A look at Elite venues

A look at Lake Tenkiller

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The final regular-season event of 2019 is the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller, Sept. 19-22.
The final regular-season event of 2019 is the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller, Sept. 19-22.
The event on the Oklahoma fishery, changed from Fort Gibson Lake to prevent a potential cancellation, will finalize the 50 anglers who advance to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship next week on Lake St. Clair.
The event on the Oklahoma fishery, changed from Fort Gibson Lake to prevent a potential cancellation, will finalize the 50 anglers who advance to the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship next week on Lake St. Clair.
Tenkiller Lake is a 12,900-acre impoundment in the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains about 75 miles southeast of Tulsa. The lake has 130 miles of shoreline.
Tenkiller Lake is a 12,900-acre impoundment in the Cookson Hills of the Ozark Mountains about 75 miles southeast of Tulsa. The lake has 130 miles of shoreline.
The daily launches will be held at Chicken Creek Point Public Use Area. The first boat takes off at 8 a.m. ET each of the four days. The weigh-ins are set for 4:10 ET at Chicken Creek on Days 1 and 2. Admission to all B.A.S.S. venues is free.
The daily launches will be held at Chicken Creek Point Public Use Area. The first boat takes off at 8 a.m. ET each of the four days. The weigh-ins are set for 4:10 ET at Chicken Creek on Days 1 and 2. Admission to all B.A.S.S. venues is free.
The Expo opens at noon on Saturday at Cherokee Casino Tahlequah, and the Days 3 and 4 weigh-ins will be moved there and begin at 5 p.m. ET.
The Expo opens at noon on Saturday at Cherokee Casino Tahlequah, and the Days 3 and 4 weigh-ins will be moved there and begin at 5 p.m. ET.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this will be B.A.S.S.’s first pro level visit to the fishery, CEO Bruce Akin explains. “The ongoing high water at Fort Gibson Lake and the uncertainty of dam repairs downstream at Webber Falls really left us no choice. We certainly made every effort to hold the event on Fort Gibson Lake, but the conditions just wouldn’t allow it.”
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this will be B.A.S.S.’s first pro level visit to the fishery, CEO Bruce Akin explains. “The ongoing high water at Fort Gibson Lake and the uncertainty of dam repairs downstream at Webber Falls really left us no choice. We certainly made every effort to hold the event on Fort Gibson Lake, but the conditions just wouldn’t allow it.”
Last year, B.A.S.S. held the Carhartt College Series National Championship on Tenkiller Lake in July. Bethel University’s Cody Huff, this year’s College qualifier to the Classic, and Garrett Enders won the three-day event with 41 pounds, 6 ounces.
Last year, B.A.S.S. held the Carhartt College Series National Championship on Tenkiller Lake in July. Bethel University’s Cody Huff, this year’s College qualifier to the Classic, and Garrett Enders won the three-day event with 41 pounds, 6 ounces.
The big bass caught among the 136 college teams was a 6-pounder, which would go a long way for the 75 Elites competing for the $100,000 first-prize and critical Toyota AOY points.
The big bass caught among the 136 college teams was a 6-pounder, which would go a long way for the 75 Elites competing for the $100,000 first-prize and critical Toyota AOY points.
The top 50 after Tenkiller move on to fish the AOY Championship, and B.A.S.S. was adamant to get this event in, ergo the move. “Anglers have been working hard all year, jockeying for position in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings,” B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon said. “They’ve been promised nine events and then the Angler of the Year Championship, and we want to make every effort as an organization to make sure all of those events are held.”
The top 50 after Tenkiller move on to fish the AOY Championship, and B.A.S.S. was adamant to get this event in, ergo the move. “Anglers have been working hard all year, jockeying for position in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings,” B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon said. “They’ve been promised nine events and then the Angler of the Year Championship, and we want to make every effort as an organization to make sure all of those events are held.”
One real positive noted by several anglers is that Tenkiller has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth (16-inch minimum) and spotted bass (12 inch), so anglers expect to catch fish and not have the anticipated wild swings that might have occurred on Fort Gibson.
One real positive noted by several anglers is that Tenkiller has an abundance of largemouth, smallmouth (16-inch minimum) and spotted bass (12 inch), so anglers expect to catch fish and not have the anticipated wild swings that might have occurred on Fort Gibson.
“You have three distinct populations that will all be in play, so that may change the pattern and location that the next guy pulls up to and how he fishes, depending on what he’s fishing for,” veteran angler Mark Menendez said. “The smart play will be the mixed bag because that’s going to cost-average things. You’re going to see some trifecta bags this week.”
“You have three distinct populations that will all be in play, so that may change the pattern and location that the next guy pulls up to and how he fishes, depending on what he’s fishing for,” veteran angler Mark Menendez said. “The smart play will be the mixed bag because that’s going to cost-average things. You’re going to see some trifecta bags this week.”
Also, the lake level has been falling, so Menendez sees a good opportunity for anglers who can adjust to the changes. “The water color will be clean enough that it won’t be like the absolute flood we would have been heading into on Fort Gibson,” he said. “We may have to deal with some suspending bass, but I don’t think it will be that big of a problem.
Also, the lake level has been falling, so Menendez sees a good opportunity for anglers who can adjust to the changes. “The water color will be clean enough that it won’t be like the absolute flood we would have been heading into on Fort Gibson,” he said. “We may have to deal with some suspending bass, but I don’t think it will be that big of a problem.”
“You have a lot of bluffy areas, you have river channels running against the bank, you have several creeks and a river section,” Menendez said. “So, you can kind of break it down into a lower, mid- and upper lake — you just won’t have to run as far from one end to the other.”
“You have a lot of bluffy areas, you have river channels running against the bank, you have several creeks and a river section,” Menendez said. “So, you can kind of break it down into a lower, mid- and upper lake — you just won’t have to run as far from one end to the other.”
There will still be anglers scrambling around on Tenkiller. Only 20 points separate Clark Wendlandt, the last man in the current Classic cut at 42nd with 475 points, and Tyler Rivet, 50th and the last position to advance to St. Clair. There are eight anglers behind Rivet within 28 points.
There will still be anglers scrambling around on Tenkiller. Only 20 points separate Clark Wendlandt, the last man in the current Classic cut at 42nd with 475 points, and Tyler Rivet, 50th and the last position to advance to St. Clair. There are eight anglers behind Rivet within 28 points.
Scott Canterbury hopes to add to his 17-point lead in the AOY standings and close out the title. “I survived the New York swing. I went up there 11 points behind and come out with the lead. … But there’s lot of fishing left to do. We still have to go to Oklahoma then we got an AOY Championship. We’ve got to keep it going.”
Scott Canterbury hopes to add to his 17-point lead in the AOY standings and close out the title. “I survived the New York swing. I went up there 11 points behind and come out with the lead. … But there’s lot of fishing left to do. We still have to go to Oklahoma then we got an AOY Championship. We’ve got to keep it going.”
Practice will be critical on the mostly unknown lake, and the chase for cut spots begins on Thursday. Bassmaster LIVE will air each day from 8-11 a.m ET and noon-3 p.m., bringing action from the water of this critical regular-season finale.
Practice will be critical on the mostly unknown lake, and the chase for cut spots begins on Thursday. Bassmaster LIVE will air each day from 8-11 a.m ET and noon-3 p.m., bringing action from the water of this critical regular-season finale.

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