Tenkiller Fall Bite Stays Strong Despite Chill - Crappie, Bass, Catfish & Walleye Update 11/18/2025

Artificial Lure reporting from the chilly banks of Lake Tenkiller this Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The fall bite is holding strong even as morning air hits a brisk 43°F, climbing to the low 60s by afternoon. Winds are out of the northwest at a steady 8-10 mph, with mostly clear skies and no precipitation expected. Sunrise hits at 6:59 a.m. and sunset’s at 5:10 p.m., so you’ve got over ten hours of solid daylight to make something happen. Lake levels are slightly above normal, sitting at 633.14 feet as checked last night, with reservoir release around 82 cubic feet per second. The water’s got just the right bit of color for November—neither too muddy, nor too clear—so fish activity is on the upswing in pockets sheltered from that northwest wind. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are chasing baitfish in 8 to 14 feet of water off rocky points and drop-offs, especially near Strayhorn Landing and the dam outflow. According to reports from locals and the "Lake Tenkiller Oklahoma Fishing Report Today" podcast, crankbaits in shad patterns, Ned rigs, and crawl-color jigs are pulling in solid limits. Anglers using Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer Chatterbaits paired with Zoom Shimmer Shad trailers have landed several bass up to 4 pounds in the last week. If you prefer plastics, Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in pumpkinseed is a standout around brush piles. Crappie numbers are improving around docks and submerged timber in Cookson Bend. Locals fishing early with chartreuse or electric chicken jigs, tipped with minnows, have been reporting near limits, especially between 7 and 10 a.m. Slip bobbers set just above the brush at 10-12 feet get noticed. With cooling temps, expect crappie to hang tighter to structure and show aggression before midday. Catfishing has been fair to good, especially up the river arms. Cut shad and chicken liver are the baits of choice, with several blue and channel cats caught off the mud flats near Pine Cove and up the Illinois River arm. A couple of seasoned anglers pulled in blues over 8 pounds this weekend, fishing late afternoon into dusk. Walleye and even a few sauger have been active below the dam and near Snake Creek on live minnows and small jigging spoons bounced close to the bottom. Early morning is key here; action slows as the sun climbs. Alligator gar are rare, but it’s worth noting the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation encourages reporting any catches—these giants prefer the slow bends closer to upper lake arms, but it’s mostly bass, crappie, and cats dominating recent stringers. For those heading out today, best bets are: **Hot Spots** - Strayhorn Landing (bass on rocky points) - Cookson Bend docks (crappie near timber) - Pine Cove flats (catfish late afternoon) - Snake Creek just after sunrise (walleye and sauger) **Best Lures & Bait** - Chatterbaits in shad color - Ned rigs and craw jigs - Chartreuse crappie jigs with minnows - Cut shad and chicken liver for catfish - Live minnow or silver jigging spoon for This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.