Tenkiller Fishing Report: Spring Bite Turns On, Bass, Crappie, and Cats Biting Strong

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Tenkiller fishing report for Sunday, May 4, 2025. We are looking at classic Oklahoma spring conditions today with the bite really turning on. Sunrise was right around 6:22 AM and sunset will be close to 8:15 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to work the water. It is mild and stable weather right now—cool mid-50s at dawn warming up into the 70s by late morning, and barely a breeze to speak of. Since Lake Tenkiller is an inland reservoir, there is no real tide report needed, just pay attention to the dropping water levels over the past couple days. Fishing has been on fire across the board. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are biting strong. Top catches have been coming from rocky points, secondary coves, and brush piles. Crankbaits and jigs in shad or craw patterns are working well, along with Texas-rigged soft plastics. In the early morning, bass are pushing shallow chasing baitfish so a white or chartreuse spinnerbait or shallow-diving crankbait is tough to beat. Crappie are stacked up and active, especially around submerged timber and docks in 10-15 feet of water. Minnows and small tube jigs in chartreuse or pink got the nod, and dock shooters are pulling in some nice slabs. Most catches are in the 10-14 inch range, with a few bigger ones mixed in. Catfish are moving up with the warming water. Good numbers of channels and a few blues have been caught along rocky banks and creek mouths. Cut shad, chicken liver, or punch bait will put fish on the stringer. Evenings are especially productive the last couple days. White bass are running up the creeks and into the main river arms. Small swimbaits, inline spinners, and slab spoons are producing limits, especially early and late in the day around moving water. For hot spots, try Snake Creek for crappie and bass, and the mouth of the Illinois River arm for big cats and sand bass. The bluffs near Carter’s Landing are also producing steady bass action, especially by late morning as fish move deeper. With the bite this strong and the weather holding steady, it’s a great day to hit Tenkiller. Make sure to have a variety of crankbaits, jigs, and live bait handy. The fish are active, and the action should be steady all day. Good luck out there and tight lines! Artificial Lure, signing off. See you on the water[1][3][5]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.