Lake Tenkiller Fishing Report: Bass, Crappie, and Cats Bite Strong on May 24, 2025

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, May 24, 2025, Lake Tenkiller fishing report, bringing you the scoop as only a local angler can. The lake is sitting just above normal level and has stabilized after early month rains. Water temp has warmed up to around 72 degrees, and while clarity is stained in spots, fish are active all over. There’s still some scattered debris from past rains, so keep an eye out especially if you’re running a boat up the channels or near the banks. Weather today is looking mild, with highs topping out in the upper 70s and a gentle breeze out of the south. Sunrise was at 6:12 AM, and sunset will hit at 8:30 PM, giving us a long window for prime fishing. No tidal effect here, but fish will be active around dawn and dusk, especially with the stable weather and rising water temps. Bass action has been strong lately. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spots are all being caught in good numbers. The bite has been best on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, jigs, plastics, and spinnerbaits. Focus your efforts around brush, creek mouths, rocky points, and along the riprap and docks. Fish are staging both shallow early and moving to deeper structure as the sun rises. Reports this week had several folks pulling 2 to 4 pounders around Snake Creek and Chicken Creek arms, with some nice smallies showing up on the main lake points near Blackgum Landing. Crappie are fair but moving deeper as the water warms. Small jigs, hair jigs, tube baits, and live minnows are all catching fish, especially around docks, submerged brush, and the main lake bluff walls. Try fishing 8 to 15 feet down early and a bit deeper as the day heats up. The catfish bite is picking up too. Blue and channel cats are fair on stinkbait, cut shad, chicken liver, and even hot dogs. Creek and river channels are the go-to spots, with night anglers doing well just above the Highway 82 bridge and in the mouth of Standing Rock Creek. If you’re after a mixed bag, now’s the time. Tenkiller always holds some surprise catches this time of year. Remember to watch for floating timber and debris, especially at the north end and in pockets along the bluffs. Best lures right now are bright or natural patterned crankbaits, green pumpkin or black-blue soft plastics, and chartreuse or white spinnerbaits. For bait, fresh cut shad and worms are tough to beat for catfish, and local minnows will keep crappie rods busy. Hot spots to try today are Snake Creek for bass and crappie, and the creek channel bends near Chicken Creek for catfish. Tight lines from your buddy Artificial Lure. See you on the water and stay safe out there. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.