Fishing Dale Hollow Lake

AKA: Dale Hollow Reservoir

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

Popular Fish Species Dale Hollow Lake, KY

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Spotted Bass Fishing

Spotted bass are often found in small schools on steep banks, around rocky or sandy shorelines, points and ledges. They often prefer hanging out in slightly deeper water than largemouths. Here at Dale Hollow Lake, they are a favorite of many local anglers, as they are plentiful and put up a good tussle when hooked. Fishing for spotted bass can be good anytime you can locate them. Their diet consists mainly of crayfish and insects, but they also eat small baitfish, small sunfish and small bluegill. Most of the time, spots prefer to stage on steep rocky or gravel banks, and may move up and down the water column throughout the day. When shallow, use topwater or shallow crankbaits around rip rap. When they are deep, use drop-shot worms and jigs. Throughout winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass also reside here in decent numbers.

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Crappie Fishing

With a history of good crappie fishing, Dale Hollow Lake continues to impress crappie enthusiasts this year. Light line and small hooks are key when fishing live bait. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. The lake has healthy populations of both white crappie and black crappie. These two species typically tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

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Walleye Fishing

Thanks to a significant baitfish population, and presence of numerous small sunfish in the lake, walleye are thriving in the fertile waters of Dale Hollow Lake this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower, closer to shore and begin spawning. Rock and gravel are preferred areas for the spawn. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, stay around schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. Walleye have excellent, low-light vision which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water during low light conditions. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

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Dale Hollow Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid striped bass and sauger at Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky.

Home of the world-record smallmouth bass, Dale Hollow Lake is a 28,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, on the TN-KY border, 5 miles southwest of Albany, KY. Anglers will be happy to find 650 miles of shoreline and half a dozen or more places to launch a boat, canoe or kayak.

Dale Hollow Lake is annually included in the Bassmaster Top 100 bass lakes in the USA. Stripers, sunfish, crappie, catfish, trout, walleye, muskie, paddlefish and other species of fish swim these nutrient-rich waters as well. Fishing from a boat is the preferable way to fish Dale Hollow Reservoir. However, there are numerous places around the lake where bank fishing is accessible. Points, creek channels, ledges, humps and islands throughout the impoundment provide great habitat for fish and baitfish. As a general rule, fish shallow in spring and fall, deeper in summer and winter. Rental boats at the lake include small fishing boats and pontoon boats.

Primary fish species residing in Dale Hollow Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Dale Hollow Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Hendricks Creek Resort
Rentals: Fishing boats, jon boats and pontoon boats
270 433-7172

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Dale Hollow State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Marina Road, this is a five-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Sulphur Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Sulphur Creek Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Wolf River Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, north side, off Wolf River Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Marinas

Safe Harbor Wisdom Dock
7613 Wisdom Dock Rd
Albany, KY 42602
606 387-5821

Fishing Guides On Dale Hollow Lake

Rainbow Guide Service - bass, crappie

If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.

Fishing License

Click here for a Kentucky Fishing License.

Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby

Dale Hollow State Park Campground - 270 433-6600

Down Yonder RV Park - 317 502-6999

Dale Hollow Dam Campground - 931 243-3554

Dale Hollow Lake KY Map - Fishing & Camping Areas

Contact Information

Dale Hollow Lake
Dale Hollow State Park Marina
1226 Marine Rd
Burkesville, KY 42717
270 433-6600

Fishing lakes in each state.

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