Tenkiller Fishing Report: Fall Bite Strong as Bass, Crappie & Catfish Bite Across the Lake

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma fishing report for Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:38 a.m. and sunset’s coming up at 6:33 p.m. That gives us a crisp, clear day to work with—perfect for casting a line with a bit of that famous fall bite in the air. Tenkiller’s pool elevation is holding about a foot above normal, sitting at 633 feet this morning, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Water clarity is excellent, with those trademark blue-green hues sparkling all across the lake—a Tenkiller staple that keeps the fish active and anglers grinning. The water release is steady, keeping things right for both boating and bank fishing, and the flood pool sits just about 2% full, so no worries about high muddy creeks today. It’s a classic fall weather pattern here: mornings are chilly but afternoons have been warming up nicely. Layer up early, shed it by lunch. Forecast calls for light winds, maybe 5-10 mph out of the north, with afternoon highs topping out in the mid-60s. Expect that famous Oklahoma fall foliage—the hardwoods are fiery red and gold, and the cool snap gets big bass and slabs on the move. Now, fish activity—bass are turning on and the reports are strong. According to the Spreaker’s Lake Tenkiller Daily Fishing Report from yesterday, it’s topwater time early, with largemouth and Kentucky spotted bass busting shad around main lake points and submerged rock piles. Walk-the-dog style lures—think Zara Spook or River2Sea Rover—are getting explosive strikes at first light. When the sun gets high, anglers are switching to soft plastics, green pumpkin and watermelon red flake Texas rigs right up against the ledge transitions. Crappie are stacking up nicely in brush piles and around bridge pylons in 12-16 feet of water. Folks are having great luck on pink and chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows, pulling fat slabs up near the dam and around Cookson Bend. Catfish fans—channel cats are running strong in the flats and coves off Standing Rock, taking cut shad and chicken liver on slip rigs. And don’t overlook the deep holes near Chicken Creek for some flathead action; reports of 15- to 20-pounders landed on live sunfish or big nightcrawlers are still trickling in. As for recent catches, local shops are reporting solid stringers of all the above. There’s been a push of double-digit bass and several two-pound crappie weighed in at the marinas, especially on those gray overcast mid-mornings after a chilly night. Walleye reports are thinner, but a couple good fish were brought up trolling chrome crankbaits along the dam face right at sundown. Best baits and lures for today: - Topwater plugs (Zara Spook, Pop-R) at sunrise - Soft plastic worms and creature baits mid-morning - Pink/white and chartreuse jigs for crappie - Cut shad, live sunfish, and chicken liver for catfish Hot spots for today: - Snake Creek for early bass on points and rocky shorelines - Cookson Bend and the bluff edges near Strayhorn Landing f This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.