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Tenkiller Fishing Report: Bass, Cats, and Crappie Action on the Water
Published 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Good morning folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Tenkiller fishing report for Friday, August 15th, 2025. The sun rose over the lake today at 6:33 a.m., and we’ll see it set at 8:19 p.m. Expect a classic late Oklahoma summer day—humid by the afternoon, slight breeze out of the south, temps pushing the upper 80s. Water’s holding steady at almost a foot above normal, with the pool elevation at 632.66 feet, according to the Tenkiller Lake U.S. Army Corps report yesterday. Water’s got some color to it but clarity is fair, especially in the main lake and up the creeks.
If you’re planning on fishing the banks or coves this weekend, you’ll want to get out there early or hang around till dusk—midday sun is driving the bite to deeper water.
Here’s what’s happening with the fish:
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the talk around Tahlequah, with a lot of action reported in shallow grass lines first thing in the morning and again toward sundown. Bassmaster just wrapped up their kayak championship this week and both species were in play, so you know the quality is out there right now. Several anglers landed smallmouth in the 2- to 4-pound range, and a few largemouth right around 5 pounds were caught and released off rocky points and creek mouths.
The best producers lately are topwater frogs in matted grass and along the main lake docks—Mike McClelland’s frogging tips have been the ticket. If the sun’s up, switch to a green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastic—Texas rigged or wacky style, especially around broken rock or timber. Crankbaits are picking up suspended fish off points about 12-18 feet down.
As for catfish, jugliners are reporting steady blue catfish action, mostly on fresh-cut shad and soaked chicken liver, setting baits 10–20 feet down off flat stretches northeast of the dam. A few channel cats, up to 8 pounds, came out on stink bait and nightcrawlers. Deeper holes below the main river channel line are producing some steady catches, especially at night and early dawn.
Crappie have slowed some in the heat, but persistent anglers are still filling stringers jigging minnows and small plastics just below brush piles at 15–22 feet. Stay patient and watch that sonar—schools are scattered but holding tight to structure.
Bream and sunfish action has been good near the docks and shallow stumps. Tiny bits of worms and crickets on ultralight gear is about all you need, and the kids are having a blast.
My hotspots for this weekend? Try Carter’s Landing for topwater bass at sunup, and Snake Creek for numbers of channel cat and steady bluegill. Horseshoe Bend’s deep main lake ledges are your best bet for bigger smallmouth and scattered crappie. The upper end towards the Illinois River inflow is also seeing some bass chasing shad.
To recap lures and bait: go with topwater frogs, soft plastics in natural colors, and crankbaits for bass. Cut shad or chicken liver for cats. Minnows or Bobby Garland jigs on brush for crappie. Worms and crickets for the sunfish.
That’s the scoop from your local expert. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more on-the-water updates. 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.
If you’re planning on fishing the banks or coves this weekend, you’ll want to get out there early or hang around till dusk—midday sun is driving the bite to deeper water.
Here’s what’s happening with the fish:
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the talk around Tahlequah, with a lot of action reported in shallow grass lines first thing in the morning and again toward sundown. Bassmaster just wrapped up their kayak championship this week and both species were in play, so you know the quality is out there right now. Several anglers landed smallmouth in the 2- to 4-pound range, and a few largemouth right around 5 pounds were caught and released off rocky points and creek mouths.
The best producers lately are topwater frogs in matted grass and along the main lake docks—Mike McClelland’s frogging tips have been the ticket. If the sun’s up, switch to a green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastic—Texas rigged or wacky style, especially around broken rock or timber. Crankbaits are picking up suspended fish off points about 12-18 feet down.
As for catfish, jugliners are reporting steady blue catfish action, mostly on fresh-cut shad and soaked chicken liver, setting baits 10–20 feet down off flat stretches northeast of the dam. A few channel cats, up to 8 pounds, came out on stink bait and nightcrawlers. Deeper holes below the main river channel line are producing some steady catches, especially at night and early dawn.
Crappie have slowed some in the heat, but persistent anglers are still filling stringers jigging minnows and small plastics just below brush piles at 15–22 feet. Stay patient and watch that sonar—schools are scattered but holding tight to structure.
Bream and sunfish action has been good near the docks and shallow stumps. Tiny bits of worms and crickets on ultralight gear is about all you need, and the kids are having a blast.
My hotspots for this weekend? Try Carter’s Landing for topwater bass at sunup, and Snake Creek for numbers of channel cat and steady bluegill. Horseshoe Bend’s deep main lake ledges are your best bet for bigger smallmouth and scattered crappie. The upper end towards the Illinois River inflow is also seeing some bass chasing shad.
To recap lures and bait: go with topwater frogs, soft plastics in natural colors, and crankbaits for bass. Cut shad or chicken liver for cats. Minnows or Bobby Garland jigs on brush for crappie. Worms and crickets for the sunfish.
That’s the scoop from your local expert. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more on-the-water updates. 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.