Tenkiller Fishing Report: Summer Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Bites

Artificial Lure here with your June 21st fishing report from Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma. Folks, we’re rolling into the heart of summer and Tenkiller’s got plenty to offer for anglers ready to get after it. The lake’s holding a little above normal pool after the recent rains, but levels have stayed mostly steady over this past week. Water temps are running in the low 70s—about 72 degrees—especially off the main lake and in the shallower coves. Sunrise hit this morning at 6:04 AM and you’ll have good daylight until sunset at 8:34 PM, giving you a solid window to chase some bites. Expect partly cloudy skies today, highs pushing into the mid-80s, and a southeast breeze from 8 to 12 mph—perfect chop on the water for reaction baits. Let’s talk fish activity. The early bite continues to be the ticket, especially from first light until about 9 AM. Main lake points, rocky bluffs, and channel swing banks have been holding hungry smallmouth and largemouth. The 2025 Bassmaster Elite tournament this past week saw the pros go to work shallow, pitching Texas-rigged soft plastic craws and creature baits right into the flooded brush. Vibrating jigs and traditional jigs took a pile of keeper bass, and the best color has been green pumpkin or anything shad patterned, especially after that rain stain. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are catching fish early and late along the flooded shoreline grass and brush. Crappie have been fair, mostly scattered in deeper brush and around docks. Best bets are small tube jigs and minnows fished slow around brush piles off the main lake. Catfish are still going pretty good—channel cats and blues have been taking cut shad, chicken liver, and punch bait around creek channels and main lake flats. Not fast and furious, but enough for a solid fish fry if you put in some time. Recent catches reported by local anglers and guides include mixed bags, with several boats hauling in largemouth over three pounds, some healthy smallmouth, and plenty of eater-sized spotted bass. Catfish catches are mostly in the 2-6 pound range, with some bigger blues showing up in deeper holes. Hot spots this week: head up to Standing Rock for the smallmouth on windy points, or hit the flats near Cookson Bend early for a shot at quality largemouth buried up in the brush. The mouth of Caney Creek is another top pick—bass are chasing shad in the mornings and there’s less traffic than some other arms. For bait and tackle, bring your favorite Texas rigs, ½ oz bladed jigs, and double willow spinnerbaits. If they get finicky, downsize to Ned rigs or shaky heads in natural hues. That’s the scoop from Lake Tenkiller, where the Ozarks meet Oklahoma hospitality and the fish are biting if you put in the effort. Thanks for tuning in—make sure to subscribe for your daily dose of local fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.