Dale Hollow Lake is located in scenic rural country along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, the lake is renowned for its crystal clear water clarity and its fishing. Dale Hollow Lake is home of the world record smallmouth bass, and continues to provide many anglers with Lifetime Trophy catches every year. While known for its massive smallmouth population, the lake has also grown into a fantastic Largemouth Bass fishery as well. Dale Hollow is also home to great Trout, Crappie, and Walleye fishing.
Dale Hollow Records
| Record Fish Taken On Dale Hollow Lake | |
| Species | Record Weight |
| World Record Smallmouth Bass | 11 lbs. 15 oz. |
| Largemouth Bass | 11 lbs. 1 oz. |
| White Bass | 4 lbs. 2 oz. |
| Walleye | 18 lbs. 8 oz. |
| Muskellunge | 43 lbs. 0 oz. |
| Bluegill | 2 lbs. 7 oz. |
| Rainbow Trout | 14 lbs. 8 oz. |
| Brown Trout | 26 lbs. 2 oz. |
Approx. Spawning Times
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Lake Water Temps
| Average Water Temperature Degrees Fahrenheit | ||||
| Month | Surface | 10′ Depth | 20′ Depth | Air Temp |
| Jan | 43 | 43 | 43 | 41 |
| Feb | 46 | 45 | 44 | 44 |
| Mar | 53 | 52 | 51 | 53 |
| Apr | 60 | 59 | 57 | 63 |
| May | 75 | 73 | 65 | 71 |
| Jun | 83 | 82 | 75 | 77 |
| Jul | 84 | 84 | 80 | 80 |
| Aug | 81 | 81 | 81 | 75 |
| Sep | 75 | 75 | 75 | 67 |
| Oct | 65 | 65 | 65 | 53 |
| Nov | 56 | 55 | 55 | 43 |
| Dec | 48 | 48 | 48 | 41 |
FLW Pro Jay Yelas holding up a Dale Hollow Largemouth with Marina Owner Dennis Wilbert
Regulations for Dale Hollow
| Species | Creel Limit | Minimum Size | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 5* | 15 | Fishermen are limited to any combination of 5 largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass a day. Only two may be smallmouth bass. |
| Spotted Bass | 5* | No limit | |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2* | One fish may be under 16 inches and one may be over 21 inches. Fishermen are not permitted to keep smallmouth bass between 16-21 inches. | |
| Crappie (all species) | 15 | 10 | |
| Striped Bass (Rockfish) or Cherokee Bass (Hybrid) | 2 | 15 | |
| White Bass (Stripe) | 15 | No limit | |
| Catfish (all species) | No Limit* | No Limit* | Fishermen may keep only one catfish longer than 34 inches day. |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 | |
| Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) | 20 | No limit | |
| Rock Bass | 20 | No limit | |
| Trout (all species) | 7 | No limit | |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36 |