We will be on Tenkiller for a few days next week. Any tips? Is this your typical deep, clear watered, rocky banks lake? if so, I Iove a Ned rig.

Any vegetation anywhere?

Thanks!

Lots of rock everywhere. I have not done a low water image of the lake. I am not seeing many lay-downs in the backs of the creek arms. This is what I suggest:
- 3 larger marinas with boat houses for shade to fish a wacky rig on the south end of the lake and a couple of housing development larger docks with houses .
- 3 marinas north at mid-lake.
- Protected coves have some private boat houses from Mid-Lake going north to side scan from deep water looking for those that are brushed.
- Many dock owners are putting the brush on the slope out in front of their docks instead of under the dock. This helps keep fisherman from finding the SETS.
- Side Scan you maximum distance from the docks when looking for brush piles.
- It appears that only two of the Mid-Lake North Coves off the West Shoreline has some larger Hardwoods in the back.
- One major bridge crossing the lake on the North end to provide Pylons for shade and possible fish holding on the ones closest to both shorelines.

Not seeing any vegetation right now growing anywhere.

Thanks a lot, Donald Harper!

If we don't get a lot of rain this weekend I would go as far up the Illinois River as you possibly can. There is a good ramp at Carters Landing that will put you way up the river if you want to trailer. That rocky bank going north right there at the ramp can be great this time of year. After that work your way on up to Alums Bluff, another rocky bank that holds fish. There are some boulders the size of volkswagens out off the bank in 8-15 fow. Then work your way up to Horseshoe Bend. There will be a lot of sandbass fishermen, but there are good fish on every rocky bank. Largemouth and smallmouth. Keep going til your trolling motor won't take you any farther. Jigs, tubes, throw an a-rig over some of those boulders. PM me if you want to stay on the main lake and I'll head you to some particular areas. You're going to like it, one of the prettiest lakes in the country.

I like smallmouth, so I generally hang out on the lower end of the lake. Crankbaits, Carolina rigs, Biffle Bugs. Ned rig ought to be great as well. Usually fish from Chicken Creek to the dam. Around Strayhorn park is most always good. PM me if you would like more detailed info. I fished Tenkiller extensively for almost 20 years before I moved to Texas in 2016.

Lake is all rock/bluffs and is normally pretty clear. It gets clearer the further south you go. Ned rig works great on TK. Also little finesse wacky rigs work well while the bass are shallow. You can also find a good spinnerbait bite out there if you're in the right spot and that can last for days. You can catch smallmouth all over the lake but there are more the further south you go.

Sandies should be running up the river and you can catch trout and some big smallies in the Lower Illinois River below the dam.

Good luck!

We spent part of last Thursday and all day Friday fishing. Stayed at Sixshooter marina. Very nice place. Fished for 5 hours on Thursday, and between the 3 of us, we caught 56 bass, all on crankbaits and spinner baits. They were all shallow. Fished all day Friday and caught 44. Most were shallow, but we did catch a few off of main lake rock ledges in deeper water. I consider 100 fish on lake we have never been on a pretty good trip.

I appreciate all of your input. We will go back!

Nice trip! Tenkiller can be feast or famine. Sounds like you hit it right. There have been some really nice sacks of fish caught in tournaments in the last several years. Do keep in mind that it is a watersports destination in the summer, so it gets pretty crowded during warm weather.