Lake Okeechobee 29JUL10

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Today I had the pleasure of heading out to Okeechobee with Robert (South FLA here on BR). We ended up choosing the Big O instead of Lox just for the chance to find some better quality fish. The lake level was just shy of 14'. Looks like at the end of the day water was being pulled out, looked to be roughly half a foot lower when we got back to the ramp at 11. We left the ramp around 6:15 this morning. Ended up at our first spot about fifteen minutes later. Although it was a few minutes later than we were hoping for, we were there just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. Okeechobee, lilly pads, sounds like froggin time to me. We ended up with close to 25 fish in the first hour and a half or so before the bite slowed a bunch. Picked up a few others in the next half hour, but nowhere near the numbers before the sun really came up. Wish we could have stayed out longer, but that South Florida sun came out. Sweating like pigs at 10 in the morning just killed it. We caught a few more in another spot. I got a couple flipping a Sweet Beaver. Robert picked up a few more on the popper and a couple on a Skinny Dipper. All in all not a bad day. Even had one nice double header with a couple of two and a half pounders that thought they were much bigger the way the slammed the frogs. We probably could have had a 50 fish morning. The area is so thick with weeds that getting a real solid hookset was difficult a few times. Robert missed one that could have easily been seven pounds or more. It had a head the size of a small dump truck.

Looking forward to doing that again, Robert. That spot is just ridiculously fun to fish in. Talk about a loaded area. Mike, you need to take his advice about that spot. Just make sure you go in there on a plane or you'll pick up a lot of weeds. It gets really thick back in there. Thinking about it now, after that frog bite slowed up, I probably should have flipped through some of that thicker stuff to pick up a few more fish. The bites in that area were super aggressive.

Sunrise at the honey hole:

First decent fish of the day, unfortunatley the top guide on my Pinnacle rod got blasted. Looks like a defect from Fuji. Came on a Tru Tungsten Mad Maxx.

On the next cast Robert sets into a good one:

A few casts later this comes to the boat:

They were definitely loving the Spro Bronzeye Popper:

Random pictures from Okeechobee:

[Jigfishn10]

WOW, that's a lot of fish you guys caught! Great pics of the lake. The only other time I saw that lake was on a Rowland Martin show...LOL

Congrats on your day! 

[J Francho]

Nice.  Looks like you were hunting for the Slop Ness Monster.

[evrgladesbasser]

Nice Catch  ;D

[brushhoggin]

looking at that water made me drool

[Shane Procell]

The are looked incredible. Great report!

[flipin4bass]

Nice bass! Man, that lake looks like it would have a world record lurking in it.

[Dwight Hottle]

Great report & pictures on the big O.

[Catching]

Sweet report guys and quality fish for sure, I sure do miss the lake can wait to get back up there

[South FLA]

Was great fishing with Eric! I think we could have easily had a 18lb 5 fish stringer if we were fishing a tournament 

The Big "O" is alive and well,  lots of forage for Bertha, water is clearing nicely, and TONS of juvenile bass schools everywhere.  Its going to boom down here soon!  Maybe the next Bass Resource road trip needs to be down here......hint, hint, hint!!

[SoFlaBassAddict]

It really was scary how clear that water was in some of those areas.  I couldn't believe how many small fish were in that area.  Not to mention those gigantic shiners that we saw.  I could have rigged some of those with a circle hook on a bridle for trolling.

[Mrs. Matstone]

Great report, fish and beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.  ;D

[SoFl-native]

Nice outing guys. Lake has been pushing out some fish this summer. Glad the wind cooperated.

[piscicidal]

Looking forward to doing that again, Robert. That spot is just ridiculously fun to fish in. Talk about a loaded area. Mike, you need to take his advice about that spot.  Just make sure you go in there on a plane or you'll pick up a lot of weeds. It gets really thick back in there. Thinking about it now, after that frog bite slowed up, I probably should have flipped through some of that thicker stuff to pick up a few more fish. The bites in that area were super aggressive.

Eric,

I take every bit of advice I get from Robert when it comes to Okeechobee! 

Glad you guys had fun.  Wish I could have made it out there but I'm just slammed right now.  I might try and get out there on Monday.

[SCangler91]

Gah what I would give to have a lake that looked like a bass heaven like that.  Nice fish man

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Nice outing guys. Lake has been pushing out some fish this summer. Glad the wind cooperated.

It would have been more comfortable with a little wind.  It was dead flat everywhere.  At least with a little bit of a breeze it wouldn't have felt quite so hot.

[roadwarrior]

Geez...

Great post!

[Big-O]

WOW, Nice photos and fish. Reminds me of the mid 70's when I was on those waters alot.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[endless]

WTG!! Nice day of frogging I see. Unfortunate for me where I like to go in AP Hill, the BSA has taking over and nobody allow to fish there till they gone.

[K_Mac]

Great job guys. A nice write-up too. 

Okeechobee is on my bucket list. I hope to get there one day...