

W is truly a unique lake that has the potential of producing some wall-hanger bass. A fishing forecast released by the KDFWR rates the bass fishing on the lake as being excellent with a good number of smallmouth bass that are larger than 3 pounds.


In fact, my wife recently caught a 5-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth last August. My father and I have caught numerous largemouths that have weighed over 6 pounds and several smallmouths around the 5-pound range. However, your daily limit can include any combination of black bass, but you can only keep two smallmouths.ĭale Hollow is probably one of my favorite Kentucky lakes and the bass fishing is sensational. This limit includes largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky (spotted) bass. Fishermen should also be aware of the five-fish daily limit placed on black bass. You know it's rough when a 20-inch smallmouth doesn't make the cut. An angler can only keep one fish over 21 inches and one fish less than 16 inches. In addition to having plenty of water to cover, Dale Hollow also leads the state with some of the toughest regulations that will help keep it a topnotch fishery.įor example, there is a 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass and a 16- to 21-inch slot limit on smallmouths. Anglers have close to 30,000 acres of surface water and approximately 620 miles of shoreline to chase after the bass. However, the lake is also loaded with an abundant supply of hard-hitting largemouth and spotted bass as well. Throw in prime rocky structure and you've got a smallmouth paradise. We are talking about a lake that is clear, deep and contains well-oxygenated water throughout the year. For example, the lake encompasses the excellent habitat, water quality and forage that are needed to sustain these bronzeback warriors. In fact, the 11-pound, 15-ounce world-record smallmouth bass was taken from Dale and was responsible for creating the lake's legendary status.ĭale Hollow has all the necessary ingredients to produce trophy-caliber smallmouths.

For good reason, Dale consistently produces trophy-sized smallmouths each year. Over the years, Dale Hollow has earned a renowned reputation as being one of the country's premier smallmouth fisheries. Everyone seems to be hitting the local lakes passionately with the hope of becoming the newest sensation on the tournament trail.ĭALE HOLLOW LAKE Tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains lies Dale Hollow Lake, a deep and crystal-clear bass fisherman's dream. Each of which are fully loaded with technologically advanced gadgets and gizmos designed specifically to make life hard on the bass. Today, legions of high-end bass rigs can be found roaring across the lakes at blistering speeds. Have you noticed how the popularity of bass fishing has exploded over the past few years? Highly advertised tournaments with televised weigh-ins and enormous payouts have dramatically increased public interest in the sport. In fact, you don't have to travel very far across the Commonwealth to experience some rod-thumping action from spirited largemouth and smallmouth bass. The Bluegrass State is dotted with a multitude of lakes, streams and rivers that provide fantastic bass fishing opportunities throughout the course of the year. Kentucky has been truly blessed with some of the finest bass angling that can be found across our great nation.
