Tenkiller Fishing Report - Largemouth, Stripers, Cats - Cracking the Fall Bite on Oklahoma's Scenic Lake

Artificial Lure here, coming to you with your fresh-from-the-boat fishing report for Lake Tenkiller and the surrounding waters on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Daybreak at Tenkiller saw clear skies and a cool, mild breeze rolling off the lake. Sunrise hit the water around 7:20 a.m., with sunset expected near 6:55 p.m. Local forecast calls for sunny skies and temps peaking at a toasty 92 degrees, with light winds out of the southwest, making for a glassy surface and some fine conditions for casting. The lake level is sitting 0.77 feet above normal at a pool elevation of 632.77 feet as of yesterday afternoon. Water temperature's holding steady around 72°F, with stained clarity—prime for fall bass action according to the Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife’s field reports. No tides to speak of here in Oklahoma, but river flow from the Illinois River is running just below normal at about 507 cfs, so if you’re venturing downstream for some river fishing near Chewey or the lower Illinois, expect fairly gentle current and good access to structure. Tenkiller has seen a solid early October bite, especially for **largemouth bass** and **spotted bass**. Fish activity’s fair to good, with most anglers working mid-lake points and rocky drop-offs. The morning bite is the ticket; once that sun hits its stride, the bigger bass move deeper and hug structure. Best catches have come on **Alabama rigs, squarebill crankbaits**, and **soft plastic creature baits** in green pumpkin or watermelon. Early risers throwing topwater poppers and walking baits along weed edges before 8 a.m. have reported some explosive hits. Local sources say **striped bass** are good below the dam, especially when drifting **live shad** or bouncing a jig along the channel. **Channel cats** and **blue cats** are fair, with cut bait and dough balls producing around the main lake points and below the dam. Don’t neglect a classic nightcrawler either—panfish and smaller cats are still taking them, especially in shaded coves during late afternoons. Recent counts have featured: - Largemouth and spotted bass: fair numbers, several 3–4 pounders this week - Striped bass: good numbers below the dam, especially for shad anglers - Blue and channel catfish: fair—keeper size, with some reports of flatheads - Crappie: spotty, mostly small in the brush piles and timber For bait, the word is **live shad** for stripers and big cats. Bass anglers should stick with moving baits early, then shift to soft plastics once the sun is high. The lake has a healthy forage base right now, so matching the hatch—think smaller shad imitations—is your best bet. Now, for **hotspots**: - **Chicken Creek**: consistently good for bass and panfish on both artificial and live bait. - **Below Tenkiller Dam**: hot striped bass and catfish action, best accessed early or late. - Main-lake rocky points near **Pettit Bay**: strong for bass and occasional crappie. Whether you’re tossing a Texas rig off a dock or hunting boils below the dam, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.