Dale Hollow Lake, KY/TN: World-Record Smallmouth & Guide

Dale Hollow Lake is hallowed ground for anglers. This deep, clear, 27,700-acre reservoir straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee line is one of the premier smallmouth bass fisheries on the planet – it produced the world-record smallmouth, an 11-pound, 15-ounce giant caught in 1955 that has stood for seven decades. Beyond the record book, Dale Hollow is simply one of the most beautiful lakes in the region: gin-clear water, forested hills, and quiet coves made for boating, diving and a slower kind of vacation.

This guide covers Dale Hollow: the legendary fishing, the clear-water recreation, the state park and marinas, and how to plan a visit. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.

Dale Hollow Lake at a glance

• Surface area: ~27,700 acres; ~620 miles of shoreline; very deep and clear
• Location: Clinton & Cumberland counties, Kentucky, and Clay, Pickett & Overton counties, Tennessee
• Built: Dale Hollow Dam on the Obey River, completed 1943 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
• Claim to fame: the world-record smallmouth bass (11 lb 15 oz, 1955)
• Top fish: smallmouth, largemouth & spotted bass, walleye, muskie, lake trout, crappie, bluegill, catfish

Fishing Dale Hollow Lake

Dale Hollow’s deep, clear, infertile water grows fewer but bigger, harder-fighting fish – a smallmouth angler’s dream:

• Smallmouth bass – the legend. The clear water and rocky structure produce trophy bronzebacks, and the lake still gives up giants; this is a bucket-list smallmouth destination.
• Largemouth and spotted bass share the points and bluffs.
• Walleye and muskie add to the trophy potential, and unusually for the South, the deep cold water even supports stocked lake trout.
• Crappie, bluegill and catfish round out the catch.

A Kentucky or Tennessee fishing license is honored across most of the shared lake under a reciprocal agreement – check the current rules and the special smallmouth regulations, which are designed to protect the trophy fishery. Live a careful catch-and-release ethic here; this is a fishery worth protecting.

Clear water, boating and diving

Dale Hollow’s clarity sets it apart. The water is clean and often startlingly clear, which makes it a favorite for scuba diving, swimming and houseboating, and gives the whole lake a wild, unspoiled feel – much of the steep shoreline is undeveloped Corps land. Houseboats, ski boats and pontoons share the open water with anglers, while paddlers slip into the quiet coves. It’s a quieter, more natural lake than the big TVA reservoirs to the west.

State park, marinas and camping

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park on the Kentucky side near Burkesville offers a lodge, cottages, a campground, a marina and an 18-hole golf course, and the Corps of Engineers and Tennessee state parks add more campgrounds and marinas around the shoreline. Several full-service marinas rent houseboats and pontoons and sell fuel, bait and supplies. The Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery below the dam is a worthwhile stop.

Getting there and what’s nearby

Dale Hollow straddles the state line about 2 hours from Nashville, 2 hours from Lexington and roughly an hour and a half from Bowling Green, reached by US-127 and TN-52. It pairs naturally with nearby Lake Cumberland to the north for a multi-lake fishing trip.

Know before you go

• Fishing license: KY or TN licenses are honored across most of the lake – check the reciprocal rules and the special smallmouth regulations.
• Protect the fishery: practice careful catch-and-release on the trophy smallmouth.
• Clear, cold, deep water: great for diving and swimming, but no lifeguards – wear a life jacket.
• Best seasons: spring and fall for trophy smallmouth, summer for boating, diving and houseboating.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dale Hollow Lake famous?

It produced the world-record smallmouth bass – 11 pounds, 15 ounces, caught in 1955 – and remains one of the premier smallmouth fisheries anywhere, in famously clear water.

What fish are in Dale Hollow Lake?

Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass, walleye, muskie, stocked lake trout, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

Is Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky or Tennessee?

Both – it straddles the state line. Kentucky and Tennessee fishing licenses are honored across most of the shared water.

Can you scuba dive in Dale Hollow Lake?

Yes – the exceptionally clear, clean water makes Dale Hollow a popular scuba-diving and swimming lake.

Where can you stay at Dale Hollow Lake?

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park near Burkesville (lodge, cottages, marina, golf), Corps and Tennessee campgrounds, marinas and rental houseboats.

Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Kentucky, or head back to the Kentucky Lakes Database.