Pumpback help

Hello board. New member here and I'm a lifetime Bass, Trout, Sandbass and Catfisherman. I've fished for Crappie a few times but I'm as green as can be with how to do it.

I've fished the Pumpback several times for bass, but Saturday I'm taking a trip there to try for some wintertime crappie. I'm bringing only my crappie rod so I can avoid the temptation of fishing for bass! Weather is forecasted to be windy and warm with temps in the lower 70s. Has anyone been there recently or can anyone offer any pointers? I think I may start at the sunken bridge on the east side of the lake, unless anyone knows any better spots.

Thanks in advance!

Maybe I'm the only one, but I have no idea where the "pumpback" is. Is that a lake? Or is it a place on a lake, and if so, which lake?

I've never heard of it either. Sure you're in the right State? Welcome none the less.

Fellow anglers, pump back is a lake unto it's self. It takes water from lake hudson and I believe generates power and pumps water back into lake hudson in saline creek. It is east of highway 88 between locust grove and salina. I have never fished it but understand it is for two man boats only. No outboards. If you are going saturday the wind is forcasted to be between 15 and 30 m.p.h.. Not what I would consider ideal for a small boat. The water level varies a lot during the pumping cycle. I am told that if could go up down as much as 15 feet. If I am not mistaken the lake is named Chimmney Rock. Not real sure about the name.

Also known as Chimney Rock or R. W. Holloway. No boat size restrictions but
no outboards.

Welcome to the board Bassman and OlJim!

Foghorn and OlJim are correct on the names and location. According to the wildlife department a few years ago, it was rated as one of the top black crappie lakes in the state. This is the same lake that yielded the state record smallmouth a few years (only to be beaten by Eufaula the next year). I've heard reports that 16" Crappie are common in this impoundment. It's deep (200'+ in some spots), clear and absolutely loaded with baitfish. It has a great population of crappie, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass and blue catfish. It's my favorite little honey hole ;), but I just haven't tried it for Crappie yet.

Foghorn is correct about the lake. The lake has alot of smallmouth and spotted bass. I believe a state record smallmouth came from that lake maybe 2-3 years ago. The draining and filling cycle,I believe, turns on the fish to feed.

& ya cant have a gas engine... electric only...

JAKE

Bassman, since you've fished there for bass you know how it goes with the water level. Try and hit any brush you have found that will still be about 15' deep if they drop the water level. Google Earth has some good images taken when the lake was down about 30'. You really have to study it to tell the brush from the shadows. They dug some holes/ditches and put in shelters that are good too. If you look at the main tributary on the east end, you'll see a dam that has some steep drop-offs and brush on the ends. I'd probably try there since it will be so windy. Hopefully the run-off didn't make it too muddy. If there is a heavy mud line go find some clearer water.

Too much trolling motor use over their heads can shut 'em down so either motor upwind and drift back or anchor with a LONG rope and sit over the top of them. Tie the anchor off the back of your boat so the waves won't slap the underside of the hull so bad. And take a net. Almost every time I crappie fish there I hook a blue cat. If the crappie aren't cooperating, drift the open water with some minnows about 15-30 feet and you should get some blues. Oh yeah, a 1/32 jig with a chartreuse head and electric chicken (pink/green) body is my favorite. You never know what their favorite will be though.

Oops, I read your entire post this time and saw that you already know about the east end.

I have a couple of friends that fish there for blues and 40 to 50lb is not uncommon.

Ya, last time I was there I left with an empty spool. 1/8 oz jig and 50 yds of 6lb gone in a flash!

Gene

Hey Fishhooker, thanks for the detailed info! For the jigs you throw, are you throwing the Bobby Garland (Gene Larew) baby shad baits? I've been reading a lot about those on the board here and they seem to be the hot ticket. Where can you find those around Tulsa/BA?

Also, the crappie fishing I've done in the past usually consisted of a double jig rig. Is this the best and most common method of fishing? Is it best to tie the jig taught to the main line, or is it better to let is hang loose in a loop?

Thanks again!

I would suggest using a loop knot as it provides more freedom of movement or action.

Coyote - How much did the blues weigh in your picture? These were caught in Pumpback?

Go east from the ramp and where the steps come down to the water on the steep slope there is some good brush. I have caught some great numbers of crappie there. Nothing huge but a lot of 9" fish.

Bassman - Yes, the baby shad is what has worked best for me. Okiebait on 71st in BA has them, probably BassPro too.

If you have a lot of brush and it's windy, I'd go with a single jig with a split shot above it. If it's calm you can get away with a double jig and not get hung up too bad. The split shot helps knock a single jig loose if you hang up. Plus if they hit too light to feel, the sinker will bounce a little and help you detect them.

Cricket George,
Yes they were caught from the pumpback. The bigger ones were in the 30s and 40s. They caught some more between christmas and new years this year and they had a couple in the 50s.

Bassman,
Eagle creek guide service will give you a guided trip if you can afford it;), might save you a lot of time trying to figure it out.
Eagle Creek Guide Service

I looked at his January pics. Is that the boat he guides out of?

I knew a guy who liked to tip his jigs with Crappie Nibbles during the wintertime. Does anyone else have luck doing this?

Coyote - Thank you for the info on the blues at Pumpback

YES! I fished Ft Gibson this fall and finally proved to myself that they really work, especially if the bite is slow. They were hitting really light and once the nibble came off... nothing. As soon as I put another one on they'd hit it. I brought home 15 and threw about 15 back. Only 2 were caught without the crappie nibbles. When it's slow, I swear by them now.

Used to fish the pumpback for blues when I was a kid with my Dad and Grandpa....we would fish Hudson for the crappie and sandbass

Well I just returned from 7 hours at Pumpback, and I have nothing to show for it. Zero... zilch.... nada. 3 of us fishing live minnows and Bobby Garland jigs all day long and not even a legitimate bite.

I have a lot to learn I guess.........

Thanks for the update, I was wondering how you did. It's sure can be a strange lake. I can have one of my best trips ever and go back when the conditions seem to be the same and get skunked. I've only fished it for 2 years so I don't know it very well. I can tell you that the patterns that worked for me in 2007 didn't work as well last year.

Can you have a gas motor but just not use it?

No, they will write you a ticket.

Crappie nibbles are awesome but you should also try some smelly jelly crawl scent I get mine from cabelas