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Boat Launch · Clay County

Holly Creek Dock, Dale Hollow Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, restrooms, rentals. 6 miles from Celina.

Get driving directionsAll Clay County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Holly Creek Dock

Captains who run Dale Hollow Lake, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Isaac Peavyhouse · Star Point Marina

Dale Hollow Bass Guide

BassCall 931-704-4642dalehollowbassguide.com

“Dale Hollow Dave” · Dale Hollow

Dale Hollow Trophy Troller

Trolling: smallmouth, walleye, musky, white bass, crappie, troutCall 615-477-7888trolldhl.com

Bobby Gentry · Dale Hollow

Reel Country with Bobby Gentry

SmallmouthCall 270-427-0419bobbygentry.com

All 4 guides on Dale Hollow

What to bring

Tackle for Holly Creek Dock

Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full largemouth bass checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Smallmouth Bass checklistCrappie checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Holly Creek Dock

Holly Creek Dock is a public boat launch on Dale Hollow Lake in Clay County, Tennessee, run by Marina.

From Celina, North on HWY 53, approx 7 milesm right on Holly Creek Road

Holly Creek Dock is 6.4 miles north-east of Celina, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Holly Creek Marina, a few hundred yards to the east on the same water. For bait, Granville Marina in Gainesboro is about 22 miles away.

Coordinates 36.58740, -85.39830

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Celina
Aerial view of Holly Creek Dock
Holly Creek Dock from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Holly Creek Dock

Pay to enter: launch fee charged 3 out of 5 Facilities 3 of 5, scored from what TWRA records: ramp, docks, pier, restrooms, parking, lighting and hours.

Everything below comes from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s own public access record for Holly Creek Dock. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 2 lanes.

Restrooms

Toilets on site, which is rarer than you would think.

Rentals

Boats or craft for hire at the access point itself.

Accessible parking

Marked accessible parking at the access point.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, canoe and kayak, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Holly Creek Dock

Dale Hollow Lake holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiebluegillwalleyecatfish

Fentress County includes part of the reservoir’s upper Obey/East Fork arm, but read the CONFIDENCE note, the developed marinas and ramps are all in Pickett and Clay counties, roughly 30 minutes west of Jamestown, so this is a “nearest major water” for Fentress rather than a water with Fentress access.

Everything on Dale Hollow LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Holly Creek Dock

What you can keep from Dale Hollow Lake at Holly Creek Dock. TWRA sets 5 rules just for Dale Hollow Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Black bass (combined)5, only 2 may be smallmouth—Dale Hollow Lake rule
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined15 in minimumDale Hollow Lake rule
Smallmouth bass216–21 in protected slot: one under 16 in and one over 21 inIncludes the Wolf River upstream to South Ford Road bridge
Muskellunge150 in minimumDale Hollow Lake rule
Walleye516 in minimum, only one over 20 inEast Fork Obey River, Compton boat ramp to Hwy 52 bridge, Jan 1–Apr 15: one single-point hook or lure, max 3 rods; gigging, snagging, bowfishing closed on the East Fork Jan 1–Apr 30
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Dale Hollow Lake

  • No more than 4 rods and reels per angler.

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Statewide limits and licenses

13 public boat launches in Clay County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Dale Hollow Lake around Holly Creek Dock

What the water at Holly Creek Dock actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Dale Hollow Lake, TennesseeDale Hollow LakeOpen the Dale Hollow Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainObey River, TennesseeObey RiverOpen the Obey River page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainCumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainDale Hollow Lake, TennesseeDale Hollow LakeOpen the Dale Hollow Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Obey River, TennesseeObey RiverOpen the Obey River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Dale Hollow Lake access near Holly Creek Dock

The closest other public access points on Dale Hollow Lake, measured straight line from Holly Creek Dock. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHolly Creek Marinaa few hundred yards eastDirections and detail →36.58740, -85.39830Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaHolly Creek Marinaa few hundred yards north-west1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.58932, -85.39943Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaWillow Grove Dock & Resort3.0 miles eastFrom Allons, Willow Gove HWY to end of road1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.58570, -85.34510Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEWillow Grove Campground Ramp3.0 miles east1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.58571, -85.34505Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaWillow Grove Marina3.1 miles east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.58458, -85.34220Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaDale Hollow Marina3.6 miles south-west1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.55365, -85.44711
All 30 access points on Dale Hollow Lake

Holly Creek Dock water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Holly Creek Dock

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Holly Creek Dock, including Obey River, Obey River/Cumberland River and Cumberland River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Dale Hollow Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDale Hollow Dam Boat RampObey River · 4.8 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.53729, -85.45674Fee not listed2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMoody Boat RampObey River · 5.1 miles south-westDirections and detail →36.54222, -85.46978Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDonaldson Park Boat RampObey River/Cumberland River · 5.9 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55565, -85.49523Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDonaldson ParkObey River · 5.9 miles west1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.55590, -85.49540Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEButler’s Landing Launch RampCumberland River · 11 miles south-westFrom I-40, N on Hwy 56 to Gainesboro. N on 53 to Clay Co. Approx. 1 mile on left1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.48970, -85.56410Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEButlers LandingCumberland River · 11 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.48951, -85.56421

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Holly Creek Dock

The closest shops to Holly Creek Dock that this site has checked. Granville Marina in Gainesboro is nearest, about 22 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Gainesboro · about 22 milesGranville MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Jamestown · about 28 milesHall’s Sports and OutdoorsSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Granville · about 32 milesWildwood Resort and MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Clay County

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Common questions

Questions about Holly Creek Dock

Can you launch a boat at Holly Creek Dock?

Yes. TWRA records Holly Creek Dock as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. There is a launch fee here, so bring money.

Do you need a fishing licence at Holly Creek Dock?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence to fish here, and a trout supplemental on top of it if you plan to keep trout. It is the same rule at every public access point in the state.

What fish are in the water at Holly Creek Dock?

Dale Hollow Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye and catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Holly Creek Dock?

Granville Marina in Gainesboro is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 22 miles from Holly Creek Dock. Hall’s Sports and Outdoors in Jamestown is next, about 28 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Holly Creek Dock?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Holly Creek Dock?

Holly Creek Dock is listed under Marina in TWRA’s public access database. The owner is worth knowing because it usually decides whether there is a fee, whether the gate is locked overnight, and who to ring when a ramp is closed for repair.

Where to next

Around Holly Creek Dock

Holly Creek Dock is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Dale Hollow Lake30 public access points across 3 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Clay CountyEvery public spot in Clay County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listClay County spot listAll 25 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near CelinaShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near CelinaEverything within about 30 miles of Celina, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Holly Creek Dock, and who knows it

Guides and charters on this site are listed by the water they run, so you can ring the captain who fishes Dale Hollow Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits