Dale Hollow Lake - KY/TN

[AirNautique211]

Family spent the week after the 4th in a cabin at Eagle Cove on Dale Hollow in TN. What an awesome lake and great resort. We spent 4 nights in a 2 bedroom with a pullout in the living room. It was something like $650. What a deal. The cabins were lake level, 100-150 yards to the courtesy slips. Everything was in in tip top shape and clean. I would highly recommend this place. Take ypour own food though - no resaurant at the resort and limited grocery shopping close. There is a great restaurant at Wisdom Dock though - 10 minute boat ride.

The lake is perfect - not too big and not too small. It is crystal clear too - you can see feet while you bob in the water. Fannies Creek Rocks!!! You must hit Fannies in the morning - great water!! There not lying - it's cleaner than Cumberland and better trip in my book.

If you are within a days drive, check it out!!

[siuski]

I'll Second that!! I've been down there 5-6 times now on house boat trips with the OSU ski club. We usually go out of Wolfe Creek, but stayed up in Fannies last trip. Dale Hollow is one of the greatest, under-developed (which is a good thing) lake in the mid-west.

Like AirNautique211 said, take the food with you!

[NCH2oSki]

TN or Kentucky could never be part of the midwest. I shudder to think that I was not in he south anymore, but had moved tot he midwest? Just kidding, but dont ever refer to us as the midwest again. :D

[siuski]

LOL, sorry I didn't mean to offend anyone. I guess I just considered anywhere I could drive within 5 hours was the mid-west. Also I still have trouble with the thought that the USAWaterski Southern Regional was held in Paduacah last year. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere!

[AirNautique211]

Pictures of the cabin, courtesy slip, and Wisdom dock

[skinautique]

About all that I can say is that you have an awesome looking 211!!!! I want to drool!

[NCH2oSki]

That does look like a great place to spend a week on the lake. Are ther houseboats for rent on Dale Hollow also?

Suiski, no offence taken, I was just giving you a hard time!

[AirNautique211]

www.hollycreek.com - this company is made up of 2 resorts, Holly Creek and Eagles Cove. I would recommend the cove if you are getting a cabin.

www.wisdomdock.com - the cabins are not quite as nice at this place, but the houseboats and restaurant/marina are nicer.

I would recommend both of these places - they are very clean and on the better part of the lake in my opinion.

Eagle cove would be a great place for a weekend Nautique gathering next summer. What do you think?

Oh, and I am not affiliated with the resort in any way - I just like Nautiques and good water.

[jefe]

We are looking to do a last minute weekend at either Eagle Cove or Wisdom, I saw that Eagle is almost double the cost of Wisdom per night, how are the cabins at Wisdom, are they pieces or are they adequate?

[Rick]

Does that mean that thr hushpuppies at the lake are still food and not shoes?? :)

[AirNautique211]

Wisdom cabins are adaqate at half the price and that area of the lake is awesome - Fannies!!!

There 2 cabins close to the dock that are kinda small but nicer and more convienient to the slips - ask for one of those.

The others are like small trailers with rustic decor and are fine too! Great marina and location to top skiing/boarding on the lake. The restaurant is very good.

Enjoy!!

[AirNautique211]

This is the best picture of the Wisdom dock that I have - sorry it's not much. In the background of the picture there is red cross walk type bridge - it leads right to the 2 cabins previously mentioned - less than 50 yards.

[jefe]

Thanks, it looks like we will be going!!!

[ScarletArrow]

Does anyone know if there is a slalom course on Dale Hollow?

We are staying at the far eastern end of the lake the last week of July - has anyone been to this part?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[patoloco]

I'll be there the last weekend of July also. There is a makeshift one(milk jugs etc.) usually at the very back of Mitchell Creek, but that would be a very long drive.

There has been one at the back Jolly creek this year which would be close to you.....not sure who's it is , or if they'll take it back down..you'll usually find a houseboat and some inboards nearby.

There is often one in Colson Creek, behind willow grove dock, but haven't been back there this year to see if its up......plus, I only slalom about once a year :)

[bobchris]

wisdom dock is way up the river, Sulfur Creeck is a good place they have a restuerant as well, Willow Groove usually has a course back in the cove past the pumps, Cedar hill is pretty cheap and all of their cabins have great views. There are a couple of camping spots as well, Lilly dell and sulfur creek and you used to be able to primative camp at swinging bridge. The finger just south of the damp is the best for skiing, well any spot between the **** and First island is always smooth. After first island and the fork in the rivers(obey and cumberland) is the roughist and wides section of the lake. The best way to enjoy Dale Hollow is by House Boat

[bbrech1]

I will be down there the last full week of July. We stay at the obey river campground. I have seen one there in the past but have not seen it there in a couple years. If you come down that way you will probably see about a dozen or more CC at that campground durring that week.

[mjg100]

I have only boated on Dale Hollow a few times. My boat sits on a lift on Barren River Lake. To much trouble to take it off Barren to take to Dale Hollow, but I have spent a lot of time at Dale Hollow lake on the Ky. side. My company built the State lodge and hotels at the state park. I will agree that Dale Hollow is the best lake in Ky. that I have been to and I have been to most of the lakes in Ky. If I hauled my boat to a lake I would make regular trips to Dale Hollow. It is that nice. As far as houseboats go one of the docks on the Ky. side had the two worlds largest houseboats a few years ago.

[ScarletArrow]

We're going to be at Eastport in the very SE portion of Pickett, Co.

Looking at Google Earth the lake seems to get real narrow down there - I'm hoping that means fewer boats and more glass.

[patoloco]

Yeah, eastport is way up the Obey river side. You'll find good water between eastport and sunset. It's basically a big winding river all the way to Sunset, watch out for a few shallow points but good skiing usually.

Some of the higher cliffs that everyone jumps from are a couple of bends up river from Sunset dock....and Sunset has a really nice restaraunt.

[Proud2BeCC]

I have also heard from some friends that Eastport is a great dock. A couple of years back, they had the best houseboats on the lake (for rent). Eastport is at the very SE tip of the lake. The section between Eastport and Sunset Marina has some of the best skiing on the lake IMO. Be carefull of the shallow points nearing Eastport as my friends chewed up a $300+ prop on their houseboat.

Our group is heading out of Sunset Marina the week before Labor Day.

[bobchris]

you guys are way up the river we rarely go that direction it's narrow and shallow, the big clifss are on the Ky side in the northern fork. As far as the house boats, Sulfur Crecck/Wolf River (same owners), Hendricks Creeck and Holley Creek's bigfoot are the best on the lake. Hendricks has the two largest that are owned by private indiviuals, they had to build a new dock just for them and the one has an elevator in it and they take alot of needy children out on the week-ends for a day on the water.

[ScarletArrow]

I have also heard from some friends that Eastport is a great dock. A couple of years back, they had the best houseboats on the lake (for rent). Eastport is at the very SE tip of the lake. The section between Eastport and Sunset Marina has some of the best skiing on the lake IMO. Be carefull of the shallow points nearing Eastport as my friends chewed up a $300+ prop on their houseboat.

Well I'm hopeful that I'll find glass all day everyday :grin:

How far is it from Eastport to Sunset via water?

Are the shallow points marked at all, or will I have to rely on the locals for information?

Is there a way to purchase a map showing depths?

[patoloco]

You'll easily find glass everyday.

Its about 4-5 river miles or so between east port and Sunset. Some shallow spots are marked and others are not. Just use common sense from a river and lake perspective and you'll be good.

If your concerned, just buy a map at the dock, and the main "old" river channel will be clearly marked..which will obvisouly be the deepest.

Parts of Eastport and Sunset have burned down and been rebuilt within the last 10 years and it was probably the best thing to happen, as they re-built much nicer.

[bobchris]

If you cann't find glass on Dale Hollow in the middle of the day then your on the wrong lake. Get a map and go down river (towards the ****) and pick a long finger type cove and enjoy, you'll find so many spots you'll have a hard time picking a favorite one. you'll want to get a map regardsless just so you know where all of the marine's are for gas.

[JWAT]

I will be there the first full week in August from Saturday to Saturday. Anyone else?

[bbrech1]

Here is a map of the lake with marinas and campgrounds on it.

[ScarletArrow]

Just got back this evening from spending the week at Dale Hollow - it was unbelievable!

A couple of nuggets...

- The water south of Sunset Marina toward Eastport is great...butter every morning until about 10:30 when the other boats started showing up.
- Water is a beautiful emerald green color... and clear...I could easily see 15 ft down (that's unheard of in Ohio lakes with clay bottoms)
- There were a couple of 210's about - one w/ black hull and light blue main stripe, second grey hull with orange stripe...both were playing hard and looking good.
- Also saw a '65 CC with "Tag A Along" across transom...looked to be in great condition.
- The folks at Eastport Marina really treated us great...I highly recommend!

SA

[Proud2BeCC]

ScarletArrow,

Glad you had an awesome trip to DH. We are going the last week in August. We're heading out of Sunset. We can't wait! We're thinking of just rounding the bend toward Eastport to tie up the houseboat (Fuel costs and all). We've always had good water there. We'll probably only be able to sit in one place for a couple of days though before we go stir crazy. Do you have any killer spots that we need to try on the South East side of the lake?

How's the water level of Dale Hollow? Last year it was down to normal about sixteen feet by late August.

P2BCC

[patoloco]

Also saw a '65 CC with "Tag A Along" across transom...looked to be in great condition.

I saw the same Nautique on Saturday at a rope swing and spoke with one of the guys. They were out of Cincinatti I believe. Beautiful condition...white hull, red deck and interior, looked showroom new. I took a photo, but don't want to post someone else's boat.
[/quote]

[bbrech1]

Here we are parasailing outside Obey River Campground on Saturday

[AirNautique211]

hey - I was considering getting one of those. How is it behind your boat - is it too much pull? Also, what brand do you have - can you post some contact info on the company?

Thanks,

AN211

[ScarletArrow]

ScarletArrow,

Glad you had an awesome trip to DH. We are going the last week in August. We're heading out of Sunset. We can't wait! We're thinking of just rounding the bend toward Eastport to tie up the houseboat (Fuel costs and all). We've always had good water there. We'll probably only be able to sit in one place for a couple of days though before we go stir crazy. Do you have any killer spots that we need to try on the South East side of the lake?

How's the water level of Dale Hollow? Last year it was down to normal about sixteen feet by late August.

P2BCC

Water level was fine for us...it's 50+ ft. around Sunset and down to 25+ around Eastport.

Just stay in the channels and you will be fine...just watch for the rogue log or tree branch that pops up overnight.

Once you head south on the Obey River from Sunset, the first bend to the left was a popular hangout b/c of the cliffs...people would anchor and jump off the cliffs (see pic).

There are a couple of coves past these bluffs that are especially nice. I really like the water here...color, depth, clarity...Franklin Creek and Big Hollow Branch are nice too (I spent a lot of time there).

From that point to Sells Mills Creek you should have fantastic water for skiing...nice long straightways, smooth, and very few boats.

If you're a little adventerous you can even ski down the East and West Forks past the marina...you can only ski one way then drop, but it's glass all day.

There is a really nice topo map you can buy at the marina that shows all the channels, depths, etc. - it's a must.

SA

[ScarletArrow]

Also saw a '65 CC with "Tag A Along" across transom...looked to be in great condition.

I saw the same Nautique on Saturday at a rope swing and spoke with one of the guys. They were out of Cincinatti I believe. Beautiful condition...white hull, red deck and interior, looked showroom new. I took a photo, but don't want to post someone else's boat.
[/quote]

Not a good pic...but here it is.

[bbrech1]

hey - I was considering getting one of those. How is it behind your boat - is it too much pull? Also, what brand do you have - can you post some contact info on the company?

Thanks,

AN211

We were pulling it with a 2002 super sport on the pylon with no problems. If you go too fast into the wind it starts to pull the prop out of the water. Depending on the wind we were running anywhere from 10mph - 35mph to keep the parasail up in the air

http://www.ascendingparachutes.com/index.shtml

We have a 28' version and we are thinking about selling it.

[ScarletArrow]

Also saw a '65 CC with "Tag A Along" across transom...looked to be in great condition.

I saw the same Nautique on Saturday at a rope swing and spoke with one of the guys. They were out of Cincinatti I believe. Beautiful condition...white hull, red deck and interior, looked showroom new. I took a photo, but don't want to post someone else's boat.


Not a good pic...but here it is.

Just saw your last line...is it against protocall to post a pic of someone else's boat?

[Hollywood]

Just saw your last line...is it against protocall to post a pic of someone else's boat?

If you're complimenting them, I don't think so.

[bbrech1]

Jumping from the cliffs
They are approx. 50ft

[AirNautique211]

Wow - we have to get back down there - it looks like so much fun!!!