The rich cumberland river impoundment has made this lake a destination for anglers near and far. Apr 26, 2012 traditionally, at least in the minds of many anglers, that marks the beginning of the breamspawning season. Bass fishing is a winner from the first mild days of spring well into late autumn. The water temperature is 53 degrees and the lake is rising. The world record from this water, caught in 1955 11pounds, 15ounces still stands. You can view these fish over on under the virginia state board. That all changed with the world record smallmouth bass catch by david l. Jul 05, 2012 western branch has recently produced two crackers that im aware of that were 14inches apiece and 2. Most of the holes have moderate to severe elevaon changes. In the shallows there is a small but robust fish starting to move and become active. Lots of smallmouth bass are being caught on swimbaits, arigs, crankbaits and jigs while fishing points and steeper. Stainless steel nut and shell crackers for sale ebay. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida.
In days gone by, most people equated the lake and dam to flood control and hydroelectric power. Its not the greatest time to fish there and i typically only go out at night. Darren shell lives and works at his familyrun marina on dale hollow lake in middle tennessee. Dale hollow shellcrackers we cleaned 25 very nice ones along with some nice bluegill. You can access steves previous fishing reports in our fishing report archives. In addition to worldclass fishing, dale hollow is also known for its unsurpassed beauty, houseboating, and water sports of all kinds. Found a bay off of the main lake that had 70 degree water and shallow mudgravel and used bits of night crawler. 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. Is the smallie fishing maybe a little better around some of the well known creeks or would any section be a good place to try. Here, the shell crackers are found close to the edges, in shallow water generaly less than 4, during the bedding time, which here, runs from the full moon in march, thru june. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
The lake is clear, with visibilities of 15 to 20feet on the lower end. Browse dale hollow shellcrackers and bluegills pictures, photos, images, gifs, and videos on photobucket. We went up to dale hollow a couple weeks ago hoping the water temps was in the mid 40s. Mar 17, 2020 russ is joined by the dale hollow marina association member, denny wilbert. Many bluegill with a mix of shell crackers are being caught by those using worms or crickets in the main channel.
Traditionally, at least in the minds of many anglers, that marks the beginning of the breamspawning season. I can do all things through christ, who strengthens me. Steves reports cover kentucky lake from paris landing to new johnsonville. Both types of structure are liberally scattered throughout dale hollow, so much in fact, a visiting angler may not know where to begin. Dale hollow shell dale hollow lake dale hollow reservoir. Sunset marina is located in tennessee near the kentucky state line, and dale hollow lake is located in both kentucky and tennessee. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor. Ive typically just fished for them in summer spring and early fall and still never really wore em out. Are you scratching your head about now and saying to yourself, what is he going to write about this time. As the winter comes to a close and the days start getting longer, most anglers start getting the itch for the coming fishing season. In fact, spots over 5 pounds are caught every year. Ill be running the fishers of men tourny on dale saturday so i only get about 4 or 5 hours to fish. However, as you fish across kentucky, you may notice varied success rates and average sizes of crappie.
Shellcracker lakes that seem to be hot right now bluegill. 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. Ive caught shellcrackers in less than twelve inches of water, and, more often than not, this is the depth where they actually feed. Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes and ponds and over 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all brimming with bream. While promoting the carp anglers group at an indiana sports show, gil booked a houseboat for a week with his family. The hard shell walnut nutcracker can easily be set to crack macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, and black walnuts. The first thing i need to do is thank good friends david duvall and robert markham for putting me on a bank that had several smallmouth.
There is another big tourny going on the same day so instead of waiting in line for a bass spot or getting in the way of some of the fom guys i thought about going after some big ole shell crackersblue gills so i can stock the freezer. In kentucky, crappie get so much attention that every spring in many lakes it seems like standing room only as anglers pursue these papermouth delicacies. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor deeper haunts, but when a. His stories and lectures about the lake and local history have gained him the title of. He has written a number of books in both fiction and nonfiction. It shouldnt be much longer before they are getting on bed i am guessing model12boy. Kickin bass guide service on dale hollow lake is offered by denton hummel. Dale hollow is one of many tn lakes on my bucket list. He has actively fished tournaments for 25 years, with his favorite being night fishing. We cleaned 25 very nice ones along with some nice bluegill. Shellcracker in the winter in the south i had heard that shellcracker fishing in january and february was the best. Dale hollow lake and the mighty fullyscaled mirror carp. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Im sure that many are caught in deeper water, but i feel that they prefer shallow depths if sufficient cover is available.
At center hill, the limit on crappie is 15 per person per day. The head of some creeks may have visibilities of less than 5feet. Dale hollow lake water level dale hollow reservoir. You can mount the hard shell nutcracker either vertically or horizontally. You never know what you will catch trolling dale hollow in the winter. A member of the national fresh water fishing hall of fame and legends of the outdoors, steve mccadams is a professional guide and outdoor writer from paris, tenn. The dale hollow reservoir is a reservoir situated on the kentuckytennessee border.
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. The legend of tennessees dale hollow reservoir stories. For example, the black walnut cracker makes it easy to crack the nut open while keeping your fingers safe and clean. Im slowly checking some off the list, but i aint getting any younger. These characteristics describe the shellcracker redear sunfish with its nicknames of stumpknocker and yellow bream.
Dale hollow shellcrackers these are not dale hollow lakes best. Those inclined might find great catches even in the winter. Dale hollow reciprocalmutual water agreement since a portion of dale hollow lies within the state of kentucky, the question has been asked if we would also need a kentucky fishing license to fish that part of the lake. Bluegill and shellcracker fishing with bobbers great technique for spawn duration.
History of dale hollow lake clay county partnership. Dale hollow lake has proven to be a trophy water lake for not only some of the most beautiful fully scaled mirrors but proper mirrors and commons as well. Dale hollow is nationally famous for a wide variety of fish, including some of the best bass fishing in the country. Dale hollow winery started with a story about a family that has lived in the quaint missouri community of stover for multiple generations. These are the noise making loads for chasing off nuisance birds and he was trying to find some for his rural property. 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. Known nationwide for its ability to produce trophy smallmouth. 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. May 25, 2018 russ bailey and billy blakley on reelfoot lake bluegill and shell crackers duration. Dale hollow lake tennessee 2020 all you need to know. We was looking to throw the floating fly and catch smallmouth, but. Find 38 listings related to dale hollow shell inc in byrdstown on. Fishing lures and accessories for professional and weekend anglers. Hey guys, i know many of you think that fishing for bluegill is for kids.
It may be cold outside, but the fishing is red hot on dale hollow lake during the winter contact details. Shell crackers is a pet friendly restaurant in murrells inlet. Winter wheat delivers on taste but this classic flavor profile will compliment, not compete, with all your favorite cheese selections. The water temperature is 48 degrees and the lake is rising. Dale hollow bluegillshell crackers kentucky hunting. Dale hollow shellcrackers fished dale hollow today. Dale hollows deep clear water holds many trophy largemouth and spotted bass. Lots of smallmouth are being caught on swimbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits while fishing flat points and gravel banks in 515 feet of water largemouth bass.
Russ bailey and billy blakley on reelfoot lake bluegill and shell crackers duration. In the winter, the best places to find dale hollows smallmouths are along steep rock bluffs that plunge straight into the water, and long, deep points. I typically make a few trips to dhl in the summer months. Outside edges of shoreline weed beds are some of the top spots for shellcrackers. The article focuses on several fishing locations for shellcracker or redear sunfish in the u. Lots of largemouth are being caught on jerkbaits and arigs while. The only reason we quit was, we were about to melt. The lake is formed by the damming of the obey river, 7. Asher and jesse dale, with their wives ana and katy, dreamed up the idea in 2012 and planted their first grapes in the spring of 20. I generally get a couple of good meals out of those crappie. 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. Yes, a crappie is a crappie, but not all lakes are created equal, at least in. Bob coan at dale hollow lake dale hollow guide bob coans life mission is to spread the word about smallmouth bass, the.
Most of the holes have moderate to severe eleva on changes. Im planning my first trip to dale hollow lake and i feel a little lost about where would be some of the better places to fish. It must have just the right mix to grow studly crackers. According to nick nicholas, assistant chief of fisheries for alabama, shellcrackers thrive in lake guntersville due to its large amount of aquatic vegetation. 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. Dale hollow is one of four major flood control reservoirs for the cumberland. Bream is a local term throughout the southeast that includes a variety of deepbodied panfish belonging to the sunfish family. Welcome to the official facebook page for dale hollow lake.
Shellcrackers are the best tasting freshwater fish in florida, which makes since theyre just a large bluegill and we know bluegills are the best tasting panfish in the midwest. Golfing at dale hollow state park dale hollow lake state park in nearby burkesville, ky. We fished another friday night bass tournament on dale hollow and struggled a bit but ernie found the shell crackers and rock bass. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skill s and taste delicious when i eat them. The crazy thing about wb is that its a smallish lake at about 800 acres tops. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. Its s season that lasts into the summer and offers the hardcore bream fishermen and fun seeking families the uncomplicated opportunity to catch fish and lots of them. This equation all adds up to produce great schools of the gamiest fish around. I also fish old hickory lake located on the cumberland river just northeast of nashville and dale hollow lake on the kentuckytennessee border during the spring and summer. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The shellcracker is also known as the redear sunfish and. Shell crackers are not for sale in our online store but can be ordered by phone.
I set out to do just that and redear sunfish is what i have. Dale hollow bluegillshell crackers discussion in fishing started by model12boy, apr 25, 2019. Stone ground wheat flour, cracked wheat, canola oil, sugar, salt, baking powder and black pepper and trace hazelnuts. Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. Here at dale hollow carp adventures rx, we are trying to provide the best possible carping holiday in the usa. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake.
Russ and denny fish one of the most picturesque lakes in the country. The fish thrives in any lake containing its preferred food of minnows, crustaceans, insects. Im planning a trip in early december this year, which is supposed to be a good month to fish dhl. Largemouth are common and walleye numbers and quality is increasing. Keys to finding the bluegills and shellcrackers during the spring are finding the right types of areas and the depth where the fish are spawning, shell said. I sent him an ad i found on the internet and he checked into it and just emailed me, saying that evidently they are now under federal control since 911. The corps of engineers, along with tva, now offer mobile apps for tracking lake elevations and generation information. Unfortunately, i have never fished in the winter before and alr. Dale hollow marina 440 dale hollow boat paydayloans online dock road celina, tn 38551 phone. The fish thrives in any lake containing its preferred food of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out.
Fishing on dale hollow lake from sunset marina and resort. By apply less pressure you can crack softer shelled nuts, however, this nutcracker stands out when facing the toughest of nuts. Dale hollow lake fishing report by twra, report by creel clerks and located at huntfishbuddy. Fished alittle deeper out from them, about 57 foot of water. May 01, 2015 it was a rare opportunity that i couldnt waste. Welcome to dale hollow marina winter fishing boatel. Nut crackers allow you to extract the nut meat from the tough hulls of a nut. If delicious pizza is what you are hungry for, look no further. Over loose bolts and rocky roads, and the thought of my baby stranded in the cold. But i would much rather catch good gills and shell crackers. I spend a lot of my lunch breaks fishing a small storm drain adjacent to a wooden dock behind my house, but the usual bass and bluegill targets took a backseat to the unexpected appearance of bedding shellcracker. Denton was raised on dale hollow lake and has fished this lake all his life.