Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Hosted by Eufaula, Oklahoma, Stop Four on Lake Eufaula runs June 18–20, with takeoff and weigh-ins at Nichols Point in Eufaula, OK. As the largest lake entirely within the state, Eufaula spans over 100,000 acres and offers a diverse mix of water types, from muddy, timber-filled creeks to clearer main-lake stretches with shallow grass and offshore structure.
Recent rainfall has pushed water levels nearly 8 feet above normal, creating high and muddy conditions across much of the reservoir. While visibility remains limited in some areas, local anglers note steady improvements and expect fish to be on the move come tournament time—making things interesting when practice kicks off on Sunday. These rising waters have opened up new shallow cover while also potentially activating current-related patterns, giving anglers plenty of options—but little certainty as of yet.
Former NPFL angler Sheldon Collings, who lives near Grand Lake and has spent lots of time on Eufaula, believes the timing could work in the field’s favor, pending the next few days of weather.
“I think the fish are going to be biting despite the current conditions—both shallow and offshore,” said Collings. “The offshore bite depends on how much water is moving at that time. As for the shallow bite, typically when they start pulling water, fish pull up to the front of the bushes or settle onto nearby brush. That makes them easier to target.”
Local angler Shane Fields agrees and notes that while the lake is still dirty overall, the worst of the flooding seems to be behind them.
“I wouldn’t say it’s strawberry milk, but it’s generally dirty on Eufaula, and it’s getting better every day,” Fields said. “We’ve seen things clean up some, and that’ll continue through practice and during the tournament. Anytime there’s inflow or outflow, the fish reposition and bite better—that’s when those natural shorelines really come into play.”
With Forward-Facing Sonar off-limits in NPFL competition, both anglers expect a large portion of the field to focus shallow. However, like Collings, Fields points out that offshore humps could be key for anglers willing to explore.
“The smallmouth will be scattered, but the largemouth don’t care as much about the mud,” he said. “If someone includes dragging a few humps in their milk run, it could pay off. Boat draw will be important. Timing could decide who hits a stretch when it’s firing. You might see someone stumble one day, then jump back into the hunt the next.”
While weights may not be explosive, both anglers agree that consistency will be critical in this post-spawn event. Collings predicts that 16 to 17 pounds a day will keep an angler in contention, but don’t be surprised if someone puts up a big number.
“I don’t think it’ll be wild across the board, but someone could bust 20 pounds one day,” Fields added. “It’s going to be tight, but everyone is going to have a shot to win, and comebacks are going to happen.”
A variety of tactics will be in play, including topwater, frogs, punching, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and of course, dragging offshore or fishing in between brush piles.
“There’s just too much going on for it to be a one-pattern event, but Zack Birge is always a threat due to his experience here, and he’s won some big tournaments on Eufaula. I think if anyone can settle into an area and pick it apart, it’s Zack. Overall, I do believe it’s wide open for the field.”
Added Collings, “It’s going to come down to decisions, timing, and adjustments. One day you might have 20 pounds, the next you’re scratching out 13.”
How to Watch
Tune in daily to watch the action from Lake Eufaula – watch the LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and on-the-water photo galleries and blogs of the anglers fishing each day in Oklahoma.
Catch the LIVE Coverage with Luke Dunkin and FatCat at TNPFL.com on days two and three.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast or check out the real-time leaderboard on the Fishing Chaos Catch Track with estimated weights entered by the anglers on the water and join us for the LIVE Weigh-ins, here!
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