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  1. #1
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    Best smallmouth lakes?

    Coming from Conroe Texas and looking to put my buddy on some big quality smallies. He has never caught one so we decided to make a trip east. Was planning on Dale Hollow and then hitting Chickamauga a couple days. We are headed that way February maybe first week in March. Any info would be appreciated! It's a long drive but the closest I found that could have potential.
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  2. Ranger Boats Moderator 22RangerZ520R's Avatar
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    #2
    Dale Hollow is a good choice.

    Shoot me a PM, I can put you on some fish if you can tell me some about Ivie....


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  3. Member
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    #3
    Quote Originally Posted by 22RangerZ520R View Post
    Dale Hollow is a good choice.

    Shoot me a PM, I can put you on some fish if you can tell me some about Ivie....
    Will do! Thank you. As far as Ivie…. A-Rig A-Rig and did I mention A-Rig. ��
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  4. Member
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    #4
    If you are visiting Chick, spend a day or two below the dam. There are some quality Small mouth swimming in the river.

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    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by gray7340 View Post
    If you are visiting Chick, spend a day or two below the dam. There are some quality Small mouth swimming in the river.
    Thank you. I’ve heard good things about Wilson too. Same deal around the dam.
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  6. Member Imavol's Avatar
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    #6
    Wilson and Pickwick are both better this time of year now come November till about March Dale Hollow all the way. Fish are easier to catch on Wilsonand Pickwick too. Dale Hollow fishes like no other lake I have fished any where in the country. Can be very humbling at times.
    Last edited by Imavol; 08-17-2022 at 09:11 AM.
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  7. Member
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    #7
    Thanks for all the info!! Got some time to think and prepare.
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    #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Imavol View Post
    Wilson and Pickwick are both better this time of year now come November till about March Dale Hollow all the way. Fish are easier to catch on Wilsonand Pickwick too. Dale Hollow fishes like no other lake I have fished any where in the country. Can be very humbling at times.
    Humbling??
    That lake pretty much had me thinking about taking up another hobby!

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    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Aj14 View Post
    Humbling??
    That lake pretty much had me thinking about taking up another hobby!
    Oh no don't say that! LOL I've already contemplated taking up another hobby a couple times.
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  10. Member
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    #10
    Quote Originally Posted by gray7340 View Post
    If you are visiting Chick, spend a day or two below the dam. There are some quality Small mouth swimming in the river.
    Agree on Nickajack (what it is below Chick dam). A word of caution, if you go between the railroad bridge and the dam itself, be sure to wear a life jacket to avoid a ticket, and most importantly, there is a huge rock pile just under the surface. If current is being generated, it is hidden and can do lots of damage.

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    #11
    Quote Originally Posted by 22RangerZ520R View Post
    Dale Hollow is a good choice.

    Shoot me a PM, I can put you on some fish if you can tell me some about Ivie....
    What time of year? I went this May and fished it for a week and only caught 1 Smallmouth and maybe 9-10 Largemouth the whole time I was there. One of the worst lakes I have ever fished in May.

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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by printman71 View Post
    Agree on Nickajack (what it is below Chick dam). A word of caution, if you go between the railroad bridge and the dam itself, be sure to wear a life jacket to avoid a ticket, and most importantly, there is a huge rock pile just under the surface. If current is being generated, it is hidden and can do lots of damage.
    We are planning two days on chick to target some big largemouth hopefully. Thanks for the info about the rock pile!!
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    #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Nickstanislaus View Post
    We are planning two days on chick to target some big largemouth hopefully. Thanks for the info about the rock pile!!
    If you are here for 2 days, I would suggest booking a guide for the first half of your first day. It will be money well spent. Lots of good guides on Chick. FB is the best place to find them. Cole Sands is one of the best. He fishes the BASS Opens.

  14. Ranger Boats Moderator 22RangerZ520R's Avatar
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    #14
    Quote Originally Posted by bassfisher444 View Post
    What time of year? I went this May and fished it for a week and only caught 1 Smallmouth and maybe 9-10 Largemouth the whole time I was there. One of the worst lakes I have ever fished in May.
    The OP said February, maybe March...


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  15. Member
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    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Nickstanislaus View Post
    Coming from Conroe Texas and looking to put my buddy on some big quality smallies. He has never caught one so we decided to make a trip east. Was planning on Dale Hollow and then hitting Chickamauga a couple days. We are headed that way February maybe first week in March. Any info would be appreciated! It's a long drive but the closest I found that could have potential.
    My brother lives on Conroe. Would be happy to exchange information on Dale Hollow & Cherokee.

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    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Sokyangler View Post
    My brother lives on Conroe. Would be happy to exchange information on Dale Hollow & Cherokee.
    Sent you a PM a couple days ago. Thanks for the offer to help.
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  17. Member
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    #17
    After fishing Dale Hollow for a couple days I thought about taking up knitting .

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    #18
    Quote Originally Posted by wwc3 View Post
    After fishing Dale Hollow for a couple days I thought about taking up knitting .
    LOL it certainly didn't live up to the hype for me. Fished it for 6 days and only caught 5 keeper size largemouth, only caught one smallmouth the whole time and it was only 12", fished a couple days without catching anything.

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    #19
    I can only tell you from personal experience, if I were wanting to go smallmouth fishing, east tennessee would be the LAST place I would go. have fished a lot of those lakes and other than during the spawn they all suck as far as I am concerned. There are those that get them dialed in during the winter but any other time it's like pulling teeth to get smallmouth to bite. The west tennesee/alabama lakes are probably much better. But if i were coming to tennessee I would keep right on driving and go to michigan, or up state new york. you will catch more in 15 minutes than you will in a week's time in tennessee I can almost guarantee it.

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    #20
    Quote Originally Posted by bassfisher444 View Post
    LOL it certainly didn't live up to the hype for me. Fished it for 6 days and only caught 5 keeper size largemouth, only caught one smallmouth the whole time and it was only 12", fished a couple days without catching anything.
    Social media pretty much destroyed Dale Hollow!!! Its not a 1\4 as good as it used to be.
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