Four miles southeast of Oak Ridge lies a fishing destination called Melton Hill Lake. Stocked annually with game fish, this 5,700-acre lake includes 170 miles of shoreline. While this lake is mainly a cool-water reservoir, there’s an area near the Bull Run Steam Plant where warm water discharges from the facility into the lake. The varying temperatures attract many different species of fish, including muskellunge, white crappie, sauger, largemouth bass, northern pike, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, and skipjack herring. Most fishermen who stop by are hoping to catch the lake’s striped bass, muskie and crappie. In fact, this lake is home to the state-record muskie, which weighed a whopping 43 pounds, 14 ounces. Melton Hill Lake has many boat ramps for larger boats and offers several access points for launching canoes or kayaks.

driving directions

Melton Hill Lake boat ramps:

The following boat ramps provide access to Melton Hill Lake.