Your Guide to Fishing at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake

Wondering where to fish? What to use?

This page will help you find the Grand Lake fish you are looking for, from a mess of crappie to a monster spoonbill – and everything in between. This is your complete guide to Fishing at Grand Lake…

What Are You Fishing For?

Grand Lake is widely considered to be among the best lakes in Oklahoma for fishing. And with over 46,500 surface acres and over 1,300 miles of shoreline, there is something for everyone when it comes to fishing at Grand Lake.

Monster catfish, championship bass fishing, pre-historic paddlefish, and more crappie than you could ever eat are just part of the Grand Lake fishing legend.

Grand Lake’s reputation as one of the best Bass fishing lakes in the United States has been solidified with the return of The Bassmaster Classic – often referred to as the Super Bowl of fishing – to Grand Lake in March of 2024 for the 3rd time in 11 years.

But it’s not just the bass… Grand Lake also has healthy populations of White Bass (Smallmouth), Spotted Bass, and the awesome to catch Hybrid Stripers which have been stocked in the lake since 1982.

Bass aren’t the only fish that call Grand Lake home.

Crappie fishing has always been a big deal around the shores of Grand Lake…many a Crappie fish fry has been enjoyed by generations of Grand Lake families.

Catfish obviously are another big draw to the area with huge cats routinely being drawn from the lake. Grand Lake is home to Channel Catfish, delicious Blue Catfish, and big Flat Head Cats and Spoonbill Catfish as well.

And, in case you are wondering, Spoonbill Catfish are also known as Paddlefish…and Oklahoma’s Grand Lake has the largest population of these pre-historic fish in the world.

So make sure you’ve got your license in place and come on to Grand Lake for some of the best fishing for all kinds of fish you will ever find in one place.

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Grand Lake Fishing Guides

Are you ready to catch some fish at Grand Lake? Then you probably want to at least think about hiring a Grand Lake fishing guide.

Grand Lake is home to many fishing guides who are experienced in helping you find just what you want in a Grand Lake fishing experience.

But make sure you find the guide that works best for what you are looking for as Grand Lake is home to many different species of fish that can be caught at different times throughout the year, requiring the specific expertise that these fishing experts offer.

If you want to go after monster paddlefish (we call them spoonbill) in the winter months…then there are guides to help you with that.

If you want to hunt down a trophy large mouth – or maybe do a little scouting before an upcoming tournament – there are guides to help you find what’s working right now.

You like catfishing? Well, Grand Lake has plenty of catfish and lots of guides to help you find them, no matter what time of year.

What about crappie and white bass? Yep, you got it. There are Grand Lake guides that will get you on the fish.

Make sure you check with whatever fishing guide you hire so you know what they provide and what you need to bring.

Most of the guides provide all the equipment you need, and many will even clean whatever legal fish you keep.

You will, of course, need a valid Oklahoma fishing license. But that’s usually about it.

So what are you waiting for…get out there, hire a fishing guide, and catch some fish at Grand Lake!

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A Grand Lake Fishing Lodge?

Just north of Grove, The Lake Lodge at Grand Lake o’ The Cherokees is now open (Fall 2023).

This place is specifically designed to be angler-friendly with lighted, covered, pull-through boat parking. Each parking stall has electricity – and they even throw in 2 bags of ice per day. How cool is that?

Here is more info on this great addition to the Grove and Grand Lake lodging community, plus other fishing-friendly places to stay:

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Grand Lake Bait and Tackle Shops

A Grand Lake fisherman’s best friend? A friendly bait and tackle shop, of course.

A bait and tackle shop is a fisherman’s go-to supply shop not for just bait, but also that down-low fishing scoop that you really need to find the big ones you are looking for.

From Disney to Grove, there are several outdoor shops that can help you with your fishing license if you need one, get you hooked up with whatever it is the fish are biting on, and even get some snacks and cold drinks for your fishing adventure.

So what are you waiting for?

Whether you are chasing trophy bass, a monster cat, or a mess of crappie, these Featured local Grand Lake businesses can help you: