Oklahoma Fishing Charters
Oklahoma fishing charters cover everything from crappie and bass runs on its big reservoirs to blue cat hunts on current-rich river systems.
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Top Rated Charters in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Fishing Guide
Oklahoma’s a freshwater state, no coastlines here—just a mess of manmade lakes, prairie streams, and a few solid tailraces that hold fish year-round. You’ve got over 200 lakes across the state, many of them damn good for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and crappie. Then there’s the Arkansas and Red Rivers, where blue cats, flatheads, and stripers roam wide stretches of current. Most fishing here is done from bass boats, crappie rigs, or center consoles set up for jugging and drift fishing. Typical charter trips run 4 to 6 hours, with plenty of full-day options during spawn or deep-summer jugline runs.
Lake Texoma’s the heavyweight, known for its natural striper fishery—one of only a handful in the country. Lake Eufaula, Grand Lake, and Broken Bow all get serious attention too. Up near Tulsa, Keystone Lake draws catfish guides, while Tenkiller offers clean water and smallmouth. A lot of guides launch from public ramps early and use live bait—shad, minnows, cut bait—depending on the target. Electronics are king here; Livescope has changed how folks chase suspended crappie and brush-hugging bass. Spring and fall are peak seasons, but with tailraces below dams and deep wintering holes, there’s fishable water just about any time if you know where to look.
Regional Fishing Highlights
Lake Texoma
Right on the border with Texas, Texoma’s known for stripers—big, mean, and schooling hard. Guides run full-day trips chasing topwater blowups early, then switch to slabs or live shad deeper. The lake’s massive, so be ready to run. Spring and fall see surface action, winter’s all about drifting deep. Also holds catfish and solid smallmouth near rocky points.
Northeast Reservoirs (Grand, Eucha, Spavinaw)
Up near Grove and Jay, these lakes are loaded with crappie and largemouth. Crappie guides use spider rigs or Livescope around brush piles and docks. Bass guys work spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft plastics along creek channels. Water clarity’s usually better up here than the rest of the state.
Lake Eufaula
Oklahoma’s biggest lake, and a reliable year-round fishery. Spring brings in crappie shallow, while summer’s for juglines and night fishing. Big blues roam the channels. Bass fishing picks up around structure, especially near the Canadian River arm. Most guides launch from the marina or local park ramps.
Tailraces (Kaw, Keystone, Kerr)
The outflows below big flood-control lakes are prime for catfish, stripers, and saugeye. You’ll see folks anchored up with cut bait or tossing heavy jigs. When the dams are releasing, fishing can be lights-out. Local guides watch flow rates daily and know when to hit it.
Broken Bow Lake
Down in the southeast hills, Broken Bow’s clear, deep, and full of smallmouth. Not many guides work it, but those that do know where the rock piles and ledges are. Trout fishing is also solid just below the dam on the Lower Mountain Fork. That’s mostly fly or ultralight tackle work.
Fishing Seasons in Oklahoma
Spring
Crappie stack up shallow, bass move into pre-spawn, and stripers start chasing bait in warming coves. Tailraces turn on for big blues and saugeye. Spinnerbaits, jigs, and live minnows all get bit. Rain can raise lake levels fast, so watching inflows matters.
Summer
Early mornings are key. Striper and bass hit topwater at sunrise, then drop deep by mid-morning. Crappie suspend over deeper brush—Livescope helps here. Juglines and drift fishing take center stage for catfish. Midday heat can shut things down unless you fish current or deep holes.
Fall
Feeding frenzies pick back up. Stripers and white bass bust bait on the surface, especially on Texoma and Keystone. Crappie return to mid-depth brush. Bass chase shad and respond to crankbaits and jerkbaits. It’s one of the best times for numbers and active fish.
Winter
Fish go deep, but they don’t stop biting. Crappie stack tight on deep brush or bridge pilings. Blue cats move into wintering holes—cut bait’s the go-to. Striper bite stays decent on Texoma and below dams. You need to be precise, but cold weather thins out the crowds.
Most Popular Gamefish in Oklahoma
- Largemouth Bass – 1–6 lbs. Found in nearly every lake, caught on jigs, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics around cover.
- Smallmouth Bass – 1–4 lbs. Clearwater lakes like Broken Bow and Tenkiller, targeted with tubes and jerkbaits on rocky structure.
- Spotted Bass – 1–3 lbs. Common in deeper lakes like Eufaula; hit crankbaits and finesse rigs off main-lake points.
- Crappie – 0.5–2 lbs. Caught around brush piles and docks using minnows or jigs, year-round with Livescope
- Blue Catfish – 5–60 lbs. Drifted or juglined in rivers and reservoirs with cut shad or live bait.
- Channel Catfish – 2–10 lbs. Rivers and reservoirs. Cut bait, dip bait, night fishing works best.
- Flathead Catfish – 10–40 lbs. Prefer live bait near timber and holes along river bends.
- Striped Bass – 5–20 lbs. Lake Texoma and tailraces, targeted with live shad, slabs, or trolling.
- White Bass – 1–2 lbs. Schooling fish that hit spoons, small swimbaits, or topwater during feeding frenzies.
- Saugeye – 1–5 lbs. Found below dams and in reservoirs like Kaw, caught on jigs and live minnows.
Oklahoma Fishing FAQs
Do I need a license to fish in Oklahoma?
Yes, anyone 16 or older needs a fishing license. Non-residents can buy daily, weekly, or annual options online or at local stores.
What’s the best lake for striper fishing in Oklahoma?
Lake Texoma, hands down. It’s one of the few places where stripers reproduce naturally, and they get big.
Can I fish with kids on an Oklahoma charter?
Most guides welcome kids, especially on crappie or catfish trips where there’s steady action and calmer water.
When is crappie season in Oklahoma?
Peak time is spring when they move shallow to spawn, but with Livescope, guides catch them year-round.
What kind of bait do catfish guides use?
Blue cats hit cut shad or skipjack. Flatheads like live perch. Juglines and drift rigs are both common setups.
Are Oklahoma fishing trips mostly half-day or full-day?
Most guides offer both. Crappie and bass trips tend to be half-day, while catfish and striper runs may go longer.
Is fly fishing an option in Oklahoma?
Yes, mostly in the southeast. Lower Mountain Fork below Broken Bow Dam has stocked trout and decent fly water.
Where are the best river fishing spots?
Arkansas and Red Rivers hold big cats and stripers, especially below dams. Keystone and Kaw tailraces are local favorites.
How do guides find fish in these big lakes?
Electronics—especially Livescope—have changed the game. Most guides use sonar and GPS to stay on active schools.