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Quick Reference Fair
Conditions last updated: July 1, 2026
Lake Spavinaw is one of Oklahoma’s oldest reservoirs — built by the City of Tulsa in 1924 as a municipal water supply, and fishing well a century later. At 1,548 acres in Mayes and Delaware Counties south of the town of Spavinaw, this is a small lake by Oklahoma standards, but it fishes big in spring and fall. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are present — an unusual combination at any Oklahoma reservoir — alongside a solid crappie population on the brush structure and docks, and channel and flathead catfish throughout the lake.
The water supply designation is the best thing that ever happened to this lake from a kayak fishing perspective. No swimming, no water skiing, no wake boards. The lake stays quiet. Tournament boats run here, but the kind of high-speed recreational chaos that makes Grand Lake and Hudson exhausting on summer weekends simply doesn’t happen at Spavinaw. The wooded, grassy shoreline and mature habitat from a century of impoundment give the lake a character you won’t find on newer reservoirs — structure has accumulated over 100 years of lake history.
The fishing is Fair across the board right now on the Jun 14 report — 74°F stained water at normal pool. The best windows are pre-spawn spring (March through May) and fall (September through October) when bass and crappie feed aggressively before and after the hot summer doldrums. Winter on Spavinaw brings a bonus: bald eagles congregate around the lake from November through February, making it one of the better wildlife viewing destinations in northeast Oklahoma during the off-season. Located just south of the town of Spavinaw on SH 20.
Species you’ll find here
| Species | Best technique from a kayak | Best season | Where to find them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Crankbaits and plastics along grassy shorelines; jigs around dock structure | Spring (peak), Fall; currently Fair | Main lake, grassy coves, docks, shoreline structure |
| Smallmouth Bass | Small crankbaits and finesse jigs on rocky structure | Spring (peak), Fall; currently Fair | Rocky points and banks on main lake |
| Black Crappie | Jigs and minnows — slow vertical over brush piles and dock structure | Spring (peak spawn), Fall; currently Fair | Brush structure, docks, shallows |
| White Crappie | Jigs and minnows around structure | Spring (peak), Fall; currently Fair | Brush structure, docks |
| Channel Catfish | Cut bait on the bottom anchored on flats or shoreline points | Spring through Fall; currently Fair | Flats, main lake, shallow coves |
| Flathead Catfish | Live bait near deep channel structure at dusk | Spring through Fall | Deeper channel holes, woody debris |
Target the dock-hopping crappie bite in spring on this lake. The grassy, wooded shoreline has established docks with years of structure underneath them — the kind of layered, mature habitat that crappie gravitate to in the pre-spawn. Work a 1/16 oz jig or a small minnow-imitating jig slowly under each dock from outside the shadow line, then move on. The lake is small enough to cover every dock on the productive shore in a morning session. Come back in fall when the bass bite on crankbaits along the shoreline is the best this lake offers all year.
Best launch points for kayaks
City of Tulsa NW Ramp Complex Easy
The only public access to Spavinaw Lake — two concrete ramps in a City of Tulsa-managed complex on the northwest shore off Lake Street near the town of Spavinaw. ADA accessible with public fishing docks on-site. The fishing docks are an ideal hand-carry kayak launch if the ramp has motor traffic. Paved parking, seasonal restrooms, and a picnic area are on site. An on-site access fee is required — amount not published online, pay at the gate. Call (918) 589-2460 before your first visit to confirm current fees and gate hours. Address area: 401 E Lake Ave, Spavinaw, OK 74366.
Conditions and what to know before you launch
Wind
At 1,548 acres, Spavinaw is small enough that the surrounding Ozark-edge hills provide meaningful shelter from wind in most directions. Open-water chop is rarely a serious kayak hazard here except in strong storms. Afternoon summer thunderstorms (June through August) are the primary weather concern — monitor radar actively and stay within easy reach of the ramp. The lake has no shelter on the water once a storm develops. Launch mornings and plan to be off by noon if the afternoon forecast looks unsettled.
Boat Traffic
Significantly lighter than comparable eastern Oklahoma lakes. The water supply designation prohibits water skiing and discourages high-speed recreational boating. Expect bass boats and crappie anglers, particularly on spring weekends near the NW ramp. The absence of personal watercraft and ski boats makes the early morning window at Spavinaw genuinely calm — a different experience from Grand Lake or Hudson on the same Saturday. NSKA kayak fishing tournaments have used this lake, confirming it’s known in the kayak fishing community.
Water Conditions
As of the Jun 14, 2026 ODWC report: water temperature 74°F and stained, elevation at normal pool (stable). Stained water is the year-round baseline for Spavinaw — the mature watershed and organic shoreline keep clarity limited. Reaction baits (crankbaits, spinnerbaits) outperform finesse presentations in stained conditions. Normal stable pool means shoreline structure is at predictable depth; no flood-related hazard concerns. Fish are in their summer holding patterns after the post-spawn transition — early morning and late evening are the most productive windows in summer.
Safety
Afternoon thunderstorms are the primary hazard at Spavinaw — the lake has no significant wind or current dangers, but lightning on open water is real. Download offline maps before visiting as cell coverage can be limited in the Spavinaw Creek corridor. Paddling.com flags an unspecified hazard marker at the ramp area — likely submerged structure from the 1924-era construction. Call (918) 589-2460 before visiting to ask about any current access conditions or hazards.
Lake Spavinaw charges a day-use access fee at the ramp gate. The exact amount is not published online. You still need a valid Oklahoma fishing license in addition to the day-use fee. Call (918) 589-2460 before your visit to confirm the current fee, gate hours, and seasonal ramp access.
Recommended gear for Lake Spavinaw
Anchor Trolley System
Dock-hopping for crappie and holding position on shoreline bass structure are the two main kayak tactics at Spavinaw — both require staying put rather than drifting. A YakAttack anchor trolley with a light grapnel lets you lock onto a dock’s shadow line or hold along a grassy shoreline point without constant repositioning. Essential for slow-fishing the crappie bite and for presenting a Texas-rigged plastic to bass holding in dock structure.
Best Kayak Anchor Systems →High-Visibility PFD
Oklahoma law requires a wearable PFD on board for every person on the water. On a lake with bass boat tournament traffic during spring weekends, being seen matters. A bright orange or yellow PFD worn on your body keeps you visible to approaching boats. Get one comfortable enough to wear all day — if it’s uncomfortable, you won’t wear it.
Best Kayak PFDs →Waterproof Phone Case
Cell coverage is limited in the Spavinaw Creek corridor. Download offline maps, your NOAA weather radar app, and the ODWC fishing license before you leave cell range. Keep your phone dry in a waterproof case — it’s your weather radar and emergency contact in an area where calling for help from the water may require getting to shore first.
Check Price on Amazon →Safety Whistle
Standard kit. Clip it to your PFD before you launch. 115dB pealess design works when wet and requires zero maintenance. On a lake with limited cell coverage, a whistle is your fastest way to signal distress to other anglers on the water.
Check Price on Amazon →Fishing regulations for Lake Spavinaw
Lake Spavinaw has no area-specific fishing regulations beyond Oklahoma statewide limits. Standard ODWC daily bag and size limits apply for all species. No swimming and no water skiing are enforced as water supply restrictions by the City of Tulsa. Non-residents must comply with the 2025 ODWC check-in/out requirement for public fishing areas. A valid Oklahoma fishing license is required for all anglers age 16 and older — this is separate from the on-site day-use access fee.
Always verify current regulations before fishing: wildlifedepartment.com/licensing. Annual resident fishing license runs about $25.
The moment you attach any electric trolling motor, your kayak becomes a motorized vessel and must be titled and registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Operating without registration is a citation offense.
Nearby bait and tackle
- Benge Creek Outfitters — 291 W Broadway Ave, Langley, OK 74350 — (918) 782-6525
- Blue Water Bait & Tackle — 235 W Main St, Disney, OK 74340 — (918) 435-4623
- Gibson Bait & Tackle — 305 N Wyandotte St, Locust Grove, OK 74352 — (918) 479-1970
- Blue Moon Bait & Tackle — 448820 E OK-85, Ketchum, OK 74349 — (918) 782-4009
- Walmart Supercenter (Pryor) — 4901 S Mill St, Pryor, OK 74361 — (918) 825-6000
Other Oklahoma lakes worth fishing
Frequently asked questions
Yes — a valid Oklahoma fishing license is required for all anglers age 16 and older (about $25/year resident). You also pay a separate on-site day-use access fee at the gate. The fee amount is not published online — call (918) 589-2460 before your visit to confirm the current amount. Non-residents must also check in and out per the 2025 ODWC requirement.
There is one access point: the City of Tulsa ramp complex on the northwest shore near 401 E Lake Ave, Spavinaw, OK 74366. Two concrete lanes with ADA access and adjacent public fishing docks ideal for hand-carry kayak launches. On-site fee required. Call (918) 589-2460 for current hours and fees.
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, bluegill, and sunfish. The combination of both largemouth and smallmouth bass is unusual for an Oklahoma reservoir. Crappie fishing around brush structure and docks is consistently productive in spring and fall.
No. Lake Spavinaw is a City of Tulsa municipal water supply reservoir. Swimming and water skiing are both prohibited. This makes it significantly quieter than nearby recreational lakes — a real advantage for kayak anglers who prefer calm mornings without wake boat traffic.
Spring (March through May) for the pre-spawn bass and crappie bite, and fall (September through October) for aggressive feeding before winter. Summer is tough — tournament data from a July 2025 NSKA kayak tournament showed Spavinaw significantly underperforming in midsummer heat. Focus on early morning launches in summer if you go during that period. Winter brings bald eagle viewing as a bonus for slower fishing days.