Broken Bow Lake

[razorbackfan4life]

Any of you ever fish that beautiful reservoir in South East Oklahoma?  No docks(except rentals at Beavers Bend), no homes, just peace and quiet tucked away in Quachita mountains.  

We try to make it down there twice a year.  Once in the late winter/early spring, and once in late fall early winter.   We go down there in hopes of crappie and big bass.  Every trip I've made we've either been too late or too early on the crappie.  I have no clue where they go.  I've scoped all over the creeks and haven't had luck.  They must go out deep deep when they aren't spawning.  

The bass fishing has been great all but one time I've gone.  I catch great #'s of bass, but no 5+ pound bass.  They don't get pressured much.  If the timing is right you can go out and catch 50-75 2 lb fish a day.  

Someone caught a 13.5 there in 2018 I believe.  A friend of my dads caught one about 10lbs on a wiggle wart years ago.  I know there are some giants swimming around down there, but haven't lucked into one yet in the last 5 years.  

I think we are planning on the second week of March this year.  Maybe it will be perfect prespawn/spawn time.  We went last week of March in 2025, and the males were everywhere.  Wacky Rig delight.   

[rps]

I fished that lake many times between 1972 and 1985. Classic highland  artificial lake with clear water.

I never fished for crappie on that lake, so I cannot help you.

March was/is wiggle wart/rockcrawler time. If all you are catching are buck bass males, move out to the staging water, 20 to 40 feet, and fish a very slow finesse jig and creature. Drag it down the point, not jump it. Also try a slow jerk bait or a slow rolled spinner bait on a timbered point edge like those in Bee Creek.

With what I learned fishing Table Rock,  Broken Bow  shallow is 25 feet or less.

Two further comments: First, the largest spot I ever caught came from there . 4+ pounds. Second, fish the J shaped point just as you come out of the marina cove. The little bowl where it turns is a sweet spot.

 

[razorbackfan4life]

On 2/1/2026 at 9:44 PM, rps said:

I fished that lake many times between 1972 and 1985. Classic highland  artificial lake with clear water.

I never fished for crappie on that lake, so I cannot help you.

March was/is wiggle wart/rockcrawler time. If all you are catching are buck bass males, move out to the staging water, 20 to 40 feet, and fish a very slow finesse jig and creature. Drag it down the point, not jump it. Also try a slow jerk bait or a slow rolled spinner bait on a timbered point edge like those in Bee Creek.

With what I learned fishing Table Rock,  Broken Bow  shallow is 25 feet or less.

Two further comments: First, the largest spot I ever caught came from there . 4+ pounds. Second, fish the J shaped point just as you come out of the marina cove. The little bowl where it turns is a sweet spot.

 

We went this past December and had luck on the wiggle wart.  I also caught several on a jerk bait.  

It's nice fishing that lake because it fishes like a new lake still.  Not much pressure.  Very noticeable when I'm running live scope on them.  The fish commit at a much higher percentage than they do on Beaver, or any other lake where I live.  

My heart will always be for straight up jig fishing.  Nothing beats it.  I'll have a couple tied on for sure.  

I've never gone into Bee Creek.  I've hit Otter, Biggam, Bear, and I finally went to the last long creek up the river South Linson Creek.  Linson Creek was very productive.  I'm definitely going to try that again.  Just have to idle thru there when you get close, a lot of trees just off channel. 

Thank you for the tips.  I'm really going to make an effort to catch a big one this trip.  I enjoy catching numbers, but I'm craving a 6+ plus.