Waterbody · Tennessee
Dale Hollow Lake Fishing Regulations 2026
Dale Hollow Lake fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 165 current rules from TWRA. Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge.
Species pages for Dale Hollow Lake
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Rules (165)
TWRA regulates 165 rules across 4 species at this water.
Smallmouth Bass
Barkley
- Min size
- 15"
Boone
- Min size
- 15"
Boone Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Center Hill
- Min size
- 18"
Cheatham
- Min size
- 18"
Cherokee
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
Cherokee Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
Clinch River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) greater than 17 inches
Clinch River: Hwy. 25e Upstream To State Line
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) greater than 17 inches
Cordell Hull
- Min size
- 18"
Dale Hollow
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 21"
One (1) fish may be under 16 inches and one (1) may be over 21 inches. Includes Wolf River upstream to South Ford Road bridge. Includes Wolf River upstream to South Ford Road bridge.
Davy Crockett Lake
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one over 17 inches
French Broad River
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) greater than 17 inches
French Broad River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) greater than 17 inches
French Broad River (Hwy. 168 To Douglas Dam)
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Ft. Patrick Henry
- Min size
- 15"
Great Falls
- Min size
- 18"
Holston River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR for Smallmouth Bass, only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Holston River (I-40 Bridge Upstream To Cherokee Dam And John Sevier Dam Upstream To North Fork Holston River)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
John Sevier
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth bass over 17 inches per day PLR
John Sevier Reservoir
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) Smallmouth bass over 17 inches per day.
Little Pigeon River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Little Pigeon River (From Mouth Upstream To The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary, Including The West Prong And East Fork Of The Little Pigeon River)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Little River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR for Smallmouth Bass, only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Little River (Rockford Dam Upstream To Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Melton Hill
- Min size
- 18"
Melton Hill Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Nolichucky River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
Nolichucky River (Enka Dam Upstream To State Line, Includes Davy Crockett Lake)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Normandy
- Min size
- 18"
Norris
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
Norris Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
North Fork Holston River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
North Fork Holston River (Confluence With South Fork Holston River Upstream To State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Old Hickory
- Min size
- 18"
Percy Priest
- Min size
- 18"
Pickwick
- Min size
- 15"
Pigeon River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Pigeon River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Powell River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
Powell River (Gap Creek Confluence Upstream To State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
South Fork Holston River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
South Fork Holston River (Confluence With North Fork Holston River Upstream To Fort Patrick Henry Dam)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
South Holston
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
South Holston (Tn + Va Rules)
- Min size
- 15"
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
Tellico River
- Min size
- 15"
Tims Ford
- Min size
- 18"
Watauga
- Min size
- 15"
Watauga Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Wolf River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 21"
over 21 inches
Wolf River (South Ford Road Bridge Downstream To Dale Hollow Reservoir)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 21"
one under 16 inches and one over 21 inches
Woods
- Min size
- 18"
Walleye
CalderwoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 8 fish/day
no length limit. no length limit
Calderwood Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 8 fish/day
Caney Fork RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Barbless
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30 No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used
Caney Fork River (Headwaters Of Center Hill Reservoir)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used.
Doe Creek (Old Cabin Private Road Downstream To Roan Creek)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Douglas
- Min size
- 15"
Douglas Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
East Fork Of The Obey RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 15
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Gear
- Barbless
Anglers restricted to use of one hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 15 Only one Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested
East Fork Of The Obey River (Headwaters Of Dale Hollow Reservoir)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 15
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Max size
- 20"
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers restricted to use of one hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 15. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used. Only one Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested.
Elk River (Highway 321 Bridge Downstream ToOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait) Jan. 1–April 30: Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Elk River (Highway 321 Bridge Downstream To Row Branch)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
French Broad River
- Min size
- 15"
French Broad River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Min size
- 15"
Ft. Patrick Henry
- Min size
- 18"
Norris
- Min size
- 18"
Norris Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Obey River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
Only one (1) Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested.
Pigeon River
- Min size
- 15"
Pigeon River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Min size
- 15"
Roan Creek (Mountain Lake Estates Bridge Downstream To Doe Creek)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
South Holston
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
South Holston (Tn + Va Rules)
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
South Holston Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
Tellico
- Min size
- 18"
Watauga
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
Watauga Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Watauga River (Nc Line Downstream To The End Of Cowanstown Road)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Tennessee statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 16"
Muskellunge
Calderwood
- Min size
- 42"
Calderwood Reservoir
- Min size
- 42"
Caney Fork River
- Min size
- 50"
Caney Fork River (Above Center Hill Dam) And Tributaries Including Collins River, Calfkiller River, Rocky River, Cane Creek, And Their Tributaries
- Min size
- 50"
Center Hill
- Min size
- 50"
Chickamauga
- Min size
- 50"
Dale Hollow
- Min size
- 50"
Great Falls
- Min size
- 50"
Melton HillCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Min size
- 50"
Muskellunge that are not intended to be harvested must be released immediately in a manner that promotes survival of the fish. Culling is not allowed.
Melton Hill ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Min size
- 50"
Muskellunge that are not intended to be harvested must be released immediately in a manner that promotes survival of the fish. Culling is not allowed.
Tennessee statewide
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
All Species
Dale Hollow LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Bill Dance Signature Lake access points
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Dale Hollow Lake?
TWRA regulates fishing on Dale Hollow Lake.
What species can I target on Dale Hollow Lake?
Dale Hollow Lake is best known for smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against TWRA on 2026-05-08. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .