Lake Tenkiller
12,900-acre Oklahoma reservoir, about 133 feet deep at maximum, with 19 boat ramps per the ODWC management plan. ODWC lists black bass, crappie, white bass, catfish, walleye and sunfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Spotted Bass
Rocky banks and bluff ends. Jigs and finesse plastics.
Crappie
Black and white crappie
White Bass
Schools chasing shad in open water, and spring river runs.
Blue Catfish
Deep channel edges. Fresh cut shad. Big fish in winter.
Flathead Catfish
Live bait around wood and rock at night.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Redear Sunfish
Shellcracker. Beds in spring and deep shell bars in summer. Red worms on the bottom.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Horseshoe Bend boat rampRampReference point for special rules downstream to the damDirections ↗
- USACE / State Park rampsRampODWC management plan counts 19 boat ramps; two state parks on the lakeDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the state agency or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass | Only 1 over 16 in | 6 combined |
| Spotted Bass | See Oklahoma rules book ↗ | No limit |
| Striped Bass | See Oklahoma rules book ↗ | 5 |
| Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper) | Only 5 over 20 in | 20 |
| White Bass | See Oklahoma rules book ↗ | No limit |
| Crappie (white/black) | No limit | 37 combined |
| Channel/Blue Catfish | Only 1 blue over 30 in | 15 combined |
| Flathead Catfish | See Oklahoma rules book ↗ | 5 |
| Walleye/Sauger/Saugeye | 14 in | 6 combined |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Dave's Bait & TackleNearby304 S Main St, Gore, OK(918) 489-2424Directions ↗
Local tips
- Below the Horseshoe Bend ramp to the dam: crappie are 15 combined/10-inch minimum and gigs/spears are prohibited.
- Clear, deep water suits smallmouth and walleye on points and bluffs.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Oklahoma lakes
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees Oologah Lake Keystone Lake Fort Gibson Lake Kaw Lake Sardis Lake Broken Bow Lake Hugo Lake All Oklahoma lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.