• Melton Hill Fishing Report

    Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
    (423) 587-7037 http://www.tnfish.org/index.html phshaw@comcast.net
  • Paul grew up in Auburn, Alabama and graduated from Auburn High School in 1969. Before leaving high school, he began working in Auburn University's fisheries department on an experimental channel catfish cage culture project. After a year at the University of Mississippi (1969-70), he transferred to Auburn University, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fisheries Management.

  • Melton Hill Fishing Report

    On April 23rd the water level was 793.86 ft and was predicted to remain steady
    through Friday, April 25th. Surface temperatures in the channel may vary through
    the day according to the discharges from Norris Dam and the discharge through
    Melton Hill Dam. The afternoon main channel surface temperature is 66 degrees in
    the channel and as high as 70 degrees in some of the coves on the lower end.
    Discharge water from the Bull Run plant was 73 degrees. The water was clear or
    with a light stain in most areas. Some of the creeks were showing more color in
    their headwaters.

    SPECIES DETAILS

    CRAPPIE
    Fair.
    5 to 10-feet deep, on the bottom in the hollows and creeks on the lower half of the
    lake, very close to, and in, flooded brush. Catches were fewer than they were last
    week.

    Crappie catches came from the Solway access vicinity, Bull Run Creek, Beaver
    Creek, Clark Center Park, Bearden Creek, and a few in the Bull Run plant
    discharge canal. Mid-section to lower end creeks and larger hollows with downed
    trees and brush.
    Tuffy minnows, 1-inch tube jigs, popeye flies tipped with minnows, trout magnets.

    LARGEMOUTH BASS
    Moderate.
    5 to 15-feet deep.
    Very close to downed timber and in the pockets near wood structure. On sunny
    days, these fish are holding under shallow wood structure, or deeper off the ends of
    it. Coves with warmer water and downed trees produced better than the channels.
    Shad or crawfish color crankbaits were taking some on the main channel, rocky
    banks, very close to the shoreline. The edges of the sandbar humps in mid-channel
    produced a few on deep running crankbaits.
    Small deep and medium-running Bandit or Bomber style crankbaits, soft swim
    baits, Zoom worms in Red Shad or similar pattern, ½-oz hair or rubber skirted jigs.

    MUSKY
    Moderate
    Large jerkbaits, spinners, live shad/skipjacks.
    In the Bull Run discharge area and the shoreline leading to it down to the mouth of
    Bull Run Creek, close to the bank. The Bull Run discharge catches remained
    slower than in previous weeks.

    STRIPED BASS
    Moderate
    Surface to 20-feet. Some surface action is being seen in the mornings and late
    afternoons where baitfish schools are located.
    Main channel from Bull Run Creek mouth to the Edgemoor Road bridge. In the
    outer discharge area of the Bull Run plant.
    Live shad/skipjack, umbrella rigs (see hook rule). Good surface action has been
    seen in mid-channel in this section.

    WALLEYE
    Slow
    5 to 10-feet
    Channel from Clinton to Hwy 61 Bridge and shoals above.
    Doll flies tipped with plastic grubs (Twisters), Rapalas, Shad Raps.
    On the bottom in mid-channel and in the shoals above Hwy 61 Bridge.

    WHITE BASS
    Good.
    Surface to 10-feet. On sunny days, on the bottom in creek mouths and the Bull Run
    discharge canal. White bass are dominating the catch on the lake.
    Main channel shorelines and off shallow bars in mid-channel, mainly on the
    portion from Bull Run Creek and above. Bull Run plant discharge area catches
    have been very good on tuffy minnows fished slowly along the bottom. At dusk,
    the catches improved closer to the surface. Clear days saw these fish as deep as 15-
    feet, but hitting well on the surface on cloudy days.

    Tuffy minnows or shiners were working best, either cast to the breaks or fished
    deep. Small chrome/white spinners, minnows, white hair jigs, 2 to 4-inch plastic
    swimbaits or grubs on leadheads.
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