Overview
Dale Hollow Lake is a 27,700-acre reservoir on the Obey River spanning Clay, Pickett, Overton, and Fentress counties in Tennessee and Clinton and Cumberland counties in Kentucky. It was completed for flood control in 1943 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, with hydropower units added later. The lake is famous as the home of the world-record smallmouth bass.
With 620 miles of mostly undeveloped, forested shoreline and clear, deep water, Dale Hollow is one of the most scenic and pristine reservoirs in the Cumberland basin. The pool is drawn down seasonally for flood storage and power, with a maximum power pool of 651 feet and a flood pool extending to 663 feet.
The lake is renowned for smallmouth bass, as well as largemouth bass, walleye, and trout in the tailwaters, with fisheries managed by Tennessee and Kentucky wildlife agencies. Corps campgrounds, marinas, and boat ramps provide public access in both states.
Water levels on Dale Hollow Lake are managed by the Corps of Engineers around a summer full pool of 651 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with a lower winter pool near 631 feet. Monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Dale Hollow is currently 6.57 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.77 ft
- 30-day changeDown 2.13 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Dale Hollow is a 27,700-acre reservoir on the Obey River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.