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You are here: Home / Archives for Kentucky State Parks / Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park

Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Three State Resort Parks for Great Fall Fishing

October 13, 2016 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Kentucky Lake at Kenlake
The dramatically cooler nights of the last few weeks are a blessing for anglers. These longer, colder nights pull the residual heat from the water, signaling to game fish that it is time to fatten up on the fall harvest of baitfish born earlier in the year.

The picturesque panorama of the changing leaves rings many of our reservoirs in fall. The fishing sometimes takes a backseat to the pleasure of soaking in all of the exquisite scenery. A fall weekend of staying at a Kentucky State Resort Park and fishing in the most superb setting of the year is a great stress reducer before the hub bub of the holiday season arrives.

Here are three of the best Kentucky State Resort Parks for a fall weekend fishing getaway:

Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Lake: Kentucky Lake – along with its twin to the east, Lake Barkley – rank among the nation’s best largemouth bass fisheries. The lakes check in as the fourth best bass fishing destination in the southeast by Bassmaster Magazine for 2016. Few places produce as many largemouth bass weiging 4 pound or more, as well as mind-boggling numbers of 2- to 3-pound largemouths. A 25-fish day here is just so-so.

Fall is one of the best times to book a weekend at Kenlake State Resort Park (http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/kenlake). This park’s location provides excellent access to great bass fishing spots on Kentucky Lake and the lake is often nearly empty in fall.

During fall, Kentucky Lake’s largemouth bass are making the transition from deep water summer haunts on main lake ledges and channel drops back into shallow water. The sloping banks in the bays on the Land Between the Lakes side of the lake directly across from Kenlake State Resort Park provide outstanding action. The changing leaves on this undeveloped side of Kentucky Lake provide spectacular scenery.

Kentucky Lake at Kenlake
Try bottom-crawling a 1/2-ounce football jig in the Okeechobee craw or Cumberland craw colors down these sloping banks in Barnett Bay, Vickers Bay or Rhodes Bay. A 7-inch straight-tailed green pumpkin worm rigged on a 1/4-ounce Shakey head fished the same also produces numbers of largemouth bass. You also may stumble across a brute smallmouth bass in these areas as well.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Lake Cumberland: Striped bass in Lake Cumberland are thriving. The fishery is returning to its former glory after the lake was lowered for several years to repair Wolf Creek Dam. Southeastern Fishery District Biologist John Williams reports the number of fish exceeding 30 inches is dramatically improving. Anglers are catching fish heavier than 25 pounds with much greater regularity. This fishery will continue to improve for the foreseeable future.

Fall is a fantastic season for Lake Cumberland striped bass fishing and the location of Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/lake-cumberland/) places anglers in the perfect spot on the lake.

In October, stripers usually hang from 35 to 70 feet deep along main lake flats and points. These same areas in the lower ends of major creek arms such as Beaver, Indian and Wolf creeks also hold stripers. The lower lake region, from Lake Cumberland State Resort Park down to the dam, seems to produce slightly better fishing in fall.

Bottom fishing live alewives, shad or large shiners is one of the easiest and most productive ways to catch fall stripers on Lake Cumberland. The small coves on the south bank of the lake from the mouth of Beaver Creek to the mouth of Indian Creek make great places to bottom fish in fall. Most of these coves have bank areas comprised of broken shale mixed with mud. Smart anglers beach the nose of their boats on these soft banks and fish their live bait rigs off the back of the boat.

A slip-sinker rig comprised of a 1/2-ounce egg sinker, barrel swivel and leader of 17-pound abrasion resistant monofilament line with a 5/0 circle hook on the business end works wonders. If you don’t get a bite within 45 minutes, move to the next cove.

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Dale Hollow Lake: Few other lakes in the country produce as many robust 3- to 6-pound smallmouth bass as Dale Hollow Lake. The 6,614 acres of the lake in Kentucky make good water for fall smallmouth bass fishing. Bonus: Dale Hollow is one of the most scenic lakes in the upper South.

Leitchfield’s David L. Hayes caught the 11-pound, 15-ounce all-tackle world record smallmouth bass not far from the boat ramp now named for him at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park (http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/dale-hollow/) on July 9, 1955. The weedbeds found in the coves adjacent to the ramp hold smallmouth bass in fall.

Drifting large crappie minnows or medium-sized shiners over these weedbeds produces the best numbers of smallmouth bass and fools the big ones. Use a size 1 Octopus style hook with a few slip shots gently crimped on the line 18 to 24 inches above it.

Weedbeds abound in Wolf River arm of the lake, as well as in Sulphur and Illwill creeks. Fishing the minnows or shiners on points in these areas also produces smallmouth bass, but the weedbeds seem to the more consistent producer of bigger fish.

Visit a Kentucky state resort park this fall and enjoy bountiful fishing during the best time of year.

Author Lee McClellan is a nationally award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland State Resort Park Tagged With: Fishing, Kentucky Lake fishing, Lake Cumberland fishing

Kentucky State Parks Announce the Getaway to Golf Package, Available at 10 Parks

May 27, 2016 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Kentucky Dam Village State Park Golf Course
Beautiful Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park’s Golf Course
If you live in or near Kentucky and love golf, look no further than the Kentucky State Parks for beautiful and challenging golf courses.  You should also be on the lookout for various “golf packages” they announce throughout the year.

Kentucky State Parks has launched a new golf package at 10 resort parks across the state: The “Getaway to Golf” package is available now and includes overnight lodging and 18 holes of golf with a golf cart and breakfast beginning at $89 a person. The package price is per person, per night, based on double occupancy, plus tax and is subject to availability.

For more information about golf at Kentucky State Parks, please visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/golftrail/

{Kentucky State Parks Participating in the Getaway to Golf Package are listed below!}

Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course

Dale Hollow is a Favorite with Kentucky Golfers: Challenging, Fun, and Always Immaculate

The Getaway to Golf package will be offered at the following parks. Please call to make reservations:

Barren River State Resort Park: 800-325-0057

Dale Hollow State Resort Park: 800-325-2282

General Burnside State Park (lodging at Cumberland Falls): 800-325-0063

Grayson Lake State Park:  lodging at Carter Caves 800-325-0059

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park: 800-325-0146

Lake Barkley State Resort Park: 800-325-1708

Mineral Mound State Park (lodging at Kentucky Dam Village): 800-325-0146

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park: 800-325-1711

Pine Mountain State Resort Park: 800-325-1712

Yatesville Lake State Park: lodging at Jenny Wiley 800-325-0142; Carter Caves 800-325-0059

The Kentucky State Parks offer excellent championship play at its 16 golf courses. Resort parks also have restaurants, hiking trails and many other recreational activities. For more information, visit www.parks.ky.gov

General Burnside State Park's Golf Course

General Burnside State Park’s Picture Perfect Golf Course

Filed Under: Barren River Lake SRP, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, General Burnside State Park, Golfing, Grayson Lake State Park, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Mineral Mound State Park, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Summertime in Kentucky, Yatesville Lake State Park Tagged With: golf courses in Kentucky, Kentucky State Park Golf Courses, Kentucky State Park Golf Package

View Behind the Lodge at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park

April 22, 2016 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

View Behind the Lodge at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
The view behind the Mary Ray Oaken Lodge at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is about as beautiful as a view gets. Just kind of pretend the Shepherd’s Hook with a bird isn’t there – although I do envy this bird’s “everyday” view.

I’ll add more pictures from the Mary Ray Oaken Lodge this weekend. It’s a beauty.

 See Also:

  • Pictures of Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park’s Golf Course
  • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Pictures

 

 

Filed Under: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Tagged With: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park

Pictures of the Day: Dale Hollow State Resort Park’s Golf Course

December 29, 2015 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
There are countless reasons I’m SO VERY thankful to live in Kentucky. Far too many reasons to even try to count – but one of the top spots would be the fact that we have four distinct seasons.  Each season is beautiful and special in its own right. Just as you’re starting to feel “over” one, the next one shows up on your doorstep.

I’d wager that the average golfer is “over” winter by now, even though it really just got here!

In their honor, I picked pictures of the beautiful Dale Hollow State Resort Golf Course to be the pictures of the day.   Dale Hollow is one incredibly beautiful place to spend the day – whether you’re playing a challenging round of golf or… like me!… just tagging along to take pictures and enjoy the scenery.

Hang in there, golfers, you’ll be lacing up those golf shoes before you know it.  And, when you do, I hope you’ll remember Dale Hollow.

Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course
Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course

Dale Hollow State Resort Park Golf Course

Filed Under: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Kentucky Picture of the Day

Two Kentucky State Park Golf Courses Make Golf Digest’s Top 10 Courses in Kentucky List for 2013-2014

February 9, 2013 by Joi Sigers 1 Comment

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Course

Beautiful Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Course

If you’re looking for the best place to golf in Kentucky, here’s some news you can use. Two Kentucky State Parks golf courses are ranked among the top 10 courses in Kentucky for 2013-2014, according to Golf Digest magazine.

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park in Burkesville had the No. 7 course, and Eagle Ridge at Yatesville Lake State Park near Louisa had the No. 10 course. They were the only two public courses listed among the top 10 in Kentucky.

“This is recognition of the excellent golf we offer our customers and the great staff we have at our courses,” Parks Commissioner Elaine Walker said. “We have many excellent courses, and it’s gratifying to see two of them on this list.”

Golf Digest ranked courses on criteria such as course design, aesthetics, and scoring difficulty.

Genuine Kentucky would love to congratulate everyone at Dale Hollow Lake State Park and Yatesville Lake State Park for their achievements.  Michael has golfed often (read: VERY OFTEN!) at Dale Hollow and thinks the world of their exemplary golf course staff – including their wonderful golf pro.  They obviously take great pride in their golf course and it shows.

The state of Kentucky has a lot of great golf courses – Louisville, alone, is home to more than I could count.  To make a list of 10 is an achievement these parks should be very proud of.  Congratulations again to the men and women at Dale Hollow and Yatesville!

The Kentucky State Parks have 18 courses across the state (listed below).

18 Hole Kentucky State Park Golf Courses:

  • Barren River Lake
  • Dale Hollow Lake (Click the following link to see pictures of Dale Hollow Lake’s Golf Course)
  • General Burnside Island
  • Grayson Lake
  • Kentucky Dam Village
  • Lake Barkley
  • Lincoln Homestead
  • Mineral Mound
  • My Old Kentucky Home
  • Pennyrile Forest
  • Pine Mountain
  • Yatesville Lake

9 Hole Kentucky State Park Golf Courses:

  • Carter Caves
  • General Butler
  • John James Audubon
  • Kenlake
  • Kincaid Lake
  • Rough River Dam

Kentucky State Parks also feature two golf packages for guests: the Chip Shot and the all-inclusive Tees & Zzzs. The Chip Shot package includes 18 holes of golf with cart and lodging. The popular Tees & Zzzs features golf with cart, lodging, breakfast and dinner, plus a gift card.

For information about these courses and golf packages, visit www.parks.ky.gov/golf. To learn more about the Golf Digest rankings, visit http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/kentucky.

*** Unfortunately, since this was written, the Kentucky State Parks have closed the golf courses at Kenlake and Rough River Dam.

Filed Under: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, Golfing, Yatesville Lake State Park Tagged With: best golf courses in Kentucky, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Course, Kentuckky State Park Golf Courses, Kentucky golf

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