NSKA Pumpback (Chimney Rock) Kayak Tournament

I take on 45 other anglers at Pumpback in Oklahoma. The lake was fishing tough coming into the event, and we had to deal with an enormous thunderstorm passing through right before launch time. After a 1.5 hour delay, I wasn't sure what to expect, but my confidence was low!

Pumpback is known for some giant smallmouth. It's always excited having hopes of catching a big brown fish! The lake is used to generate electricity by literally pumping water back and forth from this body of water to Lake Hudson. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much water moving back and forth, and Pumpback is extremely low. From everything I've heard, it fishes much more difficult when the lake is low.