Melton Hill Fly Fishing | East Tenneessee Fly Fishing Forums

curly
War Paint Shiner

Posts: 7

Melton Hill Fly Fishing Jan 17, 2013 17:09:45 GMT -5

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Post by curly on Jan 17, 2013 17:09:45 GMT -5

Hi guys, just joined up on this forum. I'm going to be coming back home to Oak Ridge to visit my family in late July this year and looking forward to getting into some warm water species on the fly.

My folks live quite close to Melton Hill and I will have access to a canoe most days, and a motor boat occasionally.

Does anyone have advice for fly fishing Melton Hill this time of year for Largemouth, Carp, Stripers, Smallmouth, Gar, etc? Given that it will be mid-summer, is it even worth trying Melton Hill or am I best to focus on trout upriver or other lakes/rivers?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

Andrew

Petey
Administrator

"That is Squire Petey to you, sir"

Posts: 2,903

Melton Hill Fly Fishing Jan 18, 2013 10:42:40 GMT -5

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Post by Petey on Jan 18, 2013 10:42:40 GMT -5

Andrew, July is a bit late to be fly fishing Melton Hill as most of the bass will be deeper in the lake. The bite will still be there early morning and late evening. Also if you get here at the right time, the bass will come up and eat the big hex's that hatch that time of year. On my end of Watts Bar, down stream from Melton Hill, they usually come off early July. What part of Melton Hill are you on?

You won't be far from the Clinch, which will operating their summer release schedule. If you are not familiar with the Clinch is a tailwater trout fishery that can produce some nice fish. It holds Brooks, Browns and Bows. Mainly a small midge and nymph fishery, though fishing streamers can be productive given the flow and weather.

Petey

"You look like a fisherman, you smell like a fish. I will love you as long as all the fish are in the sea." - Chloe Peterson

curly
War Paint Shiner

Posts: 7

Melton Hill Fly Fishing Jan 20, 2013 16:32:18 GMT -5

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Post by curly on Jan 20, 2013 16:32:18 GMT -5

Thanks man.

My closest access point is the marina on Melton Lake Drive (where the China Palace restaurant is.) Do any good sized fish lurk in those inlets that go underneath the road? When I was a kid, my dad and used to catch tons of bluegill and small catfish back there, but not much else.

When I was there in 2009, we canoed across the lake into one of the large inlets running parallel to the railroad tracks, and saw tons of huge carp. I'm wondering if they could be worth a shot?

Will definitely get upriver into the tail water of the dam. I cut my teeth on trout fishing up there back when I was at UT, so pretty keen to re-visit