Help me find a new lake

Driving from Enid, Kaw is really the closest decent crappie lake but it seems that most times I've tried to go there were bad storms and when it wasn't storming the water was muddy, high and rising. Now that it's flooding again I've decided that I need to figure out a couple of backup plans. Canton is out, the drought has done major damage to the crappie population. Sooner is terrible. I've done ok at Carl Blackwell in the past but mostly small fish. Never been to Skiatook and I hear it's a pretty lake but small fish. Keystone, I have no idea but reports in the past talk about mostly small fish. All of those lakes are within 2 hours. If I want to go farther of course there is Oologah, but that's starting to get into the "make an entire day of it" stuff and leaving super early to beat the heat. 3+ gets me to Ft Gibson etc. but again, to far to make regular trips.

So any thoughts on any of the lakes I've listed? Any others that would be in my range? I haven't caught a slab since last year and I REEEEALLY need some therapy right now.:banghead

Offer Fabio aka Josh Jones a ride on your boat and he will show you that Keystone is not a dink factory.

Not sure where you get skiatook and keystone are mostly dinks, both lakes have some really nice fish in them.

Thanks Ciller. Keystone had some hogs, 3 lb 8 oz is lake record...beats Eufaula, Kaw, Oologah, skiatook....if there was a lake anyone should learn, it's definitely Keystone. The States best kept secret in my opinion

Never been there but what about Stoud Lake? My wife recently was visiting a friend whose neighbor was cleaning a big mess of nice crappie. Knowing I would want to know she walked over and chatted him up. He said that he and a buddy caught em on Stroud Lake and that the trip before they had caught a lot more big fish. I've never heard of that lake and haven't even looked it up but it might be one to investigate.

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Originally Posted by Josh Jones

Thanks Ciller. Keystone had some hogs, 3 lb 8 oz is lake record...beats Eufaula, Kaw, Oologah, skiatook....if there was a lake anyone should learn, it's definitely Keystone. The States best kept secret in my opinion

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Stand by Josh we are getting ready to send another million or so down the river when they open the gates. That 3 lb 8 oz fish was a Kaw offspring LOL

Haha I agree. Dont know how Kaw hasn't produced a 4 lber yet. Definitely way more 2 lbers. Kaw hasn't been consistent in a while which is unfortunate

It has just kept quiet

Kaw lake crappie get hammered all year small lake when you get 100 boats average a day fishing and catching crappie.keystone with its size.and I was told last week by a local their slaying crappie at keystone in 20feet of water.Im in Enid to but I'm thinking catfish is the way to go.

Crappieman it is true Kaw is getting more pressure than ever. I have seen those days where there was 100 boats. What makes it worse is all of them are in one small area and it gets interesting. What I know though is out of those 100 boats, only about 10 percent are catching any fish. Another plus is the last couple of years with the flooding we had a tremendous spawn so there will be some good fishing. We have learned over time you have to adjust to the conditions and change the way you normally fish for crappie. I also know the wildlife dept. is keeping a close tab on the crappie and the fishing pressure.

WTG, Tim.

I can fish Keystone 5 times and not see another crappie fisherman.

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Originally Posted by Josh Jones

I can fish Keystone 5 times and not see another crappie fisherman.

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If they dont got it by now, they aint going to get it, and I am fine with that! It does fish a bit funky at times, but what lake doesn't? People have no confidence in it and just give up.

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Originally Posted by Crappie ciller

Offer Fabio aka Josh Jones.

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:Rofl:Rofl:Rofl:fish

Oologah gets hammered as well because of it's proximity to Tulsa. A fisheries expert said last year that Kaw was currently the best Crappie lake in Ok. Cut my teeth on Keystone as an 11 yr old fishing with my neighbor. Taught me how to pour and tie my own jigs. That was when Salt Creek still had a lot of timber above water 48 years ago. Many winter trips filling a basket. Have you checked the distance to El Dorrado in Ks?

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Originally Posted by Crappie ciller

Never been there but what about Stoud Lake? My wife recently was visiting a friend whose neighbor was cleaning a big mess of nice crappie. Knowing I would want to know she walked over and chatted him up. He said that he and a buddy caught em on Stroud Lake and that the trip before they had caught a lot more big fish. I've never heard of that lake and haven't even looked it up but it might be one to investigate.

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Maybe "Stroud" Lake? NE of Stroud, OK off of I44?

I have heard some good things about the Cushing city lake as well.

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Originally Posted by Josh Jones

I can fish Keystone 5 times and not see another crappie fisherman.

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Now that got my attention. I've heard that Keystone can be hazardous with sandbars and other objects to run into. Never been on it myself but could be worth a little drive.

I seen last year at kaw it looked like a boat show.driving 120 miles to fish with 50 boats within 20 feet of each other is. Crazy reminds me of Canton lake in the old days below dam.now fishing is drying up there.

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Originally Posted by Crappieman24

I seen last year at kaw it looked like a boat show.driving 120 miles to fish with 50 boats within 20 feet of each other is. Crazy reminds me of Canton lake in the old days below dam.now fishing is drying up there.

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Must look like a poor (and more sober) man's version of Dripping Springs on Grand, lol.

Doubt the scenery is quite as good though lol

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Originally Posted by Grandgpaw

Doubt the scenery is quite as good though lol

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You got me there!