Fishing Report For Lake Eufaula, OK

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Considered by Bassmaster to be among the best bass lakes in the country, Lake Eufaula continues to live up to this reputation. Eufaula is also home to smallmouth and spotted bass.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into 8 to 20 feet of water. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. Bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Good reports are coming from protected coves, shallow flats that hold bait in the area around Eufaula to Longtown, and brush piles in many of the upper arms. They can be found from 15 to 30 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move shallower to feed.

SPRING. Most bass have been off-shore throughout the Winter, but are moving shallow for the Spring spawn ritual. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 18 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 20 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around brush piles in the upper arms - particularly Deep Fork, shaded points, submerged timber, and grass areas and vegetation edges.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Baitfish and crappie are moving out deeper, as late Fall waters cool. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 6 to 18 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 10 to 25 feet of water. Most are caught around deeper timber and brush piles in the upper arms - particularly Deep Fork and the Cowikee, shaded docks, submerged timber, and vegetation. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 8 to 12 feet of water. Early and late in the day they are being caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 6 to 10 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 to 20 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Now late Fall finds white bass following baitfish moving back out of shallow coves and bays, into 12 to 20 feet of water. Small spoons, jigs, underspins and minnows are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass, along with baitfish, move even deeper. They will relate to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, timber, and creek channels. They are currently being caught in Cowikee Creek, the Deep Fork arm mouth, the central lake flats around Highway 9, and areas upstream of major marinas.

WINTER. Winter for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 12 to 30 feet. They are being caught on the same lures, but most are caught using a slower retrieve. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps. Good reports come from anglers fishing around channel swings in the Deep Fork Arm and drop-offs along creek and channel edges.

SPRING. Known as "sandies", or "sand bass" by locals, white bass are starting their spawn run now that the water temperature is getting into the mid 50's. Inflow water from the Canadian, North Canadian, Deep Fork, and other flowing rivers, are the best place to find big schools of white bass now. White bass move upstream into these rivers, and running creeks, and will congregate for several weeks. This makes it easier to locate schools in 2 to 10 feet of water. Live minnows on a bobber, small swimbaits and small crankbaits all are working for white bass. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's. Early Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Small spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 15 to 20 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 12 to 20 feet of water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, humps, points and deeper flats hold both bait and white bass in the warmest months.