Tenkiller Tiptop Tactics: Topwaters, Plastics, and Deep Diving Crankbaits for September Bass, Crappie, and Cats

Artificial Lure reporting from beautiful Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma, with your Wednesday, September 17, 2025 angling update. Weather's starting off mild this morning, with air temps pushing into the upper 60s at dawn, a light southern breeze, and no precipitation in the forecast for the next 24 hours. Expect highs to reach low 80s by afternoon—perfect for a full day on the lake. Sunrise hit at 7:07 AM, and sunset will be 7:28 PM. No tidal influence here, just good old Midwestern lake patterns. Lake Tenkiller is sitting about 0.75 feet above normal right now, with a pool elevation hovering around 632.75 feet as of this week. The Army Corps data shows steady outflow at 590 cfs. Waters are clear but get murky near creek mouths after wind events. The lake itself drops off deep—average depth is about 50 feet, but some holes tip 165 feet down, especially near the dam. That cold deep water makes for reliable summer and early fall fishing, with fish hanging mid-lake and on secondary points. Bass activity has picked up these past couple days. Daybreak and late afternoon have seen the best bites, particularly in the coves around Snake Creek and Caney Ridge. Reports from the ramp say black bass catches have been solid—anglers landed several spotted and largemouth up to three pounds, with a couple folks swinging and missing on bigger ones. White bass have been schooling in open water and near the bluffs south of Cookson Bend. Best lures right now: **topwater walking baits** and **poppers** at sunrise for schooling bass. Once the sun climbs, anglers are switching over to **ned rigs**, **green pumpkin tubes**, and **chartreuse spinnerbaits** around laydowns and rocky points. Midday, it's hard to beat a shad-patterned **deep diving crankbait** off the major creek arms, especially at 12-18 feet depth. For live bait, threadfin shad and small craws have worked well for both bass and the stray slab crappie. Catfish are still biting off the old river channel—try **cut bait** or **chicken liver** down deep, especially at the state park ramps after dark. Crappie are showing up on the brush piles near Petit Bay, with jigs tipped with minnows pulling up 10-12 inch slabs if you work slow. Don't sleep on the deep ledges; walleye were caught near the dam trolling large nightcrawlers on bottom bouncers early this week. For prime spots today, **Snake Creek** is hot for largemouth, especially early, and **Cookson Bend bluffs** are producing both white bass and decent spotted bass in schools. I recommend working the points near the dam for catfish and deep crankin’ mid-morning for those stubborn bass. If you’re chasing crappie, hit the submerged timber and brush in Petit Bay. To recap, focus on reaction baits early, plastics late morning, and don’t be afraid to go deep for a mixed bag. The bite’s on, the weather’s stable, and the water is holding steady a touch above normal—classic September conditions on Tenkiller. Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe for your reg This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.