"Lake Tenkiller Fishing Report: Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Bites on the Rise"

This is Artificial Lure bringing you your November 20th, 2025, angler’s update straight from the banks of Lake Tenkiller, where clear water and crisp autumn air set the scene for some classic Oklahoma fishing. The lake this morning sits just a touch above normal, with the conservation pool at nearly 100% full—water level hovering around 633 feet, so there’s ample shoreline cover and flooded timber to fish, especially with the reservoir release easing off compared to last month, according to the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If you’re looking for fresh conditions, these cool November mornings with temps starting in the low 40s and warming up to the mid-60s by afternoon shouldn’t disappoint. Skies are mostly sunny and winds out of the northwest at 8 to 12 mph, perfect for working topwater early and switching to slower presentations as the sun climbs. Sunrise hit at 7:02 AM and sunset’s coming in near 5:17 PM today, giving you just over 10 daylight hours to work the banks and ledges. Lake Tenkiller’s bite has responded well to the cold snap that rolled through earlier this week—fishing activity has picked up, especially for bass and crappie. Recent trips and local guides report that black bass are chasing schools of shad washed up tight along rocky points and shallow coves. Anglers landing consistent numbers are throwing medium-diving crankbaits in smoky and chartreuse shad patterns, as well as suspending jerkbaits right off main lake points in the lower end near Snake Creek and Cookson Bend. A few largemouth up to four pounds were caught just yesterday by the dam using Texas-rigged soft plastics in green pumpkin and watermelon, especially in the midday sun when the bite slows but doesn’t disappear. White bass are schooling up in deeper water mid-morning—if you see birds working, throw a silver jigging spoon or small white grub under them and you’ll find action. Most slabs reported have ranged from 1 to 2 pounds—perfect for a fish fry. Crappie are showing steady numbers off standing timber and brush piles in 12 to 18 feet of water, with some nice fish reported from the mouth of Standing Rock Creek up toward Sizemore Landing. Live minnows are tops, but those armed with chartreuse and blue crappie jigs have done fine too. If you’re targeting numbers, locate a brush pile just off the main channel for a mix of “keeper” slabs and plenty of short fish—thin the herd and take home a mess for the skillet. Catfish remain fair but steady along the flats; locals are drifting cut shad and chicken liver in 15–20 feet, picking up blues and channels in the low teens with a few chunky flatheads sniffing around deeper structure by the dam and the upper reaches at Blackgum Landing. Best bets are at night, but the overcast yesterday morning produced a few bonus fish for early risers. For hotspots, you can’t go wrong with the rocky drop-offs at Cookson Bend and the submerged timber near Standing Rock Creek. If you’re out for something scenic and pro This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.