Clewiston bass trip in Jan

[MikeMc]

Hi everyone. I am driving myself, my father, a friend, and my bass boat down to florida the last week in january. I'm staying at roland martin's marina in clewiston. I planned and booked this trip not realizing that there's a 200 boat FLW series tournament out of roland's marina the week I will be there. I'm just looking for some advice - we'd obviously like to catch some fish and have a good time. Is there any areas of okeechobee i should concentrate on? Also, if i get sick of the crowd is there any other good places to go near by? I'd love to do a day or two on the everglades too. Any suggestions? Thanks alot in advance. Any help would be awesome.

[Bassn Blvd]

Camo your boat and follow Roland's guides out.

[FD.]

The Big O is 750 square MILES. You will not be bothered by the crowds except at the ramp. By then they should be shallow and on beds or getting ready to. There is acres and acres of new water now that the lake level is up. Everything I have read lately say that's where they will be.  Get your self a topo map.  Up until a few months ago the 4' depth contour line was high and dry.  That should be prime spots.

[MikeMc]

thanks fishindaddy. I figured the crowd wouldn't bother me much if the fish and the crowd are out on the main lake. From what i've heard, the rim canal holds lots of fish that time of year as opposed to the main lake and that can be the place to be. i figured that might get crowded. I could always just run for miles, but from what i've heard, the fish really bunch up in this lake and they can be hard to find. Is this true, or is it just what guides say to convince you to hire them?

[FD.]

The fish do bunch up but there are 4-5 guys here that fish O on a regular basis that may be able to point you in the right direction.  I will not be down there until march so I can't give you specifics.

Here are a few links that might help

http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/forecast/sor.html#okeechob

http://www.scottrmartin.com/

[MikeMc]

thanks for the replies. I'll be arriving there friday the 23rd and leaving on thursday the 29th - the day after the tournament will start. Maybe I'll get a couple good days on okeechobee even though lots of pre-fishing will be going on. I'll probably do a couple days on the O and a couple on the everglades.

[Grumpy413]

Hey Mike;

The weather in Fla in Jan can be hit or miss so bring your warm cloths. Today it is 79 degrees and we fished the Loxahachee Flats 20 mile easy of the Big "O". We boated 36 bass between dink and 5 pounds all look good and healthy. I agree that the FLW boys can be a lot to deal with on the lake, So, if they get to be to much ask Arlin in Rowlands Tackle Shop to give you directions to Loxahachee's Boat Ramp at 20 mile bend.

The Lake has been tuff to fish as of late and so I would get a guide at least one day. Steve Daniels guides there he can be reached at stevedaniel@gate.net. He knows the lake very well.

Scott Martin is already rigging his new boat for the FLW tournament but he always has some guides around. PM me if you need more information and I can give you my cell number so you have a local contact.

[561Bassfishermen]

you cant always count on the twenty mile bend ive been out there and drove down the canal 16 miles to get to the flats just to see some broken off brush and weeds blocked the path from us going another mile to get to the flats. And fishing those canals are tough if your looking for size... but mudfish on the other hand are plentiful

[SoFl-native]

Hi everyone. I am driving myself, my father, a friend, and my bass boat down to florida the last week in january. I'm staying at roland martin's marina in clewiston. I planned and booked this trip not realizing that there's a 200 boat FLW series tournament out of roland's marina the week I will be there. I'm just looking for some advice - we'd obviously like to catch some fish and have a good time. Is there any areas of okeechobee i should concentrate on? Also, if i get sick of the crowd is there any other good places to go near by? I'd love to do a day or two on the everglades too. Any suggestions? Thanks alot in advance. Any help would be awesome.

That tournament is out of Rolands isnt it? That place is going to be jammed.

Look at the bright side......you get to see a good tournament and the weigh in's.

I would try the lake and if it is too much then i would head south. You could hit Holey Lands WMA straight south on 27.

[MikeMc]

Thanks alot for all your input, everyone. This site is great.  We're gonna give it our best shot on okeechobee, and maybe try the everglades for a day or two, depending on how the lake is fishing. Is Holey Lands a good place for good sized bass? I've read that you catch alot of dinks at holiday park and the Loxahachee flats

[gar-tracker]

I have been at the ramps during  all the big tournaments and a crowd isn't an issue, and if your worried you can drive down to the Bell Glade ramp by Slims Fishcamp, you can fish for miles with no pressure from crowds no matter what time of year.

[GLADES]

You can also launch from Moorehaven public boat ramp.

I read in a recent report that the monkey box area is producing some nice fish.

Regarding Loxahatchee, there are some nice 5-10 lb bass in there.

The flats off of the L67 canal (holiday park) should have some big toads.