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River · Anderson

Fishing Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River, Tennessee

1 public access point across 1 county, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River, county by county

All 1 public access point TWRA records on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River. Each card opens its own page with written directions, coordinates and a link straight to Google Maps.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River access in Anderson County

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityClinton Lakefront ParkUnder Hwy 25W Bridge1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.09564, -84.13385

What to bring

Tackle for Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

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
Full largemouth bass checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

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

Smallmouth Bass checklistCrappie checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River boat ramps and fishing access

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River has 1 public access point: 1 boat ramp and 1 fishing pier, in Anderson County.

1public access point
1boat ramp
1fishing pier
1county

1 public access point on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River, every one with directions.

What it looks like

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River in photographs

What Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Melton Hill Lake, TennesseeMelton Hill Lake/Clinch RiverOpen the Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainClinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Melton Hill Lake, TennesseeMelton Hill Lake/Clinch RiverOpen the Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainClinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

What Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River actually holds, from the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes. A licence is required for all of it.

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiesunfishstriped basswalleyesaugeyemuskellungebrown trout
Guides who fish Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

TWRA sets 5 rules just for Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 combined with smallmouth14 in minimumMelton Hill Lake/Clinch River rule
Smallmouth bass5 combined with largemouth18 in minimumMelton Hill Lake/Clinch River rule
Spotted bass15No length limitSeparate from the largemouth/smallmouth limit
Striped bass2 striped/hybrid combined32–42 in protected slot, one over 42 inIncludes the Clinch River upstream to the Hwy 61 bridge in Clinton
Muskellunge150 in minimumMuskies not kept must be released immediately; no culling
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Brown trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

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.

Statewide limits and licenses

By county

Counties on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River touches 1 Tennessee county. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

ClintonAnderson County1 access point on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number that matters when you are deciding where to drive.

Anderson CountyFishing near Oak RidgePublic water within about 30 miles of Oak Ridge, closest first.See the spots →

A Tennessee licence covers the whole state, not just one lake.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

How many public boat ramps are there on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River, with 2 ramp lanes between them, across 1 Tennessee county. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River?

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, striped bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge and brown trout. Which of those is actually worth chasing depends on the season, and TWRA sets size and creel limits that change, so check before you keep anything.

Which counties does Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River run through?

Anderson county. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River from the bank?

Yes. 1 of the public access points on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River have a built fishing pier, and most of the ramps have shoreline you can walk. A pier is the easiest option with children or without a boat.

Do you need a licence to fish Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, and a trout supplemental on top if you plan to keep trout. Non-residents can buy a three-day or ten-day licence rather than a full year.

Is Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River free to fish?

The water is. Some of the ramps are not, Corps of Engineers sites, state park ramps and marinas often charge to launch or park. Each listing below shows the owner, which is the best guide to whether you will be asked for money.

Keep going

More Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits