Lake Tenkiller Early Spring Bass and Striper Report - March 4th

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things fishin' around Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma. It's Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, kickin' off at 8:26 AM CST, and we're lookin' at a fine early spring day on the water. No tides here in these eastern Oklahoma hills—it's all about that steady lake level from the Corps of Engineers, sittin' pretty at 632 feet this mornin', perfect for wadin' in. Weather's cooperatin' nice: highs pushin' 62°F under partly cloudy skies, light winds from the south at 5-10 mph, accordin' to the National Weather Service. Sunrise was at 6:52 AM, sunset at 6:25 PM—plenty of daylight to chase 'em. Water temps hoverin' around 52°F, gettin' the bass and crappie stirred up from their winter slump. Fish activity's pickin' up somethin' fierce. Recent reports from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and local angler logs show stripers boilin' in the 5-15 lb range, with limits comin' easy on live shad. Smallmouth bass hittin' 2-5 pounders, largemouth up to 7 lbs, and crappie slabs pullin' 1.5-2 lbs thick around brush piles. Catfish are prowlin' too—blues and channels grabbin' cut bait, some 20+ pounders netted last week near the dam. Best lures right now? For stripers and bass, throw a 4-6 inch swimbait like a Keitech Swing Impact in shad colors, or a Rat-L-Trap in chrome/blue. Crappie love small jigs—1/16 oz curly tail in pink or chartreuse, tipped with a minner. Live bait kings: shad for stripers, worms or minnows for panfish and cats. Fish the points and creek channels slow—bite's best 10 AM to 4 PM. Hot spots? Hit Cookson Bend for stripers roamin' the surface, or the spillway below the dam for smallies huggin' the rocks. Launch from Strayhorn or Burnt Cabin for easy access. Y'all stay safe, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—reminder to subscribe for more reports. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn