Tenkiller Tussle: Bass, Crappie, and Cats Abound Amid Autumn Chill

Artificial Lure here, checking in with your Friday, November 7th, 2025, fishing report for beautiful Lake Tenkiller in Eastern Oklahoma. The air's got that sharp November bite, but don’t let that stop you—folks are still netting some fine catches if you know where to look and what to toss. Sunrise hit at 6:48 this morning and sunset’s coming quick at 5:18 this evening, so prime fishing windows are tightening up. No tidal influence here since we’re inland, but surface conditions matter—water clarity’s a bit up thanks to the cool, dry snap we’ve had. According to Army Corps data last week, lake levels remain just below normal with minimal release, so expect a little more shoreline exposed and fish holding off deeper points and channels. Weather today started chilly, low 40s at dawn, peaking in the upper 50s with clear skies and a light north breeze, glassing out parts of the lake early before picking up just enough to give the water some chop by late morning. Now, on to the bite. Local anglers report that bass activity has steadied after last week’s front pushed them deep. Most largemouth and spots are stacking up on drop-offs around Snake Creek and Chicken Creek arms. Shad are schooling in the 12-18 foot range, so work suspending jerkbaits or a soft paddle-tail swimbait slow along the bottom. If you prefer the old-school approach, a green pumpkin jig or a Texas-rigged plastic fished slow gets bit. Don’t sleep on topwater early—Spooks and walking baits got a few explosive takes just after sunrise this week. Smallmouth are still biting along bluff ends and rocky points, particularly near the dam and around Carter’s Landing. Ned rigs and finesse tubes in natural colors produce when it’s tough. For crappie, locals are filling limits in the standing timber south of Blackgum Landing, 10 to 15 feet down, on chartreuse or pink jigs tipped with minnows. If you’re chasing cats, hit the upstream flats near Cookson Bend after sunset—cut shad or punch bait under a slip float has been the ticket for blues and channels, especially on warmer afternoons. In terms of hot spots: - Snake Creek coves have cranked out consistent mixed bags, especially for bass at first light. - Carter’s Landing, with its deep ledges and brushpiles, remains a crappie haven and is also good for an evening walleye bite for those jigging near the bottom. Recent reports out of local bait shops say most fishers are going home with a meal—largemouth running 1–3 lbs, a few hawgs topping 5 lbs caught around steeper drops mid-lake. Crappie are solid, with many slabs over 12 inches. Catfish action is steady, especially in the evenings, most fish in the 2–5 lb range. Bait of choice: Live minnows for crappie, cut shad for catfish, and shad-patterned hardbaits or green pumpkin plastics for bass are your best bets. That’ll do it for today’s rundown from Lake Tenkiller. Bundle up, respect the wind, and work those deeper breaks—November is for diehards and often rewards the persistent angler. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.