95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish

Marina · Clay County

Willow Grove Dock & Resort, Dale Hollow Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, restrooms, rentals. 9 miles from Celina.

With a guide

Guides and charters near Willow Grove Dock & Resort

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

What to bring

Tackle for Willow Grove Dock & Resort

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

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

How to get there

Getting to Willow Grove Dock & Resort

Willow Grove Dock & Resort is a public marina on Dale Hollow Lake in Clay County, Tennessee, run by Marina.

From Allons, Willow Gove HWY to end of road

Willow Grove Dock & Resort is 9.2 miles east of Celina, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Willow Grove Campground Ramp, a few hundred yards to the east on the same water. For bait, Granville Marina in Gainesboro is about 24 miles away.

Coordinates 36.58570, -85.34510

Aerial view of Willow Grove Dock & Resort
Willow Grove Dock & Resort from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Willow Grove Dock & Resort

Pay to enter: launch fee charged 4 out of 5 Facilities 4 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 Willow Grove Dock & Resort. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 1 lane.

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.

Fish cleaning station

Clean your catch on site before the drive home.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

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 Willow Grove Dock & Resort

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

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.

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Willow Grove Dock & Resort

What you can keep from Dale Hollow Lake at Willow Grove Dock & Resort. 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.

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

Willow Grove Dock & Resort water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Willow Grove Dock & Resort

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Willow Grove Dock & Resort, 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.

Your turn

Rate and review Willow Grove Dock & Resort

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Willow Grove Dock & Resort

Can you launch a boat at Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

Yes. TWRA records Willow Grove Dock & Resort as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. There is a launch fee here, so bring money.

Do you need a fishing licence at Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

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 Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

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 Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

Granville Marina in Gainesboro is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 24 miles from Willow Grove Dock & Resort. Hall’s Sports and Outdoors in Jamestown is next, about 26 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Willow Grove Dock & Resort?

Willow Grove Dock & Resort 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.

Keep going

Fishing around Willow Grove Dock & Resort, 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.