Florida Lake Okeechobee Fishing article

Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest lake and is also the second largest body of freshwater in the continental united states. Okeechobee is a Seminole Indian name and is derived from the Seminole word "Oki" meaning water. Lake Okeechobee is a shallow lake that averages only 9ft. The lake is part of the Florida everglade region which is a vast region of fantastic freshwater fishing for multiple species of fish. The lake supports market and sport fishing and is worldly paramount as a exquisite fishing lake.

Lake Okeechobee is nationally recognized for its large mouth bass and black crappie fishing. If your seeing to catfishing this lake is also the place to go. Largemouth bass fisherman should try spoons and spinnerbaits in the grass flats, and plastic worms and flipping jigs in the heavier cover. Use Golden shiners for live bait for bass. The best areas will nearby the rim canals.

Shimano Fishing

When Fishing for Black Crappie , or as the locals call them specs. Fish the deeper water near edges of the canal shoreline. Also fish the pilings under the Highway 78 bridge. Only fish the Kissimmee river when the river is flowing steady. Use Jigs ,or fish live shiners near vegetation stands. The best time to fish is early in the morning or late in the day. Thorough jigging techniques work well , but to search schools dangle minnows at various depths to search the schools. You will have to move often to search the crappie schools. Once you find the schools fish until they no longer bite then move on and fins another school.

The best areas for bream is the rim of the canals nearby lake Okeechobee that lead to the Kissimmee river. Use Beetle spins and crickets for bait.

We will list 12 Area's on or nearby the lake that have been known to hold largemouth. Bass, black crappie, or specs, and othe panfish and catfish. You can also visit the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission webpage and click on Interactive maps to get more detail information.

Area #1 South Henry Creek Flats Florida Lake Okeechobee Fishing article The flats stretching from the boat lock at Henry Creek south to Chancey Bay has plenty of vegetation and bass. Bulrush, grass and hydrilla grow on a shoal surrounded by sand, about 3/4 mile southwest of the levee. The shoal tapers to a small reef, where bass like to spawn. Fish the face edges of vegetation with live shiners, topwater plugs and plastic worms. Toss weedless spoons behind the weedline. While summer, cast vibrating plugs and shallow-running crankbaits over the reef for instruction bass. .

Area #2 Nubbin Slough Bass are caught year-round at Nubblin Slough. At the mouth of the slough look for the small islands and rock piles that are surrounded by maidencane. Toss a spinnerbait, Jerkin' Sam or Rat-L-Trap nearby these structures While fall. In spring, position the boat on the inside of the vegetation along the boat run that has a sand/shell bottom. Cast a plastic worm, Lunker Lure or spinnerbait. While summer, fish plastic worms in the bulrushes and pencil reeds..

Area #3 Behind Eagle Bay Island Okeechobee Lake Fishing Reports This area behind Eagle Bay Island near the Government Cut provides great performance for all species of panfish. Tannic stained water makes it difficult to see bluegill beds, so drift until fish are located..

Area #4 Eagle Bay Eagle Bay is a prime largemouth area from January through April when the lake is at its fullest. It's good year-round because the water is about two feet deeper than the surrounding area. Summer bass hold here because of the depth and vast hydrilla growth. Try plastic worms and lizards in spring, and switch to topwater plugs, buzzbaits and spoons in summer. Bass move to the face edge in fall, and topwater lures, vibrating plugs and spinnerbaits are effective.

Area #5 Cast plastic worms and spinnerbaits for spring largemouth retention on the peppergrass in this shallow area. Throw topwater plugs early and late in the day While summer..

Area #6 North Of North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) The rocky area north of North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) provides exquisite bluegill fishing in the bulrushes and cattails. The panfish bed on scattered rocky patches within the vegetation and are well caught on worms and crickets. Move east about one mile and drift the open water for winter crappie.

Area #7 North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) is a large weedy island with a range of vegetation, including lily pads, hydrilla, eel grass, maidencane and bulrush. Bass are caught year-round on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. This is a great area for flippin'. Trophy bass often lurk in the maidencane growing inside scattered bulrushes.

Area #8 Tin House Cove For Lake OkeechobeeLake Okeechobee Fishing article Plastic worms and lizards take spawning spring bass in Tin House Cove. In summer, the largemouth move out to deeper water. The peppergrass holds bass year-round, and instruction largemouth also chase threadfin shad on the face weed edge. Cast vibrating plugs, spinnerbaits and topwater lures for these active fish.

Area #9 From Indian Prairie Canal North To The South End Of Tin House Co. For Lake Okeechobee The wide area on the backside of the emergent vegetation, from Indian Prairie Canal north to the south end of Tin House Cove, yields numerous bass. While spawning season, if water is high, a secondary area behind the cattails in the grassy flats offers good fishing all the way to the levee.

Area #10 Indian Prairie Canal South To Horse Island Okeechobee Lake Fishing article Fishing article A compound of peppergrass and reeds extends from Indian Prairie Canal south to Horse Island. Live shiners fished on the points of dense vegetation are recommended for bass. Toss face plugs and weedless spoons in the sparser cover. The lowest is about three feet deep, and consists of sand and scattered flat-top rock. Behind this area, throw spoons and top water lures for spring bass in the compound of maidencane and bulrushes. A boat trail behind it can be worked in windy conditions. Horse Island and Worm Cove are also good places to fish plastic worms.

Area #11 From Dyess Ditch To The Southern Point Of Horse Island For Lake Okeechobee This sandy area from Dyess Ditch to the southern point of Horse Island is one of the top spring bass spots on the lake. This area, known as North Shore, has a peppergrass flat more than 1/2 mile wide. Trophy bass hold along the face edge of grass on the west side of the bay. Live bait, plastic worms, face lures, vibrating plugs and spoons produce year-round. Sparse hydrilla patches mixed with maidencane, reeds and pads are used by spawning bass between December and March. This protected area is particularly good when the lake is rough. In summer, bass stay near open water and will move into the shallows as the water cools.

Area #12 Dyess Ditch to the Harney Pond Canal For Lake OkeechobeeThe sandy lowest from Dyess Ditch to the Harney Pond Canal between the two beacon lights holds largemouth year-round. The stained water from Fisheating Creek is filtered by dense vegetation, resulting in relatively clear water. Spring bass will spawn where there are holes in the hydrilla. Spinnerbaits, topwater plugs and weedless spoons take bass nearby the hydrilla and peppergrass beds.

Well I hope the 12 areas identified in this Florida lake Okeechobee Fishing article will help on you plan your next freshwater fishing trip to Florida. Lets Go Fish'in!

Florida Lake Okeechobee Fishing article