Winter Wonderland: Lake Tenkiller Fishing Report for December

Alright, folks, this is Artificial Lure, and I’m here to give you the straight scoop on Lake Tenkiller this morning. Let’s get right into it. First off, the lake’s sitting about 1.29 feet below normal pool this morning, hovering right around 630.7 feet. The Army Corps has the release dialed in at 80 cubic feet per second, so the water’s moving but not tearing out. It’s a crisp December day, and that’s prime time for some solid winter fishing if you know where to look. Sunrise is just after 7:15 AM, and sunset’s around 5:15 PM, so you’ve got a good solid day of light. The water’s still a bit murky from recent rains, and the surface temp is running in the mid-50s, which is typical for this time of year. That means fish are gonna be a little sluggish, but they’re still feeding, especially around first light and late afternoon. Bass are the main show right now. Largemouth are scattered but holding tight to deeper brush and standing timber, especially along the main lake points and near the old creek channels. Crankbaits in shad patterns are working well early, and if you’re finesse fishing, drop shot rigs with green pumpkin or smoke worms are pulling fish when the bite slows. Smallmouth are still active around the rocky points and bluffs, and they’re hitting small jigs and tubes pretty good. Crappie are starting to stack up around the deeper brush piles and standing timber, mostly in 15 to 25 feet of water. Minnows and small jigs in white or silver are catching fish, especially around the main lake and near the dam area. Walleye are also showing up more this time of year, and they’re hitting jigs tipped with minnows or small crankbaits near the deeper humps and along the river channel. If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots, I’d start on the main lake near the dam. The deeper water and current break make it a magnet for bass and walleye this time of year. The other spot I’d hit is the upper end of the lake, around the Illinois River arm, where the crappie are starting to school up around the brush and creek channels. Best lures right now? Stick with shad-colored crankbaits, small jigs in natural colors, and finesse worms. Live bait like minnows and nightcrawlers are still hard to beat, especially for crappie and walleye. Thanks for tuning in, and tight lines out there. If you’re enjoying these reports, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.