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Tenkiller Bass Bites, Crappie Stack at Blackgum, Catfish Cruise Cookson Bend - Lake Tenkiller Fishing Update
Published 6 months, 1 week ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with the Lake Tenkiller fishing report for Monday, October 20, 2025.
We started the morning cool and clear, just shy of 50 degrees at sunrise, which hit around 7:28 a.m. Expect high temps near 66 degrees, light northwest winds at 4-7 mph, and no rain in sight—perfect fall weather for comfort on the water. Sunset will be about 6:42 p.m. The lake sits at 632.69 feet pool elevation, hovering just above normal, with slow-moving water releases at around 578 cfs—steady conditions that keep fish holding to cover and breaks.
Now, straight to the action: Bass anglers have been cashing in early, especially with topwater plugs and walking baits across long gravel points and main lake flats. The bite is most aggressive at dawn—think bone-colored Spooks, poppers, and buzzbaits with a little rattle for extra draw. Yesterday saw solid largemouth catches, most between 2 and 4 pounds, with a few locals tallying limits before breakfast. Stripers are beginning their fall push, with some surface busts mid-morning near the dam on gizzard shad imitations.
Crappie are stacking up deep along brush piles and standing timber in 18-25 foot water near the Blackgum area and Strayhorn Landing. They're hitting small chartreuse jigs and live minnows, with several anglers reporting slabs over 13 inches filling out their coolers.
Catfish remain active on the flats, cruising at night and shifting shallow during cloudy afternoons. Most caught have been channels, one group weighed three blues just shy of 10 pounds each yesterday. Best baits here are cut shad, stink bait, and chicken liver, especially close to Pettit Bay and Cookson Bend—target windblown banks and submerged brush for those big whisker fish.
For bait and lure selection:
- Bass: Bone or shad-colored topwater baits at sunrise, switching to green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastics as the sun climbs.
- Crappie: Chartreuse tube jigs or live minnows under slip bobbers.
- Catfish: Fresh cut bait, stink bait, chicken liver, drifted or stationary.
Today's hot spots:
- **Blackgum Landing**—crappie action is consistent, boat and bank access both good.
- **Cookson Bend shoreline**—lots of catfish, especially on the north-facing banks.
- **Main lake gravel points near the dam**—bass are schooling, especially early.
No tides here in Oklahoma—lake level holds steady, so focus on weather and barometric shifts. It’s been a good week: fish are transitioning, bait is plentiful, and with light winds, you can get anywhere you want. Keep safety in mind with mornings getting colder—watch for fog on the water between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.
Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Tenkiller fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, tackle tips, and location spotlights. 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.
We started the morning cool and clear, just shy of 50 degrees at sunrise, which hit around 7:28 a.m. Expect high temps near 66 degrees, light northwest winds at 4-7 mph, and no rain in sight—perfect fall weather for comfort on the water. Sunset will be about 6:42 p.m. The lake sits at 632.69 feet pool elevation, hovering just above normal, with slow-moving water releases at around 578 cfs—steady conditions that keep fish holding to cover and breaks.
Now, straight to the action: Bass anglers have been cashing in early, especially with topwater plugs and walking baits across long gravel points and main lake flats. The bite is most aggressive at dawn—think bone-colored Spooks, poppers, and buzzbaits with a little rattle for extra draw. Yesterday saw solid largemouth catches, most between 2 and 4 pounds, with a few locals tallying limits before breakfast. Stripers are beginning their fall push, with some surface busts mid-morning near the dam on gizzard shad imitations.
Crappie are stacking up deep along brush piles and standing timber in 18-25 foot water near the Blackgum area and Strayhorn Landing. They're hitting small chartreuse jigs and live minnows, with several anglers reporting slabs over 13 inches filling out their coolers.
Catfish remain active on the flats, cruising at night and shifting shallow during cloudy afternoons. Most caught have been channels, one group weighed three blues just shy of 10 pounds each yesterday. Best baits here are cut shad, stink bait, and chicken liver, especially close to Pettit Bay and Cookson Bend—target windblown banks and submerged brush for those big whisker fish.
For bait and lure selection:
- Bass: Bone or shad-colored topwater baits at sunrise, switching to green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastics as the sun climbs.
- Crappie: Chartreuse tube jigs or live minnows under slip bobbers.
- Catfish: Fresh cut bait, stink bait, chicken liver, drifted or stationary.
Today's hot spots:
- **Blackgum Landing**—crappie action is consistent, boat and bank access both good.
- **Cookson Bend shoreline**—lots of catfish, especially on the north-facing banks.
- **Main lake gravel points near the dam**—bass are schooling, especially early.
No tides here in Oklahoma—lake level holds steady, so focus on weather and barometric shifts. It’s been a good week: fish are transitioning, bait is plentiful, and with light winds, you can get anywhere you want. Keep safety in mind with mornings getting colder—watch for fog on the water between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.
Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Tenkiller fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, tackle tips, and location spotlights. 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.