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Pick a nice spring day, load up the fishing rods, and try your hand at catching smallmouths on one of the premier fisheries in the world.
When Stephen Headrick invited me to Dale Hollow Lake to fish for smallmouth bass, I could hear the enthusiasm in his voice. He can't even say smallmouth bass without grinning from ear to ear. It's not hard to tell he has a passion for the species.Headrick has fished Dale Hollow for over 30 years and has been guiding for about 10 years now. Not only does he have years of experience on the lake, he had the privilege of being mentored by the late Billy Westmoreland.
He believes that Dale Hollow is, day in and day out, the best bet for anglers looking for a really big trophy smallmouth, and he believes the lake's fishing is getting better.
"This April will be the fourth spawn since the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency changed the size limit," explained Headrick. "From 1992 to 2000, we had a two fish-per-person limit, 18 inches or better. Since 2000, it's still two fish per person, but the size limit has been changed to one, which must be 21 inches or better and one that must be 16 inches or smaller. The TWRA has done wonders for the smallmouths on Dale Hollow. The size limit really increased the quality of the fish."
Anglers heading to Dale Hollow this April should be prepared to focus on the spawn. Since smallmouths don't all spawn at the same time, it's not uncommon to find pre- or post- spawn fish, as well as bedding fish, during an outing this month. Generally, the action starts up the creeks and works downlake as the month progresses.
"If we've had mild weather in March and the lake is at full pool, I like to fish the creeks early in the month," said Headrick. "Especially after a warm rain. A warm rain will raise the water temperature and the baitfish will start heading into the creeks. the smallmouths will stage on points in 12 to 14 feet of water and feed on baitfish as they move up the creek."
Headrick recommends aglers choose creeks that receive a lot of sunshine and focus on the points in the northwest bank. These points will benefit most from the sun's warming rays. He generally targets points starting about one-third of the way into the creek and works toward the main lake.
"I target pre-spawn fish on the points in Irons and Ashburn creeks," says Headrick. "Early in the day, before the wind gets up, I like to use a 1/4-ounce olive green and orange jig or a smoke colored grub on a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jighead. Spinning tackle with 6- to 8- pound-test is best suited for these baits. If the wind is blowing, I'll use a shad colored crankbait that dives to about 14 feet on baitcasting equipment."
Bobby Gentry, another Dale Hollow guide, says the flats are where to be during April.
"If someone asks me where to catch smallmouths in April, I tell them midlake flats like Kemper Flats. The smallmouths will bed on these flats." Gentry warns anglers that not all flats will hold spawning fish. To help find productive flats, he recommends the use of a topographical map, especially if you're not familiar with Dale Hollow.
"A good spawning flat will always have deep water nearby," said Gentry. "Add a couple of ditches or a roadbed and you'll have a prime area. A good map will show these features and reveal likely areas."
Another key ingredient for a good spawning flat is bottom composition. Smallmouths prefer a clay or pea gravel bottom for fanning beds.
"Dale Hollow has grass year 'round," explained Gentry. "And in the spring, when the grass starts growing on the flats, the smallmouths will migrate alone these grass edges. Keep in mind that these grass edges aren't going to grow perfectly straight. try to find irregularities along the edge, like a pocket or point formed by the grass. These irregularities are often where the fish are found. Grass also produces oxygen, provides cover and harbors forage --- everything a smallmouth needs."
Gentry also recommends fishing the flats in Mitchell and Carter creeks. Another prime spawning flat is located across from the Dale Hollow Marina. A green channel marker buoy marks this area.
When targeting April spawning flats, gentry keeps his boat in 20 feet of water and casts to water 8 to 14 feet deep. Traditionally smallmouths bed deeper than largemouths. And with Dale Hollow's clear water, it's not uncommon for larger fish to spawn in water 14 to 15 feet deep.
Like Headrick, Gentry opts for a finesse approach with small jigs and grubs to catch spawning smallmouths.
"If the water is really clear and the wind is not blowing," Gentry said, "I like to use a small 2 1/2-inch curlytail grub on a 1/4-ounce leadhead jig. I use a firecracker-colored grub. Firecracker is basically a clear grub with red and blue metal flakes. These colors make the grub look a lot like the male fantail minnow. The fantail is a minnow found in the creeks in this area."
Gentry likes to slowly crawl the grub along the bottom in 8 to 14 feet of water on likely flats. If the wind is blowing, he uses suspending jerkbaits. Fishing at the same depths, he will crank the jerkbait down and then use a stop-and-go retrieve. Most strikes will occur as the lire is sitting still. He aslo recommends anglers experiment with their retrieve and let the fish dictate what cadence to use.
If you find yourself on Dale Hollow this April, you could be in for some great smallmouth action. To guarantee this, give Headrick or Gentry a call. Stephen Headrick can be reached by calling 931.243.6133. Bobby Gentry can be reached by calling 270.427.4078
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