Thanks FishingCop -
I'll help you guys out however I can, but your comments to flounderhead were right - a lot of the stuff you're use to doing will work here too - you may just need to keep an eye on the conditions here at the time and adjust accordingly. If you're coming in October and we have a big rain like we usually do in the fall, the creeks will be hot.
Just like this week with all the rain we're getting, the run off from the "hollers" will wash a lot of plant material into the creeks and that's what the baitfish will be feeding on. Well, we all know what feeds on the baitfish
The key to this lake is the forage - as I'm sure it is with most other lakes - find what the main food source is doing (threadfin shad mostly, elwives too, craws are more spring time and become more dormant in colder weather, or so I'm told) and that's where you'll find the
most action.
Keep an eye on our reports and you'll know what the baitfish are doing and how we recommend fishing the upcoming week. Besides that, the best source I can give you is my partner Stephen Headrick, a.k.a. "The Smallmouth Guru". He owns Punisher Lures (https://www.PunisherLures.com), which is more known for their hair jigs that are hand tied right here in Celina, TN, but he's making an impact on the tackle scene with his spinnerbaits too. Stephen has fished this lake his whole life, and was an understudy of the great Billy Westmoreland, the most prolific Smallmouth fisherman of his time, probably ever. Stephen writes a blog for bassmaster.com called "Think Smallie", which would be a good source of info too. Contact him through the Punisher Lures website or by phone at (800) 260-JIGS. If you're in Celina, TN area stop by the Dale Hollow 1 Stop (his gas station & tackle store). Bring a map and he'll even sit down with you and help you plan your day.
Guides, Guides, Guides!!!!! The guides around here fish for a living and are good at what they do. Imagine what it's like being a Smallmouth guide with a slot limit of 1 under 16" and 1 over 21". That one over 21" is a challenge, but you wouldn't believe the repeat customers that these guys get because they produce. Great source of information, give them a call, and please tell them that I referred you! (Bobby Gentry, Donnie Felton, Greg Brisendine, Andrew Robertson, Bob Coan - there's a bunch more but these guys come to mind first). If you're staying at Star Point, talk to "Frog" down there. Probably not around right now because they're pretty much closed for the season, and I haven't met him, but I hear he knows his stuff too.
