Pre-spawn Bounty on Lake Tenkiller

This is Artificial Lure, your local fishing expert, bringing you the latest fishing report for Lake Tenkiller on Friday, April 18, 2025. We’re looking at a beautiful spring day on the lake. Sunrise was at 6:45 AM, and sunset will be at 7:45 PM, giving us about 13 good hours on the water. Temperatures are comfortable, topping out around 68 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and a gentle southeast breeze at 5 to 10 mph. The lake level’s just a bit above normal but still falling, water’s stained and hovering near 58 to 62 degrees—perfect pre-spawn conditions for a variety of species[2][3][5]. Bass fishing is hot right now. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are all active. Largemouth are striking Alabama rigs and crawfish-colored crankbaits on rocky points and submerged structure. Smallmouth are biting on shad-colored crankbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits around brush piles and along the lower two-thirds of the lake. For best results, use plastic worms, jigs, or fast-burned spinnerbaits up shallow and around windblown points[5][6][8][10]. Crappie anglers have been reeling in slabs, especially around brush piles, submerged timber, and docks in 15 to 25 feet of water. Chartreuse or white jigs and live minnows are your best bets. Petit Bay and Sixshooter Creek are top spots right now, with plenty of limits caught early this week[5][8][10]. Catfishing remains steady. Channel and blue catfish are hitting cut shad, chicken liver, and stink bait near creek mouths, deeper flats, and the Illinois River arm. If you’re after flatheads, target the river arm with live bait[5][8][10]. White bass are fair to good on small spinners, jigs, and lipless crankbaits, especially near river mouths and rocky shorelines. There are also a few walleye reported on rocky points and flats, best caught using jigs tipped with minnows[3][5][8][10]. If you’re deciding where to fish, try Chicken Creek for bass and Petit Bay for crappie. The Illinois River arm near Cookson Bend is another solid choice, especially for bass and catfish[5][8][10]. To sum it up, pack your Alabama rigs, shad and crawfish crankbaits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms for bass, chartreuse and pink jigs plus live minnows for crappie, and don’t forget some cut bait or chicken liver for catfish. The pre-spawn bite is on, and the fish are hungry. Whether you’re fishing from boat or bank, today’s shaping up to be a great day on Tenkiller. Good luck and tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.