Turbidity and current likely to impact Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — What was good for the soil may prove challenging for fishermen, as 101 competitors head to eastern Oklahoma for the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River.
Competition days will be April 16-19 with daily takeoffs from Three Forks Harbor at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day at the harbor at 3 p.m.
Offering some relief from extended drought conditions, significant rainfall dampened Central and Eastern Oklahoma the first week of April. Also, the area’s weather forecast calls for thunderstorms the Sunday and Monday before the tournament, with significant rain chances lasting through most of the event.
With all the red clay and loose topsoil surrounding the Arkansas River, Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer said he’s expecting some degree of turbidity to impact the event. Nothing terribly dramatic, the seasoned Elite angler said, but rain creates inflow and that affects fish and fishermen.
“It’s gonna be very challenging,” Palmer predicted. “We hadn’t had rain in Oklahoma for a long period of time and then we had severe weather go through. I visited my dad after the storm and his pond was 4-feet low before the rain, but (as of early April), it’s above the spillway.
“A lot of the lakes are starting to fill up, if they’re not above normal. That’s going to get some more flow in the river and it seems like any type of current is good. That should help the bite.”
As Palmer explained, current stimulates feeding and predictably positions baitfish and bass. The associated turbidity can drastically reduce fishable areas.
“That chocolate milk can make the river fish a little smaller, because really fresh mud can blow out an area,” Palmer said. “Water clarity will be a big thing, but there are several big, clearer backwaters that guys can get into.”
The Arkansas River comprises the main component of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), a 445-mile inland waterway running through Oklahoma and Arkansas and connecting the Port of Catoosa (near Tulsa, Okla.) to the Mississippi River. Tournament includes pools 15, 16, and 17, along with all connected waters.
The Arkansas River, along with its tributaries and backwaters offers a mix of hard cover, laydowns, stumps, submersed aquatic vegetation and emergent cover like water willow. To reach various habitat preferences and to get away from crowds, competitors may choose to lock up to Pool 17 or down to Pool 15. With the event based on the east side of Pool 16, Palmer believes anglers could find winning potential boundary to boundary.
“Some guys will go south, some guys will go north and some will stay in the local pool,” he said. “That’s a fishery where you can catch 20 pounds anywhere. Guys could stay close and win it or make big runs and win it.”
Locking automatically reduces fishing time and the pressure to make it back through the locks, which operate on set schedules, adds a stressful element to the day. Commercial barge traffic takes navigational priority, so waiting a full lock cycle is a risk when venturing to greener pastures.
Palmer, who generally prefers locking to less crowded areas said the Arkansas River bass fishery is in the best shape he’s seen it in several years. Taking that into consideration, he’s looking for impressive weights.
“It’s gonna take 18 pounds a day to win and it will take close to 17 a day to make the Top 10,” he said. “I’ve been watching local tournament results and there have been several 20-pound bags, with probably 15 to 16 pounds down to 15th place. That’s pretty strong for a river system.”
In April 2024, Arkansas pro Chris Johnson earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at the Arkansas River presented by Lowrance with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 3 ounces that included daily bags of 19-6, 17-15 and 13-14. Running a few miles upriver from Three Forks Harbor, Johnson slipped his boat through breaks in the rock levees and caught his fish in shallow backwaters.
That 2024 event took place in early April, with a cold spell hindering the final day. Given this year’s mostly mild spring and the progress of fish in waters near his home about 2 hours south of Muskogee, Palmer expects mostly spawn and postspawn action.
“We’e gonna have fish in all 3 stages, but I think quite a few have spawned — I wouldn’t doubt that 65 to 70 percent are already done because we’ve had stable water temperatures,” Palmer said. “It will probably be mostly spawn and postspawn. Those postspawn fish will move out of the backwaters and get on main river stuff, because those backwaters get pretty warm in the Oklahoma heat.”
The 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule includes five events that allow the use of forward facing sonar and four that do not. The Arkansas River event will allow this technology and despite the generally shallow nature of a river fishery, Palmer believes the potential to leverage live sonar is there.
“I think the main river is gonna be a major player,” he said. “Somebody that figures that out can really do well.
“It depends how our weather goes. But I’ve never seen the fish in such good shape. They’re fat and they’re healthy, so this is gonna be a good event.”
Bassmaster LIVE will be available all four days of the event, starting on Bassmaster.com and Roku Sports Channel April 16 and 17. FS1 will host the morning session on April 18 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com from 12:30-3 p.m. On Sunday, April 19 action can be found on FS1 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Visit Muskogee is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
