Illinois River Fishing Guides and Conditions, Oklahoma

About the Illinois River

The Illinois River crosses into Oklahoma from northwest Arkansas and runs about seventy miles through the Ozark plateau to Lake Tenkiller. It is one of only a handful of Oklahoma Scenic Rivers, and its combination of gravel bars, limestone bluffs, clear water and easy floating makes it the most popular canoe river in the state. On a summer weekend the reach above Tahlequah carries a great deal of recreational traffic, which is the single biggest thing to plan around.

Smallmouth bass are the target and the river holds them the way Ozark streams do, on the gravel-and-rock transitions, in the deeper bluff holes and along the current seams below every riffle. Spotted bass mix in, largemouth take the slower pools, rock bass are constant, and channel and flathead catfish work the deep water. Below Tenkiller Dam the Lower Illinois runs cold and holds a well-known trout fishery, including some very large browns, which gives the system two entirely different personalities within a few miles of each other.

The Tahlequah gauge is the working number for the scenic reach. Moderate readings mean clean floating with defined riffles; low summer water means dragging over gravel and fishing early before the float traffic starts; a big Arkansas rain brings the river up brown and fast within hours, and the outfitters shut down. It clears quickly. For the lower river below the dam, read generation rather than this gauge.

Tahlequah is the base, with outfitters, ramps and guides, and Watts, Chewey and Peavine give access on the upper reaches. Fish the upper river on weekdays if you can; the difference in pressure between a Tuesday and a Saturday in July is dramatic.

Access

Watts: the uppermost float access, near the Arkansas line.
Chewey and Peavine: quieter upper-river launches.
Round Hollow and Eagle Bluff: outfitter and public access above Tahlequah.
Tahlequah and No Head Hollow: access at and around the gauge reach.
Horseshoe Bend and Combs Bridge: the lower scenic reach.
Lake Tenkiller: the impoundment at the bottom of the scenic river.
Lower Illinois below Tenkiller Dam: the trout tailwater, a separate fishery.

Seasons

March through May: high, clear water and the best smallmouth fishing of the year.
June through August: the float season; fish at dawn and expect heavy recreational traffic midday.
September and October: falling water, cooler air and big smallmouth on the bluff holes.
Winter: low clear water on the scenic reach; the tailwater trout fishery is at its best.