At 46,500 acres, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Oklahoma is rated as the second best lake in Oklahoma for bass tournament success and number one in average bass weight and winning weight. The lake is consistently ranked among the top lakes in the region for bass fishing with several tournaments hosted on the lake every year. As anglers look to find quality largemouth bass during the winter months, look to target in on shallow water.
Anglers will be able to find fish on shallow flats, points and around docks or boathouses. To find shallow flats or point that will produce fish, use the maps on Fishidy.com. When working these flats, try a white 3/8 ounce spinnerbait with a red Colorado blade. If the water clarity is poor, less than a foot, follow the Colorado blade with a willow leaf blade. If the visibility is greater than a foot, try a white/chartreuse spinnerbait with tandem willow leaf blades. Jig n’ pig combos in black, brown, or blue work great around the docks and boathouses as well. Spotted bass will also strike the same rigs except spotted bass inhabit rockier areas in deeper water when compared to largemouth bass.
Fishidy.com pro Mike Iaconelli looks to score a few days of 5 fish limits. Photo Courtesy of BASS
It is recommended to downsize lures when targeting spotted bass. When targeting smallmouth bass, search rocky areas of feeder streams using similar techniques as used for largemouth bass. It is common to find quality fish, with a lot in the 4-to-5-pound range.
On February 22-24th, the Bassmaster Classic will be held on this large body of water. As all 53 contenders get ready to win, the odds fall to anglers who have angling acumen, experience, temperament and skill under the prevailing conditions. Anglers that have been successful with top ten finishes believe the lake is loaded with healthy, big bass and the lake offers tons of options for getting a 5 fish limit.
