I took a stab at writing an article for the IBF magazine that was posted on here a while back. I wrote it about fishing on none-other than Dale Hollow. With the help of Jeff C. here is the final article. It should be in next months issue of the IBF, its on the front page of Smalljaw and may possibly be in 2 other smaller magazines in Tenn. Tell me what ya'll think!
Deep Water Finesse (By: Matt Alliston)
Deep water smallmouth with "a little finesse"
My favorite time of year is quickly approaching. I pray for cold days, bitter winds, snow, sleet, and cloudy overcast days. You may be telling yourself, man this guy is crazy, but rest assured as the evenings begin to get cool and the days shorten, my anxieties increase.
Being from the south, I always hated the thought of winter in Kentucky, because it seems that the sun never wants to shine. It is here on these cold winter days where I have found my fire and it burns deep down in the clear cold water of ÂThe Hollow."
Nestled in the hills of Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee, Dale Hollow lake is one of the worldÂs finest and most famous smallmouth fisheries. Sprawling over this hilly terrain is 27,700 acres of beautiful, scenic, gin-clear water, packed full of trophy sized smallmouth.
Dale Hollow currently holds the world record smallmouth, which weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces, and was caught in 1955 by D.L. Hayes of Leitchfield, KY.
Today, Dale Hollow is managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), which has since implemented a slot limit for the entire lake on smallmouth bass. The limit allows one fish under 16 inches long per day and one fish over 21 inches long per day to be kept by an angler, which protects the average fish (17 to 20 inches) from being harvested.
Besides being known as the "smallmouth capital of the world" thanks to it's world-
record prowess, this creel limit has propelled Dale Hollow into becoming one of the most sought after fishing destinations in the world, especially in the winter.
There are many approaches to catching wintertime smallmouth on Dale Hollow, including the common practices of the float-n-fly technique, heavy spider and football jigs slowly drug across the bottom, and hair jigs and silver buddies bounced around the depths, but my focus and reason for this article is to spend a little time to tell you about my favorite Âfinesse technique for chasing these cold-water beasts.
Gearing up
Wintertime can be tricky, so having the proper gear and right approach can yield a much greater success.
My rod of choice is a 7Â7Â G-Loomis Bronzeback Series in medium heavy action complimented by a Shimano Stradic reel spooled with eight pound Seaguar InvizX Fluorocarbon and my bait of choice for this time of year is a Smalljaw Shaky Jig made by Punisher Lures.
The biggest challenges I hear from other fishermen on Dale Hollow comes from the intimidation factor of fishing a deep clear water impoundment while trying to locate where these skittish fish reside. Feeling a bite in 30-50 feet of water can be tough, but being able to set the hook can be a story in itself--which is why I specified the exact setup I prefer for wintertime smallmouth.
The fluorocarbon reduces line stretch and is virtually invisible in clear water. The line diameter I choose, eight pound test, allows for a smaller jig to sink fast, but still gives enough strength to fight the fish properly after it is hooked up.
The rod length gives added cast-ability and enough backbone to set the hook hard at these depths. Also, the G-Loomis rod has a very fast tip, which helps present this bait in an erratic fashion that will trigger more strikes.
The ÂSmalljaw Shaky Jig is no ordinary 1/4 ounce jig. This little fellow is unique due to its size and shape. The use of living rubber for the skirt material offers a breathing action while submerged and the lead head of this jig is shaped like a peanut, which is also a common nickname for this small profiled bait. The jig is also matched with a light wire hook for easy penetration with this setup.
The colors I use are very simple and made to emulate a crawfish scurrying around on the bottom. That is why I choose a simple brown with some green or orange accents. I tip the jig with a Zoom tiny chunk in avocado or watermelon red and for a little Âhome cooking, I mark the tips of the chunk with a little chartreuse and garlic marker.
Bait presentation
The biggest key to using this finesse jig is with the right presentation, while making sure you keep the bait in the strike zone. It can be a challenge to feel such a small lure in this depth of water and it takes a lot of focus and patience to slow down and present the bait in the correct manner.
This might be the biggest hurdle to overcome when switching up from your normal summertime approach. Once you have made your initial cast you want to watch the line very close, releasing additional line as needed to make sure the bait gets to the bottom on every cast, while making sure the lure does not fan back towards the boat as it sinks.
Once the bait is on the bottom, you want to pick up the slack line and let your rod tip do most of the work for you. Instead of popping and bouncing the jig with a lot of movement from your wrist and arm, you basically want to shake the jig in place while trying not to move it a great deal.
You only need to turn your reel when slack gets in your line, which is very similar to fishing a shaky head worm, hence the name ÂSmalljaw Shakey Jig." My wrist never moves more than an inch in either direction, letting the rod tip give the perfect movement to the lure with minimal effort on your part.
As the jig falls with the contour of the bottom make sure you stay in contact with the lure at all times. Occasionally, stop your approach to make sure you are on or near the bottom.
Once youÂve got the presentation down, you have to pay attention to the location of your lure while keeping a close eye on your line. Smallmouth bites are at times very finicky and hard to detect.
We all like to feel the thump that is unmistakable of this species, but unfortunately, they donÂt always cooperate in giving us that rush on the initial bite. Many times with this finesse bait, the bite is very subtle and hard to detect.
You always want to stay in contact with the jig and pay attention to your line. If you feel that youÂve lost contact with your bait, quickly jerk straight up, because it is likely a world class fish has already inhaled your lure.
Another common bite is when the fish picks the bait up and swims at or away from you. A lot of times your only indication will be visual, as you see the line moving. At this time the fish has the lure in its mouth trying to figure out if in fact your lure is a crawfish that it was looking for.
If you notice either of these things going on, bear down, cross its eyes, and hang on for the ride! I have always heard the old timers say ÂHook sets are free, and I've never been charged for one. So, when in doubt, set the hook!
Locating fish
Locating these majestic fish on my lake of choice can be very difficult at times and often made more difficult than it actually should be. ItÂs very daunting when you look at this lake, because
everything looks good, but all is not.
My best advice is to pick a small area on the main lake or in a major creek and begin to dissect it. Start on the main points close to where a channel swings and begin to work your way back into the creek or pocket.
A common phrase you will see and hear is the mention of "points and pockets." When fishing the pockets associated between two points, the fish usually move around using all of the area.
With my approach, I will start on the outside of a pocket with my boat positioned right in the middle and begin to fan cast from point to point, hitting everything in between. I start near the bank on the point and work my way through the pocket to the next point, and the majority of the bites will come right in the middle between the two points.
Once you have located where the bite is in that given area, move around to different parts of the lake emulating the same conditions and presentation to put a pattern together. Many times you will be able to duplicate the same areas and presentation and once you find a few you can pretty much call your shots as you move around to different parts of the lake.
A common mistake I see a lot of fishermen make is to get a bite or two in one area and they begin to camp out for extended periods of time. I typically make no more than 15-20 casts per stop before I pick up the motor and move to a different location.
The next location may be 200 yards away, but I never sit and wait for that bite because once the fish know you are there they will most likely avoid anything presented to them. I spend the day focusing on finding active fish that have no idea I am in their area.
Where to go
The home of Dale Hollow Lake, Celina, Tennessee has all that we fishermen need. Grocery stores, gas stations, Dale Hollow 1-stop for baits and last minute fishing needs, home cooking or fast food, and Horse Creek Resort for first-class hospitality and great lodging at the water's edge.
Also, check out http://www.smalljaw.com when planning your trip to get updated and detailed fishing reports.
The time is near. So, gear up, dress warm, and enjoy what Dale Hollow Lake has to offer--world class fishing and scenery that is unmatched by anything I have experienced.
DonÂt forget to take a break and look around at the wildlife, because it is second to none. The lake is teaming with bald eagles, waterfowl, whitetail deer, and many others gifts that Mother Nature has left us to enjoy. Good luck and tight lines!
--Matt Alliston
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just kidding. 
bitter coldness
