stockings, and historical knowledge of the fisheries. South carolina state fishing records southeastern outdoors. Smallmouth bass fishing at dale hollow lake in tennessee. The souths best shellcracker holes hunting and fishing. The water temperature is 50 degrees and the lake is falling fast. Bluegill and shellcracker fishing with bobbers great technique for spawn duration. The lower half of the reservoir is most effective for shellcracker, but they are sometimes caught in the majority of the lake. Most days were hitting 100 degrees so it was very hard to catch fish but we.
We went up to dale hollow a couple weeks ago hoping the water temps was in the mid 40s. Jan 12, 2016 there is nothing in the world more fun than catching winter smallmouth, especially when your fishing dale hollow where the world record smallmouth was caught. Fishing report provided by twra creel clerks through huntfishbuddy. Gil huxley should be credited as the first to discover the large carp, and especially rare fullyscaled mirrors, on dale hollow lake back in 2007.
The following list of state record fish is according to the south carolina department of natural resources and includes south carolinas two world record fish, the channel catfish and redbreast sunfish. Lots of smallmouth bass are being caught on swimbaits, arigs, crankbaits and jigs while fishing points and steeper. Let me show you a great time on dale hollow lake day or night plenty of big small mouth bass out there ready to be caught. The first have of the video was done by my 11 yr old son who is. This equation all adds up to produce great schools of the gamiest fish around. Bobby gentry fishing premier dale hollow guide service. This is accomplished by stocking rainbow, brown, lake, and brook trout in waters impacted by federal dams. The costa flw series presented by frabill on santee cooper is quickly becoming a tale of two lakes. Doug markham caught this big redear sunfish near willow grove on dale hollow lake. Kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources, fisheries. I dont have an accurate count but it is over 50 fish in 4 hours fishing. Catches of crappie over 12 inches are not uncommon at barkley and kentucky lakes during this time. These characteristics describe the shellcracker redear sunfish with its nicknames of. Although the dam was built for flood control and power generation, it has now become a recreational oasis for more than 3 million visitors each year.
We would anchor the boat, put a gob of red wigglers on the hook and cast out about six different outfits, put them in rod. Mlf on dale hollow tournament talk bass fishing forums. The best way to catch crappie in dale hollow lake is during february, march and april. A few are being caught on crankbaits on vertical bluffs in 5. Wondering whats biting in dale hollow lake right now. Catch photo release fish facts catch photo release fishing. Im planning a trip in early december this year, which is supposed to be a good month to fish dhl. For the last seven years, lake tarpon has consistently produced large shellcrackers year round.
This big lake on the tennesseekentucky border is famous for giant smallmouths, including the 11pound, 15ounce world record caught in 1955. The world record from this water, caught in 1955 11pounds, 15ounces still stands. Lake marion produced this great stringer of shellcrackers for william scott. Dale hollow fishing report typically, the downcurrent point of a creek mouth is the most productive.
Welcome to dale hollow marina dale hollow fishing info. Found a bay off of the main lake that had 70 degree water and shallow mudgravel and used bits of night crawler. My father taught me a lot about fishing when i was a young boy and i knew that someday i was going to make a career out of it. Fishing on the santee cooper lakes is a yearround sport and we do our very best to ensure you have a fun day of fishing with a chance at some of the biggest fish of a lifetime. The water temperature is 48 degrees and the lake is rising. Hes an expert in fishing for smallmouth bass and all other species of dale hollow fish. Ironically, both anglers are in different lakes, but they are both using.
Dale hollow lake is a vacation destination that borders the tennesseekentucky state line. If delicious pizza is what you are hungry for, look no further. Dale hollow lake fishing report by twra, report by creel clerks and located at huntfishbuddy. Jan 04, 2014 darren shell video on shellcracker fishing. Im wondering, why would anyone be fishing shallow for 1.
This is the final episode for the 2017 season and features highlights, big fish, fun, and bloopers. I typically make a few trips to dhl in the summer months. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills an d taste delicious when i eat them. Dale hollow is also home to great trout, crappie, and walleye fishing. For the past 9 years, i have strictly dedicate my knowledge of fishing to guiding on dale hollow lake. The most inclusive guntersville bass fishing guide. A video of springtime shellcracker fishing in lake marion swamp. We was looking to throw the floating fly and catch smallmouth, but. Lets fish tv dale hollow lake tennessee smallmouth bass. Its sheer beauty and what the tennessee wildlife resources agency has done to make a good thing even better, one has to give the nod to dale hollow when it comes to being atop the heap. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance in order to avoid being charged for one nights rental.
Fish are hitting swim baits along with jerks and cranks in about 15 feet of water. Most times when you go fishing you have an idea of what you are going to catch, but how do you learn to target another species of fish. What is the best way to catch crappie in dale hollow. Fishing on dale hollow lake from sunset marina and resort. The following list of state record fish is according to the south carolina department of natural resources and includes south carolinas two. Dirt road traveler by audionautix from youtube audio library. It gets its other name of shellcracker, because it has crushers in its throat. For may years one of my early idols was the late billy westmorland. Fished pockets back in the covescaught around 60 bluegill in 710 feet of wateronly a couple of shellcrackers. Zonas awesome fishing show davy hite dale hollow dale hollow in tennessee currently holds the world record smallmouth so how can you possibly stay away. Most fish caught on a bison colored trout magnet with a few caught on white, and a few caught on a midnight blue dancer. I started out on the lower end of lake marion in the crappie neck area.
When you purchase our lake maps app, you get all the great marine chart app features like fishing spots, along with dale hollow lake lake depth map. Canal lakes fish camp santee cooper lakes hwy 45 on the diversion canal 9 canal landing road, cross, sc 29436 open 5. Largemouth are common and walleye numbers and quality is increasing. The only reason we quit was, we were about to melt. Top 5 patterns from santee cooper day 2 flw fishing. Winter brings a different set of challenges, but smallmouth fishing is often very productive. We visited a spot called flat swamp expecting little more than a day catching sunfish, but what we didnt expect was that some of those would turn out to be nearly. Dale hollow nfh was established to mitigate for fishery resources which were lost due to the construction of federal water development projects in the southeast. To do so, however, would be a major mistake because shellcrackers and bluegills alike grow to jumbo proportions in dale hollow, providing outstanding panfishing in a spectacular setting. Smallmouth bass bite is the best its been in many months with the water level dropping. Best known for its giant bronzebacks and for coldwater game fish, such as trout and walleyes, dale hollow could easily be overlooked as a panfishing destination. Upcoming dale hollow trip southeast bass fishing bass. Had a great 6 hours of fishing at dale hollow lake today.
Dale hollow lake is home of the world record smallmouth bass, and continues to. Smith guide service guided fishing charters on dale hollow lake smallmouth bass largemouth bass fish dale hollow lake with an experienced guide with over 25 years of experience. Fishing reports canal lakes fish camp on the santee cooper. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, flathead catfish, crappie, blue catfish, bullhead, redear sunfish, carp, warmouth, rock bass, striped bass, white bass, sunfish, walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass, lake trout, largemouth. If you are looking for a crappie fishing report in southern kentucky you can bet that one person out of our group has been fishing the past week, regardless of weather or. Dale hollow lake bass and blue gill fishing youtube. Used a bison colored trout magnet on a 332 ounce jig head. Please show your support for etf, by supporting our site sponsors. Southeastern outdoors south carolina state fishing records. I remember watching his tv show and hoping someday i could be a fisherman on dale.
In fact, spots over 5 pounds are caught every year. I went shell cracker fishing weekend before last, and one day. Known nationwide for its ability to produce trophy smallmouth. Does anyone have a recommendation for a guide to hook us up on some panfishjng. We usually start fishing for them the first week or two of may. Dale hollow reservoir fishing tips for dale hollow lake. Most of the larger females are in full spawn mode making them very difficult to target. Dale hollow lake and the mighty fullyscaled mirror carp. A friend and i together boated around 100 gills all between 89 inches. Tie two jigs on one line for fall crappie fall crappie fishing ep. Mar 31, 2017 i went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year.
White bass, yellow bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, black crappie, white crappie. I set out to do just that and redear sunfish is what i have. Sunset marina is located in tennessee near the kentucky state line, and dale hollow lake is located in both kentucky and tennessee. Bobby can pick you up at the marina or from a houseboat on the lake. We are planning a fishing trip to dale hollow in early september and i have never fished this lake before. We cleaned 25 very nice ones along with some nice bluegill. Terry madewell freshwater fishing, santee stringer. Ill be running the fishers of men tourny on dale saturday so i only get about 4 or 5 hours to fish.
I only have a 15 ft jon boat and would like some advice on some areas to go that would be safe in my boat. Hence why a vast majority of the anglers we ran into out on the. Fished alittle deeper out from them, about 57 foot of water. The girth and shoulders on these fish are truly outstanding. If ever there was a day for sight fishing on santee cooper, today is it. These characteristics describe the shellcracker redear sunfish with its nicknames of stumpknocker and yellow bream. The waters of this lake are clear, rocky and deep, which most anglers look at as not being good crappie fishing, but it.
Dale hollow reservoir fishermen know that submerged grass and smallmouth bass are a winning combination. Its not the greatest time to fish there and i typically only go out at night. This handout is designed to assist anglers in planning their fishing trips and improve their fishing success. Im talking about 1pound bluegills, said darren shell, a dale hollow expert who spends a lot of his time bream fishing this time of year. While promoting the carp anglers group at an indiana sports show, gil booked a houseboat for a week with his family. Santee cooper lakes catfish crappie bream fishing guide. Bobby has 20 years fishing and tournament experience on dale hollow lake and is recognized as one of the best bass fishermen in the area. Smallmouth bassthis past week was one of the toughest of the year so far. This 4,500acre lake is home to plenty of shell beds, jeff willitzer, biologist for the southwest region of the fl orida fish and wildlife conservation commission in wakeland, florida, explains. Fishing reports barren cumberland dale hollow green river. The top spot was a mere pounds with the big fish at just over 4 lbs all were largemouths. Shellcracker on bed in clear shallow water allowed us to pick our fish. And that fishing can be narrowed down to a particular kind smallmouth. If you find a school of shad, your best bet is to get your bait right around that area.
Shell, who has written four books about dale hollow, has caught two shellcrackers from the lake that he has weighed in at more than 2 pounds. The fishing maps app include hd lake depth contours, have more questions about the nautical chart app. Must be 10 inches or over limit 15 crappie, black or white, per angler. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be. We have all the ultra light equipment and artificial baits for you that it takes to catch your limit of shell cracker, you just need a fishing license and a few snacks. Dale hollow lake is located in scenic rural country along the tennesseekentucky border, the lake is renowned for its crystal clear water clarity and its fishing. We went down to dale hollow lake and the bite was very tough. Santee cooper lakes catfishnfool fishing guide service, captain wayne vining 8032380596 is offering guided fishing trips specializing in catfish, crappie, and bream. Found the shellcracker on the flats in 7 feet of water. Bluegill fishing public waters in tennessee doesnt get much better than dale hollow gills. Anyway, my family and i will be traveling to the sulpher creek area of dale hollow the 2nd week in june and were renting a houseboat for the week. Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not. Dale hollow shell has pizza in their deli, along with sandwiches, baked goods, salads and more. Its shellcracker fishing time on the santee cooper lakes.