SpurHunter, Bull Run, Melton Hill, FT Loudon, Striper, 2-7-16, DRC

[SpurHunter]

It has been a few months since I had been out, work and the holidays had me bogged down. Daniel and I had been eyeing the Bull Run steam plant to catch the new state record striper this year, we had never been before so made the long haul to try it out. We discovered a GHOST TOWN. AS we found out when pulling back out of the ramp, the plant has been shut down for a week and when there is no warm water running, there is no bait, and no fish, and no smiles from DRC and Spur to share.

We stopped in below Melton hill dam for a bit to try out the giant flow of chocolate milk water there, with one white bass to show for it, then off to Ft Loudon, found a few baits and couldn't even lose them in the even BIGGER flow of darker chocolate milk water. WE came home with our tails between our legs.

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for sharing... your tail of woe may keep someone else from experiencing the same. I appreciate it! emoThumbsup

I wonder if there is any way to know from afar when/if Bull Run is running?

 

[SpurHunter]

As we found out, there is no published run schedule for the steam plants that we could locate anywhere online. You basically have to know somebody at TVA thats "In the know". I know such a person, just never thought to check with them first.

 

[rusty50576]

If y'all are wanting to know if bull run is pumping just post a topic on here ahead of time and I'll try to let you know. You can see the steam from most anywhere in deep west Knoxville

 

[EricM]

When it is super cold and the steam plant is running is when the fishing can be good there. There are also some nice striped bass/white bass hybrids there. I've even seen a TARP hybrid come from there.

 

[tennfisher]

SpurHunter - 2/8/2016 9:38 AM

As we found out, there is no published run schedule for the steam plants that we could locate anywhere online. You basically have to know somebody at TVA thats "In the know". I know such a person, just never thought to check with them first.

Interesting Spur,

So the question is, why doesn't TVA include Bull Run data on it's mobile app? emoScratch emoScratch Anyone know the answer to that question?

Tennfisher

 

[catjuggin]

tennfisher - 2/10/2016 8:09 PM

SpurHunter - 2/8/2016 9:38 AM

As we found out, there is no published run schedule for the steam plants that we could locate anywhere online. You basically have to know somebody at TVA thats "In the know". I know such a person, just never thought to check with them first.

Interesting Spur,

So the question is, why doesn't TVA include Bull Run data on it's mobile app? emoScratch emoScratch Anyone know the answer to that question?

Tennfisher

Because TVA doesn't care one bit about their "Customers",
TVA is in the business to make money and that's it. If you don't like it tough..... emoBang

 

[EricM]

Bull Run is not a dam and there is no generator flow to report.

 

[tennfisher]

EricM - 2/10/2016 9:59 PM

Bull Run is not a dam and there is no generator flow to report.

Thanks Eric, I didn't know that, having never seen the place.

Tennfisher

 

[jbh3]

As was mentioned above, post up before heading this way. We'll be glad to offer what info we can. Ft Loudon and most dams up here have been spilling and/or running generators wide open for weeks due to the rainfall we've had. The Bull Run and KIngston steam plants have been down a LOT in recent years.

 

[lmk25]

Eric is right, plants don't have to share water exchange information to the public. Unfortunately TVA has lots of money, and your fishing hobby juggin, is not at the top of their list. Maybe next time spur, and thanks for the report!

 

[SNUFFY]

There are some big Muskie caught down below the discharge.....I don`t think they depend on the hot water as much as striper although they do chase the bait too.