Lake of the Arbuckles fishing: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, River Carpsucker
Target species: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, River Carpsucker, Spotted Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redear
Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct for Largemouth Bass
Second window: May, Jun, Sep, Oct for Bluegill
The lake
Lake of the Arbuckles covers 2,386 acres in Oklahoma, across Murray County. It is a lake. Our records hold 18 species for this water.
7 target fish, led by Largemouth Bass
- Largemouth Bass — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
- Bluegill — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
- River Carpsucker — Best months: May, Oct.
- Spotted Bass — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
- Black Crappie — Best months: May, Oct.
- White Crappie — Best months: May, Oct.
- Redear — Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
Also recorded here: Muskellunge, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Grass Carp, Gizzard Shad, Golden Shiner, Threadfin Shad, Western Mosquitofish, Inland Silverside.
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 2.4–5.7 feet on our readings, averaging 3.8 feet, from 34 readings. Water temperature averages 66°F across the year. The coldest single reading we hold is 39°F and the warmest is 89°F; the warmest monthly average is 86°F. pH averages 8.2. These readings span 2019–2025.
Monthly average water temperature: Jan 48°F · Feb 52°F · Mar 56°F · Apr 64°F · May 74°F · Jun 79°F · Jul 84°F · Aug 86°F · Sep 78°F · Oct 74°F · Nov 59°F · Dec 52°F
Ramps and access
On this water we hold 4 shore access points.
Shore access for bank fishing
- Buckthorn Fishing Dock — Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- Guy Sandy Fishing Dock — Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- The Point Fishing Dock — Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- Thedford Pond — Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Fee and opening hours are blank for all 4 places in this list: a blank means we hold no such field, not that it is free or always open, and this list may not be complete.
Season by season
- Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb, 48–52°F) — Steady but no peak: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, River Carpsucker, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Redear.
- Spring (Mar, Apr, May, 56–74°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, River Carpsucker, Spotted Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie.
- Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug, 79–86°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Spotted Bass, Redear.
- Fall (Sep, Oct, Nov, 59–78°F) — Biting: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, River Carpsucker, Spotted Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie.
What is hard here
Winter water drops to 48°F, and the warm-water species stop feeding well before you do. Summer water sits at 86°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.
