Lake okeechobee

[Jm526]

Going to okeechobee this weekend. Just wonder how it's been after this cold front. Went two weeks ago and was slow, 6 fish all sub 2lbers. Mainly on a white fluke and one on flipping. Any info will help. Will be fishing out of South Bay near slims fish camp. Thanks. 

[hawgenvy]

Ought to be better this weekend.  Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[Mike L]

If you're gonna fish So. Bay out of slim's turn around and try to get as far back as you can in Pelican Bay. It's been getting better and better as the cold front wasn't that bad and it warmed up quicker than it will in a little while.

Good Luck, and yes report back

 

Mike 

[Jm526]

On 11/23/2016 at 9:30 PM, hawgenvy said:

Ought to be better this weekend.  Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

On 11/25/2016 at 10:59 AM, Mike L said:

If you're gonna fish So. Bay out of slim's turn around and try to get as far back as you can in Pelican Bay. It's been getting better and better as the cold front wasn't that bad and it warmed up quicker than it will in a little while.

Good Luck, and yes report back

 

Mike 

Wow it was tough, only one fish for both Saturday and Sunday. Threw the whole tackle box, finaly landed a 14 inch flipping. Talked to some other guys and they agreeded. Should be going back soon. Also was REALLY windy. Sunday got bored yo I decided to head to the main lake but I was in the main canal right before the big lake and waves were throwing me around like nothing and I'm in a 21 ft custom bass boat. Decided to leave. Thanks for all the help. 

[Mike L]

29 minutes ago, Jm526 said:

 

Wow it was tough, only one fish for both Saturday and Sunday. Threw the whole tackle box, finaly landed a 14 inch flipping. Talked to some other guys and they agreeded. Should be going back soon. Also was REALLY windy. Sunday got bored yo I decided to head to the main lake but I was in the main canal right before the big lake and waves were throwing me around like nothing and I'm in a 21 ft custom bass boat. Decided to leave. Thanks for all the help. 

Sorry you had such a bad weekend. Okeechobee can be really tough and humbling sometimes especially after a front blows through if you're hunting for a bite.

 

Mike 

[Jm526]

11 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Sorry you had such a bad weekend. Okeechobee can be really tough and humbling sometimes especially after a front blows through if you're hunting for a bite.

 

Mike 

Yup, that's fishing. But can't complain, could have gone real bad. 

[soflabasser]

Wow ,that's shocking you only caught 1 bass fishing Lake Okeechobee.Maybe you should try fishing the rim canal.I often fish that canal from the shore and catch a quick 5 bass limit.

[BassinLou]

1 hour ago, Jm526 said:

 

Wow it was tough, only one fish for both Saturday and Sunday. Threw the whole tackle box, finaly landed a 14 inch flipping. Talked to some other guys and they agreeded. Should be going back soon. Also was REALLY windy. Sunday got bored yo I decided to head to the main lake but I was in the main canal right before the big lake and waves were throwing me around like nothing and I'm in a 21 ft custom bass boat. Decided to leave. Thanks for all the help. 

Don't feel bad, JM. The Lake was tough this weekend. I fished it this past Saturday, managed to catch several decent bass, but I had to cover a lot of water. The water level is still high out there right now especially for this time of year. But... the water levels are slowly falling, and if water temps continue to cool off, the bigger fish will start moving in to begin staging to spawn. Hang in there, better fishing is coming soon. 

[Jm526]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

Wow ,that's shocking you only caught 1 bass fishing Lake Okeechobee.Maybe you should try fishing the rim canal.I often fish that canal from the shore and catch a quick 5 bass limit.

 

1 hour ago, BassinLou said:

Don't feel bad, JM. The Lake was tough this weekend. I fished it this past Saturday, managed to catch several decent bass, but I had to cover a lot of water. The water level is still high out there right now especially for this time of year. But... the water levels are slowly falling, and if water temps continue to cool off, the bigger fish will start moving in to begin staging to spawn. Hang in there, better fishing is coming soon. 

Yeah lucky got to find spots where bass will stage up. Any waypoints you can share, I'm new to the lake and would very much be appreciated. I fish Everglades and know that place like the back of my hand, if you go down there I can help

[soflabasser]

29 minutes ago, Jm526 said:

 

Yeah lucky got to find spots where bass will stage up. Any waypoints you can share, I'm new to the lake and would very much be appreciated. I fish Everglades and know that place like the back of my hand, if you go down there I can help

You should try fishing the rim canal,it's loaded with bass.Catching 5 bass in a trip isn't hard at all in this canal,and there are some big bass in there(have caught bass over 7 pounds bank fishing the rim canal,and there has been several people that have caught  +8 pounders).

[Jm526]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

You should try fishing the rim canal,it's loaded with bass.Catching 5 bass in a trip isn't hard at all in this canal,and there are some big bass in there(have caught bass over 7 pounds bank fishing the rim canal,and there has been several people that have caught  +8 pounders).

Did it once and caught a couple fish. It's hard because currents bad and boats fly by. 

[soflabasser]

20 minutes ago, Jm526 said:

Did it once and caught a couple fish. It's hard because currents bad and boats fly by. 

Depends where you fish...I always catch lots of bass when I fish the rim canal. Definitely a good spot once you learn what the bass want.

[BassinLou]

2 hours ago, Jm526 said:

 

Yeah lucky got to find spots where bass will stage up. Any waypoints you can share, I'm new to the lake and would very much be appreciated. I fish Everglades and know that place like the back of my hand, if you go down there I can help

JM526, I launch from Slimms out of Torrey Island. As far as way points, here's what I can tell you. If you head West on the Rim canal you will come across a cut 1/4-1/2 mile from the ramp. That's one of several huge flat entrances. If you choose to continue West  after you pass the South Bay RV boat ramp and there will be another cut entrance about 2 miles from that ramp. As I said these "cuts" have trails that leads to the Lake. On these flats and trails there are spots galore. You have to take your time and get to know these areas one trip at a time. I have have been focusing on these areas  for more than a 1yr and half now and I have only fished the "Lake" a couple  of times. That tells you the volume of fishing areas this lake has to offer. Google earth will be very helpful also. As far as the rim canal goes, historically the canal offers good fishing when the water level is just right. Right now, good luck fishing the rim with this high water and the constant wind pushing the water South. The rim canal was  really stained this past weekend, and these fish don't like dirty water too much. The cuts and trails had very clean water with 5+ft visibility . Best of luck fishing the Lake, give it time and you will get into the fish. 

[Mike L]

In the canal don't forget about the rip rap west of Clewiston.

 

 

Mike 

[soflabasser]

There are spots in the rim canal/Lake Okeechobee where the bass will always bite.These spots can change depending on weather conditions, but someone who knows how to read the water well will always catch bass here when others get stumped.Lots of these spots are well known,some aren't,but they can all be found if you put in your time on the water. 

[Jm526]

3 hours ago, BassinLou said:

JM526, I launch from Slimms out of Torrey Island. As far as way points, here's what I can tell you. If you head West on the Rim canal you will come across a cut 1/4-1/2 mile from the ramp. That's one of several huge flat entrances. If you choose to continue West  after you pass the South Bay RV boat ramp and there will be another cut entrance about 2 miles from that ramp. As I said these "cuts" have trails that leads to the Lake. On these flats and trails there are spots galore. You have to take your time and get to know these areas one trip at a time. I have have been focusing on these areas  for more than a 1yr and half now and I have only fished the "Lake" a couple  of times. That tells you the volume of fishing areas this lake has to offer. Google earth will be very helpful also. As far as the rim canal goes, historically the canal offers good fishing when the water level is just right. Right now, good luck fishing the rim with this high water and the constant wind pushing the water South. The rim canal was  really stained this past weekend, and these fish don't like dirty water too much. The cuts and trails had very clean water with 5+ft visibility . Best of luck fishing the Lake, give it time and you will get into the fish. 

 

Thanks, this really helps. I followed a local Saturday out to some flats that I fished for a little. I fish out of the South Bay Rv ramp, I stay there for the weekend. I will really have to spend a lot of time to dissect this part. I will defiantly do some exploring next time. Thanks and P.S. Anybody who is going to Big O this weekend, watch out because there is a lot of FWC out. 

[BassinLou]

14 hours ago, Jm526 said:

Thanks, this really helps. I followed a local Saturday out to some flats that I fished for a little. I fish out of the South Bay Rv ramp, I stay there for the weekend. I will really have to spend a lot of time to dissect this part. I will defiantly do some exploring next time. Thanks and P.S. Anybody who is going to Big O this weekend, watch out because there is a lot of FWC out. 

Big Gambler Tourney out of Clewiston this weekend, maybe that's why. 

[Jm526]

also duck hunting 

[_Backwoodzboys_]

I fished the north end on Thursday and Saturday morning and caught a total of 1 fish. I couldnt find them on the north end at all....embarrassing. 

[Jm526]

37 minutes ago, _Backwoodzboys_ said:

I fished the north end on Thursday and Saturday morning and caught a total of 1 fish. I couldnt find them on the north end at all....embarrassing. 

Yup I feel you. 

[BassinLou]

54 minutes ago, Jm526 said:

also duck hunting 

You know what? You are right. On my way to the Lake this past Saturday, I saw several FWC along the way, and I guess they have several duck hunting checkpoints. Sad thing is, I stopped to fish the canals along 27 past the Holey Lands and someone discarded about 4 dead ducks whole. Don't know what that was about but it was shame nonetheless. 

Oh and FYI, the fishing was worse along 27 than the Lake if you can believe that. Lol.. Good news is, if you like chasing after nice Oscars, the canals were full of them. 

[Jm526]

54 minutes ago, BassinLou said:

You know what? You are right. On my way to the Lake this past Saturday, I saw several FWC along the way, and I guess they have several duck hunting checkpoints. Sad thing is, I stopped to fish the canals along 27 past the Holey Lands and someone discarded about 4 dead ducks whole. Don't know what that was about but it was shame nonetheless. 

Oh and FYI, the fishing was worse along 27 than the Lake if you can believe that. Lol.. Good news is, if you like chasing after nice Oscars, the canals were full of them. 

Wow surprised, I got pulled over by fwc lucky all went good, very cool guy. Was different than use to, early morning lots of gun shots