Okeechobee Fishing

[HP43]

I'm going to Okeechobee in March, and was wondering if I need to bring a heavy pole with braid? I have 3 rods that are MH and one that M. I fish in Tennesse and some smaller ponds and lakes and have never really needed a heavy pole for thick stuff. But I see video of Okeechobee and it looks thick with grass. Also, can anyone tell me what kind of baits work well in that lake? The guide we are going with only provides soft plastic worms and I wanted to use other baits than that. If anyone can help me that would be great! Thanks

[georgeyew]

I would say that you should trust your guide (assuming that he is a respected one). He should know what kind of bait is the most productive on the lake. I am heading down to Okeechobee next weekend. And we are going to be using the gear that our captain is providing. Last summer we used mainly swim jigs and it paid off. But as far as equipment, if you are bringing your own a MH to H with braid was what we used last time.

[geo g]

I would not use less then 15 pound mono or floro. If your flipping heavy cover or throwing frogs, I would use 65 pound braid. The heavier braid does not dig into itself as much as the lighter stuff. I would not use less then a Medium Heavy rod. You will need some backbone to get their head up out of all that junk. Good luck!

[Shane Procell]

You can get by with m/h rods but Heavy are going to work best if your in the grass. Leave the mono at home. I would not go les than 30# braid and prefer 40-65#braid. Good luck and catch some big fish!

[Senko lover]

I've watched all of Scott Martin's videos, whose home lake is the Big O. Man, that guy uses his heavy rods, and he strains them so much. You can hear the rod straining on the hookset. I would get a heavy rod and spool it w/ 65 pound braid if you're doing the mat/grass/pads approach.

No local experience, but I'd bring spinnerbaits, flippin' and swim jigs, worms, frogs, and craws, to start off with.