Hugo Lake fishing: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie

Target species: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redfin Pickerel, Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Spotted Bass
Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct for Largemouth Bass
Second window: Apr, Oct for Black Crappie

The reservoir

Hugo Lake covers 12,476 acres in Oklahoma, across Choctaw County. It is a reservoir: the deepest point measured is 48.9 feet (14.9 m). Our records hold 24 species for this water.

7 target fish, led by Largemouth Bass

  • Largemouth Bass — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
  • Black Crappie — Best months: Apr, Oct.
  • White Crappie — Best months: Apr, Oct.
  • Redfin Pickerel — Best months: Apr, Oct.
  • Green Sunfish — Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct.
  • Bluegill — Best months: May, Jun, Sep.
  • Spotted Bass — Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct.

Also recorded here: Channel Catfish, Golden Redhorse, River Carpsucker, White Bass, Black Bullhead, Longear Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Common Carp, Red Shiner, Emerald Shiner, Golden Shiner, Gizzard Shad, Brook Silverside, Western Mosquitofish, Inland Silverside.

Hugo March 2016 44 (Hugo Lake).jpg
Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Depth and bottom

Deepest measured point: 48.9 ft (14.9 m).

Hugo March 2016 45 (Hugo Lake).jpg
Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 0.8–1.9 feet on our readings, averaging 1.2 feet, from 32 readings. Water temperature averages 68°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 36°F and the warmest is 91°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 6.9. These readings span 2016–2026.

Monthly average water temperature: Jan 39°F · Feb 53°F · Mar 57°F · Apr 65°F · May 76°F · Jun 81°F · Jul 86°F · Aug 87°F · Sep 80°F · Oct 68°F · Nov 57°F · Dec 49°F

Season by season

  • Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb, 39–53°F) — Steady but no peak: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redfin Pickerel, Green Sunfish, Bluegill.
  • Spring (Mar, Apr, May, 57–76°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redfin Pickerel, Green Sunfish, Bluegill.
  • Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug, 81–87°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill.
  • Fall (Sep, Oct, Nov, 57–80°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redfin Pickerel, Green Sunfish, Bluegill.

What is hard here

Wind is the limit, not the fish: 12,476 acres of open water build a short steep chop, and there is no shelter in the middle. Winter water drops to 39°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 87°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.

Where this data comes from

  • Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation — Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: depth soundings: class A, a survey of the bottom.
  • USACE CWMS — USACE CWMS elevation-area curves: class B, a depth figure measured and published by an agency, without a bottom map.