Al Wolbach Posted February 15, 2017 Posted February 15, 2017 I will be fishing Okeechobee the week of 4 Mar. The water level now is around 13.5 feet. At what level does navigation become a problem? If it matters we will be launching out of Oka-Tantie or as far south as Harney Pond. Thanks in advance. Quote
frogflogger Posted February 17, 2017 Posted February 17, 2017 Be aware you can always run aground on the Big O - if unsure go slow - you can get into places on plane you can't get out of - Quote
Al Wolbach Posted February 17, 2017 Author Posted February 17, 2017 2 hours ago, frogflogger said: Be aware you can always run aground on the Big O - if unsure go slow - you can get into places on plane you can't get out of - That is the reason I ask the question. About 10-15 years ago I ran a long way into the hay fields on plane and took forever to get out because I could not get the boat on plane. Just trying to make sure that doesn't happen again. Spending the night on Okeechobee is not on my bucket list. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted February 17, 2017 Super User Posted February 17, 2017 17 minutes ago, Al Wolbach said: That is the reason I ask the question. About 10-15 years ago I ran a long way into the hay fields on plane and took forever to get out because I could not get the boat on plane. Just trying to make sure that doesn't happen again. Spending the night on Okeechobee is not on my bucket list. I fully relate to your concerns, Al All I can offer is that 12 ft above sea-level is problematic in places, but I'm not aware of the cutoff point. I can only assume that 13.5 ft ASL would allow normal navigation, but this is hardly an area for guesstimates. Roger 1 Quote
Al Wolbach Posted February 17, 2017 Author Posted February 17, 2017 1 hour ago, RoLo said: I fully relate to your concerns, Al All I can offer is that 12 ft above sea-level is problematic in places, but I'm not aware of the cutoff point. I can only assume that 13.5 ft ASL would allow normal navigation, but this is hardly an area for guesstimates. Roger Thanks Roger. The lake has been dropping about an inch a day for about a week that I have been following it, which has me concerned with about 2 weeks before arrival. I'll ask a similar question the first week of March which should provide more accurate info. We will be fishing only shiners for a week so fishing info isn't really needed, but my concern about water levels will be important to us. Thanks again.......Al 1 Quote
Super User geo g Posted February 18, 2017 Super User Posted February 18, 2017 If the water level keeps falling watch the area around Clewiston and running out toward the main lake. Rock walls on both sides so stay between the markers when running. If you find yourself in skinny water and having problems getting on plane, don't start off in a straight line because the lower unit will dig in. Take off in a wide circle and this will lift the lower unit to the side instead of digging in. This works great on the shallow glades flats. Also if you have a back seater have him sit up front on the deck until you get up on plane. Went to Rolands Tiki Bar tonight and they were talking about dropping water levels. 4 Quote
Al Wolbach Posted February 18, 2017 Author Posted February 18, 2017 16 hours ago, geo g said: If the water level keeps falling watch the area around Clewiston and running out toward the main lake. Rock walls on both sides so stay between the markers when running. If you find yourself in skinny water and having problems getting on plane, don't start off in a straight line because the lower unit will dig in. Take off in a wide circle and this will lift the lower unit to the side instead of digging in. This works great on the shallow glades flats. Also if you have a back seater have him sit up front on the deck until you get up on plane. Went to Rolands Tiki Bar tonight and they were talking about dropping water levels. Great info geo g, don't plan to go as far south as Clewiston but you never know. My partner weighs around 250 lbs so I will have him on the bow if necessary. Never heard about steering in a circle to get the boat up in skinny water but it makes perfect sense, can't wait to try it. Not much skinny water in these parts. Thanks for the help.....Al Quote
Al Wolbach Posted March 12, 2017 Author Posted March 12, 2017 Just returned from Okeechobee and the water levels were a problem for us but we do not know the lake well. We fished the lake area around the Buckhead Ridge canal one day where my buddy bent a prop ear, fortunately I brought a spare prop on the trip which I loaned him. Fished one day out of Harney Pond where we ran aground trying to run a canal toward Moonshine Bay, only took a couple of hours to get out, but no damage. I ran aground attempting to run a trail from Indian Prairie to Horse Island. This only took a minute to get free since it was right at the main canal. Fished the other days a Lake Istakpoga, water levels there well fine but still a little low. Good trip overall but those of you that do not know the lake well beware of low water levels. The lake dropped every day we were there and now is below 12 ASL. BTW The trick about taking off by steering in a circle as recommended by geo g works well. 4 Quote
Gotfishyfingers? Posted March 12, 2017 Posted March 12, 2017 Wow, I didn't the lake has dropped that much recently.. Glad no damage to you boat running aground! The trick Geo recommended works great on that lake too. It can get pretty tricky, getting on plane in certain areas from being shallow. Quote
bocabasser Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 Water is dropping for sure. My friend lost his lower unit down south 200 yards offshore of east wall today. I had difficulty jumping up in the trails in grassy Sunday. As the lake drops, the fish start chewin 1 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 15, 2017 Super User Posted March 15, 2017 Nice hearing from you again, Boca 1 Quote
bocabasser Posted March 16, 2017 Posted March 16, 2017 its been awhile for sure. been fishing lake O a lot! hows istokpoga been? Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 16, 2017 Super User Posted March 16, 2017 On 3/15/2017 at 10:39 PM, bocabasser said: its been awhile for sure. been fishing lake O a lot! hows istokpoga been? Haven't been to the Big-I once this year. Kissimmee, Toho & the Winter Haven Chain have kept us pretty busy. Boat presently in the shop, broke my aluminum skeg in the shallow canal between Shipp & Eloise 1 Quote
Super User geo g Posted March 17, 2017 Super User Posted March 17, 2017 Under 12 feet, running aground is going to be a problem all over the O in certain places. Places that were safe a month ago may be too shallow to set down on. Once you set down you may have to pole your way out. Years ago I saw two guys out of their boat in their underwear pushing the boat off a mud flat in the Kissimee River mouth. I also lost part of my skeg in the monkey box years ago. Be careful if your not sure of your surroundings. Under 12 is a real warning sign. 1 Quote
Al Wolbach Posted March 19, 2017 Author Posted March 19, 2017 On 3/17/2017 at 1:45 PM, geo g said: Under 12 feet, running aground is going to be a problem all over the O in certain places. Places that were safe a month ago may be too shallow to set down on. Once you set down you may have to pole your way out. Years ago I saw two guys out of their boat in their underwear pushing the boat off a mud flat in the Kissimee River mouth. I also lost part of my skeg in the monkey box years ago. Be careful if your not sure of your surroundings. Under 12 is a real warning sign. I may have misread the Army corps website before. They are reporting the lake level at 12.89 this morning so its not as bad as I had reported but still treacherous. Quote
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