Melton Hill Muskie Fishing Report 2019
- Steven Paul
- Jan 8, 2019
- 14 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2019
Bi-weekly Melton Hill Musky fishing report.
Including conditions, weather and preferred lures for targeting Tennessee Musky.
Melton Hill Lake : Oak Ridge Tennessee.
Tennessee Muskie Fishing Guide Steven Paul
Melton Hill Musky Fishing
Melton Hill Musky
January 1st - 15th
Water Temps : 45 -53 *F
Weather : Mix of rain and clouds, temps ranging from 30-55.
The region is experiencing a high volume of rain causing some flooding of creeks and streams.
*Shifting fronts have created a brief "Indian Summer" with temperatures reaching mid 60"s.
These unseasonable conditions have shifted forage and the locations muskies prefer to use.
Some muskies are holding very shallow or suspended near the surface.
Water clarity has been a moving target due to localized flooding and controlled releases.
Muskie are staging on predictable shoreline cover and adjacent structure.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Bitten Tackle Creeper
Color - Duck
A January top water bite is one of those things you only see on a body of water as "weird" as Melton Hill, but we have contacted a few suspended fish using the creeper in a very slow and meticulous manner.
Joe Bucher Jointed Depth Raider
Color - Blue Back Shad
The jointed Depth Raider is producing both during both casting and trolling as it's jointed body helps give an illusion of speed even though it is being retrieved relatively slow.
The 12" ERC Triple D
Color - Flat Black -Spray Painted
The 12" Triple D is a mammoth Musky lure but it's suspending nature is great for slower Melton Hill Musky that at times have been somewhat negative or neutral in nature.
Melton Hill Musky
January 16th - 22nd
Water Temps : 40's -50's
Weather : Truly a mixed bag, the weather has bounced between mind numbing cold spells and warm fronts. It has been unpredictable and forecasts have been consistently inconsistent.
Water clarity has been generally clear, but some stained conditions have occurred and seem to change on a daily basis due to the large amounts of rainfall experienced in the region.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Joe Bucher Jointed Depth Raider
Color - Sucker
Tennessee Muskies are a sucker for the sucker flavor of the JBO Depth Raider.
We have had great success with a slight mod: Removing the center hook and replacing it with a rather small bait hook dressed with a contrasting colored 2" grub tail. This grub in the middle of the body seems to be great at triggering strikes are the bait floats upward.
Bill Norman DR2 - Read about it here...
http://www.tennesseemuskyfishing.com/blog/top-ten-musky-lures-2019
COLD SNAP Tennessee Muskie Fishing
Melton Hill Musky
Jan 22nd - 31st
Water Temps : 39 - 41
Weather : Day time temps of 15- 30
An arctic air-mass moved into the region bringing frigid temperatures.
Water clarity has been teetering between clear and lightly stained.
When fishing in sub freezing temperatures be prepared for frozen line, rods and reels.
I always recommend spraying reels and rods down with a little WD40 before fishing in these frigid conditions. This light coating of WD40 will help slow or prevent ice build up on your gear.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Joe Bucher Suspending Depth Raider
Color : Perch / Purple Tiger
This lure is exceptional in cold water conditions when utilizing the modification mentioned above.
12" Suick Thriller
Color : Black with orange belly
Suick Thrillers are known by most as a summer muskie lure but should not be over looked during winter months. The dive and rise action should be tuned in to be very steep and dramatic during cold water conditions. Successful musky fishing is all about presentation and preparation so taking time to properly tune a Suick should be a part of your prep.
Melton Hill Muskie
Febuary 1st - 15th
Water Temps : 40's
Weather : An unpredictable mix, with air temps ranging from 30-70
*Shifting fronts have creating "Indian Summer" conditions.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Crane 207 - Spary Painted White
Bucher Baby Shallow Raiders - TN Shad
Slammer 7" - Silver
Shallow cranks excel on many of Tennessee's muskie lakes in February.
The method of retrieve that is most productive is long rips followed by a slack line float up.
Melton Hill Musky
February 15-28th
Water Temps : 40's
Weather : Rain, rain and more rain......
Heavy rainfall has hit the region dropping at times a half inch or more or precipitation each day.
Melton Hill and other bodies of water have been releasing a high volume of water in an attempt to mitigate the potential of localized flooding.
The high volume of water at times has lead to very stained waters and turbulent conditions.
The sustained pull has drawn bait fish and predator alike away from shorelines and out in to open water patterns.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Bucher Baby Shallow Raiders - White
Magic Maker Glider - White / Silver and Black
These downsized presentations have been producing over open water in casting situations.
7" Jointed Shallow Raider - White Trolling
The jointed shallow raider has contacted a few fish during trolling passes.
The faster than normal flow on Melton Hill has made open water trolling a prime option.
Trolling upstream allows a slower and more methodical approach even when the conditions may seem chaotic to the untrained eye.
Melton Hill Musky
March 1st - 15th
Water Temps : 45 -51 *F
Weather : Heavy rainfall continues to be a problem for the region.
Flooding or lakes, creeks and feeder streams has added a twist to early spring patterning.
Water Clarity : Mostly muddy, so ares have some visibility.
Most productive Musky Lures
TMBC Glider : This custom glider is a work of art not only in it's finish but more importantly it's action. For more info click here.
Joe Bucher Baby Depth Raider
Color - Purple
This junior version of theclassic Depth Raider is perfect for targeting break lines and depth structure. The magic starts when it is used in a probing dive and rise fashion over sand flats and shallow cover.
Melton Hill Musky
March 15th -31st
Water Temps : 44 - 51 *F
Weather : Cool mourning in the high 30's or 40's with afternoon temps reaching 60's or 70's
Frontal systems have been predictable and are coherent with what one would expect in the early spring.
Water Clarity : Water clarity has been somewhere shifting between light stain to somewhat clear.
Most productive Musky Lures
JB Rattler
Color - Perch / Bone
This is a classic rattle trap style bait that has been enlarged to handle muskies.
Straight retrieves an been productive but rise and fall or ripping style retrieves seem to produce more and larger muskies.
Joe Bucher Baby Depth Raider
Color - Shimmer Shad
This junior version of the classic Depth Raider is perfect for targeting break lines and depth structure. The magic starts when it is used in a probing dive and rise fashion over sand flats and shallow cover.
Melton Hill Musky
April 1st - 15th
Water Temps : 48 - 53
Weather : Temps ranging in the 40's-70's with steady and predictable frontal systems.
Water Clarity : Clear with 6-8 feet of visibility.
Suick 9"
Color - Perch
This classic dive and rise bait is a classic musky presentation that is productive year round but is an excellent spring time presentation around cover and over flats.
The 9" version in easier to work in a quick fashion and generates strikes, very few muskies make boat side if you have your speed and depth dialed in whi9le working this lure.
I recommend adding a small blade o the diving tail as well as some flash tape to the belly to really kick things in to high gear.
Joe Bucher Baby Depth Raider
Color - Shimmer Shad
This junior version of the classic Depth Raider is perfect for targeting break lines and depth structure. The magic starts when it is used in a probing dive and rise fashion over sand flats and shallow cover.
Melton Hill Musky
April 15th - 30th
Water Temps : Ranging from 61- 69
Weather : Air temps ranging from 55 -70 have been the average.
Weather patterns have been steady and predictable.
The typical spring cycle of warm / cold fronts do come into play and tactics must be adjusted accordingly.
Water Clarity : Ranging from clear to lightly stained. Creek run off and rain showers can and have quickly turned things murky in a hurry.
Most productive Musky Lures
Joe Bucher Shallow Raider 5"
Color - Bone
JBO Shallow Raiders are hands down on e of the most productive twitch baits on the market.
This down size presentation is perfect when twitching over shallow flats and spring weed growth.
Bitten Tackle Frek'n Frog Creeper
Color - Baby Duck
"Plop Plop Glug Glug " This topwater is pre tuned and ready to roll out of the box.
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to spring time top water presentations.
Big Mama Psycho Flaptail
Color - Loon
Flaptails easily win the gold medal for not only being one of the stupidest looking muskie lures ever made but also should receive accolades for being impossible to store in a tackle box.
But muskies can't seem to resist a flap tail worked ever so slowly.
Melton Hill Muskie
May 1st - 15th
Water Temps 65 - 75
Weather - Air temps have been ranging in the 60's during AM hours and peaking in the high 80's/.
Watery Clarity : Visibility has been excellent up to a depth of six to eight feet at times.
Most productive Musky Lures :
7" Joe Bucher Jointed Shallow Raider & 9" Shallow Raider
Color - Bait Fish "White"
Shallow Raiders are a classic crankbait that really can't be fished wrong.
The 9" model excels as a hybrid jerk / crank and can call in large fish at some distance with it's wide wobble and large profile.
700 Series Bucher Tail
Color - Goldielocks
It doesn't get any easier than throwing a single blade bucktail, but depth and speed control are where most seem to miss the mark. On Melton Hill slow and steady usually wins the race but certain conditions call for hyper speed.
Nothing beats putting a couple 50 inch muskies in the boat before lunch!
Melton Hill Muskie
May 16th -31st
Water Temps 71 - 78
*****Water Temps are reaching peak during afternoon hours, attention should be paid to water temps as well as ambient air temps regarding the safe release of muskies.*****
Weather - Weather has been mainly hot and stagnant with a few storm cells passing through the region. Day time temps in the high 80's and low 90's.
Watery Clarity : Visibility is good but is at times clouded with organic material.
Most productive Musky Lures
TMBC Glider : This custom glider is a work of art not only in it's finish but more importantly it's action. For more info click here.
JB Rattler
Color - Perch / Black
This is a classic rattle trap style bait that has been enlarged to handle muskies.
Straight retrieves an been productive but rise and fall or ripping style retrieves seem to produce more and larger muskies.
700 Series Bucher Tail
Color - Goldielocks
It doesn't get any easier than throwing a single blade bucktails, but depth and speed control are where most seem to miss the mark. On Melton Hill slow and steady usually wins the race but certain conditions call for hyper speed.
Melton Hill Musky Fishing
June 1st - 15th
Water Temps 69-78
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Typical summer conditions during the first week of the month have given way to wet and stormy conditions. Thunder storms or heavy rain showers have been a daily occurrence on Melton Hill and the surrounding area.
Watery Clarity : The water clarity and conditions have been fluctuating heavily due to storm fronts. Heavily stained areas have been soft shorelines and creek mouths due to run off.
700 Series Bucher Tail
Color - Black / Silver
Single blade buchertail, not much you need to say regarding these time tested and proven muskie catchers.
Joe Bucher Outdoors 9" Shallow Raider
Color - Bait Fish "White" and Black
There is really no wrong way to work this lure but a hybrid jerk bait retrieve can trigger strikes from negative and neutral muskies.
Suick 10"
Color - Walleye
Suicks are a classic lure that will catch muskies anywhere they are swimming.
Using them to probe weeds, timber and break lines on Melton Hill is one way of upping your chances of putting a trophy Tennessee muskie in your net.
June 16th - 30th
Water Temps 62-75
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Daily storms have been the norm for the latter half of June, these rains have kept surface temps lower than usual.
Watery Clarity : Heavy rains and heavy dam releases have left Melton Hill mostly stained.
700 Series Bucher Tail
Color - Elvis
This classic single blade buchertail is simple musky catching machine.
Throw rinse and repeat.
TMBC 9" Glider
Color - Ghost
This handmade glider moves a ton of water and calls big predators in over great distances.
They are built like a tank and take massive strikes without a scratch.
Joe Bucher Top Raider
Color - Loon
In previous years the Top Raider has gone unnoticed by most Tennessee muskies, but in 2019 they are absolutely on fire. A couple simple mods have turned Top Raiders into a TN Muskie crusher.
The key to triggering strikes this time of year is SPEED.
Slow as possible or burning the paint of the bait nothing in between.
Melton Hill Musky
July 1st - 15th
Water Temps High 70's
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Warm conditions with small storm cells developing throughout the course of most days.
Keeping an eye on these developing fronts can be important for safety but more importantly ho they will influence muskie activity.
Watery Clarity : Clear to lightly stained conditions can be found throughout the system.
Heavy recreational boating traffic can lead to stained edges and channels.
Most productive Musky Lures :
Joe Bucher Buchertail 700
Color : Elivs & Black
Single blades with a smaller skirt seem to excel when the summer hear has set in.
Speed and depth control are critical and must be dialed in in daily based upon conditions.
Joe Bucher Shallow Raider 5"
Color - Bone
JBO Shallow Raiders are hands down on e of the most productive twitch baits on the market.
This down size presentation is perfect when twitching over shallow flats and spring weed growth.
July is a great month for trolling as surface temps rise and muskies move slightly deeper.
Top Trolling Lures:
Baby Depth Raiders : Color Bait Fish & Chart. Pike
Phantom Hex : Walleye & Black
Achieving running depths in the 8 - 10" range with a target speed of 2.4 - 4.5 have been the most productive over open water and break lines.
Pelagic muskies can be found relating to schools of bait fish.
Melton Hill Musky
July 15th - 31st
Water Temps High 70's
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Warm conditions with typical summer weather patterns.
Watery Clarity : Stained and Clear conditions can be found depending on boating traffic and weather.
July is a great month for trolling as surface temps rise and muskies move slightly deeper.
Top Trolling Lures:
8" Depth Raider : Color Sucker
Storm Flat Stick : Pink
Most productive Musky Lures :
Reef Hawg : Black
The reef hawg is part glider part top water depending on how you work it.
This lure rarely thrown by modern day musky anglers but excellent at triggering muskies that are high in the water column but not that "fired up".
Joe Bucher Willow Buck
This small and simple single willow leaf blade buck tail is great for probing tight cover or deeper holes. Mepps giant killers can also achieve similar results. These single blade baits really start putting fish in the boat when they are dressed with soft plastics reflective of the current forage base. Colors : White & Pink
Melton Hill Musky
August 1- 31st
Water Temps mid 70's with some areas in the high 70's.
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Day time temps have reached the high 90's on numerous occasions.
Anglers should focus on hydration and wear light colored clothing.
Thunder storms and heavy showers are a near daily occurrence and should be monitored.
Watery Clarity : Mainly clear but stained water can be found during dam releases and high boat traffic times.
August is a great month for flat line trolling as surface temps rise and muskies move slightly deeper. Flat line trolling allows anglers to cover a lot of water and is a great pre or post casting tactic.
Top Trolling Lures:
Baby Depth Raider : Bait Fish
7' Jointed Shallow Raider : Bait Fish
Most productive Musky Lures :
700 Buchertail : Elvis
Joe Bucher Willow Buck
This small and simple single willow leaf blade buck tail is great for probing tight cover or deeper holes. Mepps giant killers can also achieve similar results. These single blade baits really start putting fish in the boat when they are dressed with soft plastics reflective of the current forage base. Colors : White & Pink
Melton Hill Musky
September 1st -15th
Water Temps in the high 70's.
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Weather in the region has stalled, conditions have been dead flat clam with high bright sun with no variance.
Watery Clarity : Green stain from aquatic vegetation is present in the entire system.
Most productive Melton Hill Musky Lures
Casting - 500 Series Buchertail : Black
This downsized lure is perfect for burning over weeds and cover.
When conditions are poor or stagnate downsizing is often the best option.
10' Suick - Walleye
Dive and rise presentations near weeds is a classic and effective tactic even here in the south.
Tennessee muskies love Suicks if they are presented correctly with large delayed sweeps of the rod.
Muskie Trolling :
September is a great month for trolling as surface temps rise and muskies move slightly deeper.
When muskies are not at peak activity levels aggressive trolling can generate strikes.
Speeds of 3.5 - 5.5 have put muskies in the net.
Top Trolling Lures:
Phantom Hex - Walleye
Joe Bucher Ratler - Perch
Regualr Bull Dawg - Cisco
Melton Hill Musky
September 15th - 30th
Water Temps in the high 70's.
***Special Attention should be paid to the water surface temperature here in Tennessee.******
Melton Hill water temperatures often exceed 80 degrees during summer months, these temps can vary greatly depending on what section of Melton Hill you are targeting.
Weather - Weather in the region has stalled, it has been dead flat calm high bright sun for the entire month .
Watery Clarity : Clear with Green stain from aquatic vegetation is present in the entire system
Most productive Melton Hill Musky Lures
Casting - 500 & 700 Series Buchertail : Black / Gold /
Simple and deadly under most conditions
10' Suick - Walleye
Used near dense weeds while conditions are flat.
Muskie Trolling :
September is a great month for trolling as surface temps rise and muskies move slightly deeper.
When muskies are not at peak activity levels aggressive trolling can generate strikes.
Speeds of 3.5 - 5.5 have put muskies in the net.
Top Trolling Lures:
Depth Raider - Black
12" Jake - Nat. Pike
Wiley - Coach Dog
Melton Hill Musky
October 1st - 15th
Water Temps in the Low 70's High 60's
Weather - Cold fronts have chilled water temps. Summer heat was replaced with cold mornings and mild afternoons.
Watery Clarity : Clear 4-6 feet of visibility in spots.
Most productive Melton Hill Musky Lures
Casting - 500 & 700 Series Buchertail : Black / Gold /
Simple and deadly under most conditions
10' Suick - Walleye
Used near dense weeds while conditions are flat.
Burt : Black
This is a classic dive and rise lure from drifter tackle.
Melton Hill Musky
October 15th - 30th
Water Temps in the 60's
Weather - The late October weather has been all over the map with cold fronts followed by heavy down pours.
Watery Clarity : Clear 3 feet of visibility in spots.
Most productive Melton Hill Musky Lures
Casting 700 Series Buchertail : Black / Gold /
Simple and deadly under most conditions
Warlock - Color Blue Shad
This glider is a a breeze to use and is great at triggering strikes from negative and neutral muskies.
Burt : Black
This is a classic dive and rise lure from drifter tackle.
Melton Hill Musky
Novem 1st - 15th
Water Temps in the 60's - Mid 50's
Weather - Cold temps arrived early this year with AM temps in the low 30"S and mid day temps hitting mid 50's.
Watery Clarity : Very clear due to the lack of rain in the region.
Most productive Melton Hill Musky Lures
Warlock - Color Blue Shad
This glider is a a breeze to use and is great at triggering strikes from negative and neutral muskies.
Bulldawg : Cisco / Walleye
Top Trolling Lure:
Phantom Hex - Walleye
Melton Hill Musky
November 15-30th
Water Temps in the Mid 50's
Weather - Cold temps arrived early this year with AM temps in the low 30"S and mid day temps hitting mid 50's. We have had some warmer afternoons reaching low 60"s.
Casting - 700 Series Buchertail : Black / Gold /
Simple and deadly under most conditions
10' Suick - Walleye
Weighted model
Tipsy Custom Glider White Ghost
This is a heavy glider that gets down and dirty in cold conditions.
Top Trolling Lures:
Depth Raider - Black
12" Jake - Nat. Pike
Wiley - Coach Dog
Melton Hill Musky
December 1-15th
Water Temps in the low 50's
Weather - Cold temps arrived early this year with AM temps in the low 30"S and mid day temps hitting mid 50's. We have had some warmer afternoons reaching low 60"s.
Casting 700 Series Buchertail : Black / Gold /
Simple and deadly under most conditions
Warlock - Color Blue Shad
This glider is a a breeze to use and is great at triggering strikes from negative and neutral muskies.
Top Trolling Lures:
Depth Raider - Black
12" Jake - Night Shiner
8" Depth Raider - Shimmer Shad
Captain Steven Paul
Tennessee Musky Fishing Guide Service
1-615-440-3237
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