Tenkiller Anglers Report: Late Summer Bounty on the Illinois River

Good morning, Lake Tenkiller anglers—Artificial Lure here, bringing you your local fishing report for Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Conditions are shaping up nicely for a late summer outing in eastern Oklahoma. First light hit around 6:57 AM today, with sunset coming at about 7:34 PM. The weather’s classic September: patchy fog burned off early, giving way to clear skies and an afternoon high in the mid-80s. Expect gentle northwest winds at 5 mph, and low humidity, making for a comfortable day on the water. According to the Tulsa District Water Control, Lake Tenkiller itself is sitting about 0.76 feet above normal pool, with an elevation of 632.76 feet—plenty of water in the lake but no excessive inflow or turbidity to worry about. That means clear, stable conditions, which bodes well for most fish species. Down on the Illinois River near Gore, streamflow registered a hefty 2,490 cubic feet per second yesterday—a surge over the past several days that’s oxygenating the water and enticing feeding activity, especially near creek mouths and inflows. Recent angler reports highlight a solid mixed bag in these waters. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting well around rocky points, drop-offs, and submerged brush piles. Mid-morning through early afternoon is the sweet spot for active fish. For best results, tie on a **chrome-blue Rat-L-Trap**, a **green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastic**—like a Senko or Zoom Trick Worm—fished Texas-rigged or wacky-style. Topwater action at sunrise or just before sunset is still productive; *Whopper Ploppers* and *popper plugs* draw strikes over shallow gravel flats and weed lines. White bass and hybrids have schooled up and are breaking the surface chasing shad in the main lake basin and near Snake Creek and Standing Rock. Toss a **silver spoon**, a **small swim bait**, or a classic **Rooster Tail spinner** if you see birds working. Early mornings bring the best frenzy, as bait is pushed toward the surface. Crappie are a reliable target under the mid-lake bridges and deeper brush piles. Locals are scoring limits using **chartreuse jigs tipped with minnow** suspended about 12-18 feet down. Mark fish on sonar and work your lure slow. Catfish anglers—Blue cats and channels are very active on cut shad and stink bait fished off Sizemore Landing and Cookson Bend. Set your lines in 15-25 feet along ledges and river bends for the best chance at a heavy stringer, especially during late afternoon and early evening. Recent catches include several largemouths topping four pounds off Snake Creek Cove, and schoolie white bass up to two pounds near Standing Rock. Crappie fishermen at Strayhorn Landing reported steady action with most keepers in the 10-12 inch range. Best baits: - For bass: **Chrome-blue Rat-L-Trap**, *green pumpkin plastic worms*. - For white bass/hybrids: **Silver spoons**, *shad-colored swimbaits*. - For crappie: **Chartreuse jigs with live minnows**. - For catfish: **Cut shad**, *prepared stink baits* This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.