Dale Hollow Lake is currently operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is sometimes referred to as DHL and is a vacation destination that is located between the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Not only is Dale Hollow Lake a tourist attraction, it is great for smallmouth bass fishing and other fishing in general. In fact, it is stated that Dale Hollow Lake holds the record for the largest smallmouth bass at 11 lbs and 15 oz and measured at 27 inches long with a 21.5 inch girth. The person that caught the smallmouth was David Hayes of Litchfield KY on July 8, 1955.
Many fishing tournaments are held at DHL each year. Additionally, there are events that are offered all around the Dale Hollow Lake area throughout the year. For instance, there is a fireworks show called “Shake the Lake” that Willow Grove Resort & Marina hosts on a yearly basis around the 4th of July. Each county surrounding the lake has many events scheduled from January through December. There is a Dale Hollow Lake Eagle Watch event scheduled in the winter months. The Bald Eagle is a bird that is a must see. Check out our events page for upcoming events to attend around Dale Hollow Lake.
How the Lake was Formed
Prior to 1942, there were towns scattered throughout the region that currently makes up DHL. Originally, Dale Hollow Lake is a man-made lake that was formed by damming the Obey River and Cumberland River. Part of what established this lake was due to the Flood Control Act of 1938 and River and Harbor Act of 1943. To help maintain water levels and water guidance was the installation of power generating units in the years of 1948, 1949, and 1953. The dam to help regulate Dale Hollow Lake was built in Clay County on the west side of the lake. After the towns were flooded to create the lake, it formed a shoreline with a length of 620 miles while the surface area of the lake is over 27,000 acres with almost 25,000 acres of surrounding land, 24,842 acres to be exact. The average depth of the lake is 50 feet with the maximum depth at 130 feet. The normal elevation for the lake is 651 feet with a minimum of 632 feet and 659 feet. Throughout the year the water levels rise as much as 20 feet and can lower as much as 10 feet. These are important to account for especially if you are boating in areas that have low water levels. Researching the area before you arrive can help ensure that your boating experience is the most enjoyable it can be for you.
Accessing the Lake
If you are traveling to Dale Hollow Lake it would be wise to research the many different areas and how accessible the lake is from the roads and highways. In general, DHL has easy access, but some of the roads to the marinas are long and in some spots narrow. Since the lake is located on the state-line between Tennessee and Kentucky, it is important to study a map to make sure you are going to the correct marina.
The counties that DHL covers are
for Tennessee and
in Kentucky.
The lake can be seen from many areas within these counties that have been used for great photo ops. To access the lake with a boat, there are many places that can make this possible. Some of the marinas and other lake access ramps are easier to get to than the others. Sunset Marina and Resort has probably the easiest access to the lake from the main highways. It is located off HWY 111 in Monroe, just south of Byrdstown, TN, at 202 Sunset Dock Rd, Monroe, TN 38573. You can turn left (if you are traveling north) or right (if you are traveling south) off HWY 111 and be at the lake ramp access within a few feet.
There are other areas that have lake access with ease of launching but the road to get to these areas can be narrow and difficult to navigate. For instance, if you just wanted to launch your boat in DHL, Cove Creek offers a very easy area to launch, but the road to the launch site gets narrow and is many miles from a major highway. If you are looking for good roads, then look for the marinas that are closer to the main roads, more times than not, they are probably easier overall to get your boat into the lake. If you are looking to launch your boat for fishing and don’t want to go through a marina launch area, you can ask the locals for secluded lake access.
DHL Lake Activities
There are many activities that are available at Dale Hollow Lake. Some of those include swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, kayaking, biking, picnicking, and horseback riding. In addition, there are vacation rentals as well as house boat rentals.
Some of the activities that boaters enjoy are tubing, water skiing, and exploring the lake. Depending on the time of the year that you travel to DHL will determine the types of activities you might do. For example, if you are looking to water ski or tubing, then you are probably going to want to visit Dale Hollow Lake from the months of May through Mid-September. Those months provide great lake weather where the water is warm enough to swim, ski, or tube. The late Fall months can provide you an opportunity to fish the lake. The water traffic is less during Fall and Winter, but the fishing can be good.
If you are looking to go to Dale Hollow Lake when it is less crowded but the weather is reasonable and the warm is not too cold, consider going Mid-March and April during the Spring time or Mid-September to early November for the Fall. Going during the Winter months, you will enjoy the lake pretty much to yourself as there are not many people on DHL during this time.
Fishing on Dale Hollow Lake
Are you looking to come to Dale Hollow Lake to fish? You are in for a treat. There are many types of fish that make their habitat in DHL. Some of the those fish are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Catfish, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Crappie, Blue Gill, Shellcracker, and many more. Legend has it that catfish the size small volkswagon have been spotted in the depths of the waters at Dale Hollow Lake. While we are not exactly sure that is true, it is something that has been passed down through generations of folk tale.
Whether you are an experience fisherman or not exactly sure what to fish with while on Dale Hollow Lake, there are resources for both situations. If you would like to hire a fishing guide or to troll DHL yourself, there are many great fishing guide options to choose from within our directory.
Dale Hollow Lake Marinas
Currently 12 marinas are stationed throughout Dale Hollow Lake. Each of those marinas offers a variety of services such as house boat rentals, cabin rentals, jet-ski rentals, campgrounds, RV parks, kayaking, swimming, and many other fun-filled activities. Some of the marinas have restaurants that provide great foods such as burgers, BBQ, ribs, pizza. If you are in the mood for dessert, there are ice cream parlors at many of the resorts and the surrounding areas. The great thing about the location of these marinas are the distinct views of the lake they provide. No two marinas have the same views and that is what makes them highly traveled destination locations. If you plan to visit one of these marinas, bring your camera, smartphone, or mobile device and be ready to snap those photos of the lake, trees, and the majestic Bald Eagle. Speaking of Bald Eagle, you can view live camera footage on this site. Seeing a Bald Eagle setting on a tree branch while trolling your fishing boat is one of the most scenic views you will ever see.
The list of the current marinas include:
These marinas will provide you with a unique experience and they each have their own distinct view of the lake. Most of the marinas are locally owned so the staff are very knowledgeable about the lake and the things to do around the lake
Dale Hollow Marina
Dale Hollow Marina at Cedar Hill
Dale Hollow State Park Marina
Eagle Cove
East Port Marina & Resort
Hendricks Creek Resort
Holly Creek
Mitchell Creek Marina & Resort
Star Point Resort
Sunset Marina & Resort
Willow Grove Resort & Marina
Wolf River Resort
Dale Hollow Lake Tourism Information
The counties that surround Dale Hollow Lake have Chamber of Commerce that are available to help you locate more information for that area. If you are looking for tourist attractions outside of the lake, then visiting the local chamber can help you find these things. The sites for each of those counties are listed below.
Clay County (Celina, TN)
Pickett County (Byrdstown, TN)
Overton County (Livingston, TN)
Clinton County (Albany, KY)
Cumberland County (Burkesville, KY)
Perhaps someday you can visit Dale Hollow Lake and experience all of the activities available from the marinas and the surrounding local businesses. In the meantime, check out our Facebook page and give us a like so that you can follow all of the happenings and events in the DHL area.
