Tenkiller Fishing Report: Clear Skies, Steady Temps, and Prime Feeding Windows

G’morning folks, it’s Artificial Lure checking in with your local Tenkiller fishing report for Thursday, November 6, 2025. Let’s dive into what’s happening out on the lake and the rivers feeding it. Sunrise was at 6:47 AM and sunset will slip in at 5:18 PM. With those shorter days, make sure you plan your outings tight—prime morning and dusk windows are getting smaller. Weather today looks about as fish-friendly as it gets for November: skies are clear, highs scraping up toward 85, and just a light breeze from the east at around 5 mph said the USGS Illinois River report. That’ll keep the water temps steady but start looking for those patterns to change soon as the nights get colder. There’s no tidal movement this far inland, but water levels are worth noting. According to the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers, Lake Tenkiller is holding steady, just a bit below normal level—plenty of water in the lake, but the releases have been stable and slow this week, which makes for good fishing along points and structure. The Illinois River near Gore was running at 565 cubic feet per second yesterday and holding right in that sweet spot for both boaters and waders. Now, let’s talk fish. Recent outings and local reports say smallmouth bass are picking up around gravel points and bluff walls. The cooler overnight temps are pushing bait shad a bit deeper but also stirring up bass to hunt heavy in the morning and evening. Anglers have been connecting with both largemouth and smallmouth—expect a decent mix, sizes running from just over a pound up to some nice two- to three-pounders spotted this past weekend. If you’re dangling live bait, nightcrawlers and shiners have been nabbed by both bass and catfish. Channel cats are still hitting cut bait and stinkbait off deeper flats, especially where a creek enters the lake. Folks trolling mid-lake channels were rewarded with some healthy saugeye and the odd walleye, with a few reports of crappie runs picking up around brush piles. Live minnows and small jigs will still catch slabs in the coves and under sunken timber, especially north of Pettit Bay. Best baits this week: soft plastic craws and tubes in watermelon or green pumpkin have done steady business for bass. In the early hours, nothing beats a medium-diving crankbait or spinnerbait thumping around isolated wood. Later, tie on a shaky head or Ned rig and work it slow near transitions. For catfish, stick with tried-and-true cut shad, and bring some punch bait for channels. Hot spots to check today: - The deep channel drop-offs just southwest of the Snake Creek marina have been holding both bass and cats. - Morning risers should hit the coves near Barnacle Bill’s for active schools of crappie and stripers pushing bait shallow. - Don’t overlook the lower end, especially the rocky points by Cookson Bend—recent bass catches there have been solid, with bonus white bass and even an occasional drum. All in all, conditions are prime—light wind, clear water, and fis This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.