Florida's Lake Okeechobee: Nationally Recognized!

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest lake and is also the second largest body of freshwater in the continental united states. Okeechobee is a Seminole Indian name and is derived from the Seminole word "Oki" meaning water.Lake Okeechobee is a shallow lake that averages only 9ft. Okeechobee lake a vast region of spectacular freshwater fishing for a variety of species of fish. The Lake is a renowned superb fishing lake, that has both commercial and sport fishing.

Lake Okeechobee is nationally recognized for its large mouth bass and black crappie fishing. If your looking to catfishing this lake is also the place to go.If you are fishing for large mouth bass try flipping jigs and plastic worms in heavy cover, and spoons and spinner baits in the grass flats.When your fishing the rim canals for large mouth bass use Golden shiners.

When Fishing for Black Crappie , or as the locals call them specs. Fish the deeper water near edges of the canal shoreline. Also fish the pilings under the Highway 78 bridge. Only fish the Kissimmee river when the river is flowing steady. in any of these areas fish live shiners or jigs near vegetation. Fishing late in the day or early in the morning are the best times to fish. Standard jigging techniques work well , but to locate schools suspend minnows at various depths to locate the schools.Lake Okeechobee crappie or specs are constantly on the move feeding so you will have to move often to find the schools.

The best areas for bream is the rim of the canals around lake Okeechobee that lead to the Kissimmee river. Use Beetle spins and crickets for bait.

We will list 12 Area's on or around the lake that have been known to hold largemouth. Bass, black crappie, or specs, and other panfish and catfish.If you want to get another perspective of the 12 areas we have listed you can visit the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission web page and click on Interactive maps.

South Henry Creek Flats Area #1 The flats from the boat lock at Henry Creek south to Chancey Bay holds an excellent bass population located in the plentiful vegetation. Vegetation growth of hydrilla,grass,and bulrush grow on a shoal surrounded by sand 3/4 miles southwest of the levee.The largemouth bass spawn where the shoal tapers to a small reef. Fish the outside edges of vegetation with live shiners, topwater plugs and plastic worms. Toss weedless spoons behind the weedline. During summer, cast vibrating plugs and shallow-running crankbaits over the reef for schooling bass.

Nubbin Slough Area #2Lake Okeechobee's Nubbin Slough area is excellent for catching large mouth bass all year round. Look for the small rock piles and islands surrounded by maidencane at the mouth of the slough,this is where the bass will be. Toss a spinnerbait, Jerkin' Sam or Rat-L-Trap around these structures during fall. In spring, position the boat on the inside of the vegetation along the boat run that has a sand/shell bottom. Cast a plastic worm, Lunker Lure or spinnerbait. During summer, fish plastic worms in the bulrushes and pencil reeds.

Area #3 Behind Eagle Bay IslandThe area behind lake Okeechobee's Eagle Bay island near the Government Cut, is great for good action on panfish. Tannic stained water makes it difficult to see bluegill beds, so drift until fish are located.

Area #4 Eagle Bay Eagle Bay is a prime largemouth area from January through April when the lake is at its fullest.although the best time to catch largemouth bass here is January through April, you can catch bass here al year round. Summer bass hold here because of the depth and vast hydrilla growth. Try plastic worms and lizards in spring, and switch to topwater plugs, buzzbaits and spoons in summer. Bass move to the outside edge in fall, and topwater lures, vibrating plugs and spinnerbaits are effective.

Area #5 Cast topwater plugs early and late in the day during summer.For spring large mouth bass holding on the peppergrass in this shallow areas, cast plastic worms and spinnerbaits.

Area #6 North Of North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar)The rocky area north of North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) provides excellent bluegill fishing in the bulrushes and cattails. The panfish bed on scattered rocky patches within the vegetation and are easily caught on worms and crickets. Move east about one mile and drift the open water for winter crappie.

Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) Area #7 North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) is a large weedy island with a variety of vegetation, including lily pads, hydrilla, eel grass, maidencane and bulrush. Bass are caught year-round on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. This is a great area for flippin'. Trophy bass often lurk in the maidencane growing inside scattered bulrushes.

Lake Okeechobee Tin House Cove Area #8 Take spring spawning bass on lizards and plastic worms in Tin House Cove. In summer, the largemouth move out to deeper water. The peppergrass holds bass year-round, and schooling largemouth also chase threadfin shad on the outside weed edge. Cast vibrating plugs, spinnerbaits and topwater lures for these active fish.

Area #9 From Indian Prairie Canal North To The South End Of Tin House Co. For Lake Okeechobee From Indian Prairie Canal north to the south end of Tin House Cove there is some emergent vegetation that yields numerous largemouth bass. During spawning season, if water is high, a secondary area behind the cattails in the grassy flats offers good fishing all the way to the levee.

Indian Prairie Canal South To Horse Island Area #10A mixture of peppergrass and reeds extends from Indian Prairie Canal south to Horse Island. Live shiners fished on the points of dense vegetation are recommended for bass. Toss surface plugs and weedless spoons in the sparser cover. The bottom is about three feet deep, and consists of sand and scattered flat-top rock. Behind this area, throw spoons and top water lures for spring bass in the mixture of maidencane and bulrushes. A boat trail behind it can be worked in windy conditions. Horse Island and Worm Cove are also good places to fish plastic worms.

Area #11 From Dyess Ditch To The Southern Point Of Horse Island For Lake Okeechobee This sandy area from Dyess Ditch to the southern point of Horse Island is one of the top spring bass spots on the lake.This area, known as North Shore, has a peppergrass flat more than 1/2 mile wide. Trophy bass hold along the outside edge of grass on the west side of the bay. Live bait, plastic worms, surface lures, vibrating plugs and spoons produce year-round. Sparse hydrilla patches mixed with maidencane, reeds and pads are used by spawning bass between December and March. This protected area is particularly good when the lake is rough. In summer, bass stay near open water and will move into the shallows as the water cools.

Dyess Ditch to the Harney Pond Canal For Lake Okeechobee Area #12 The sandy bottom from Dyess Ditch to the Harney Pond Canal between the two beacon lights holds largemouth year-round. The stained water from Fisheating Creek is filtered by dense vegetation, resulting in relatively clear water. Spring bass will spawn where there are holes in the hydrilla. Spinnerbaits, topwater plugs and weedless spoons take bass around the hydrilla and peppergrass beds.

Well I hope the 12 areas identified in this Florida lake Okeechobee Fishing Report will help on you plan your next freshwater fishing trip to Florida. Lets Go Fish'in!

Mark Fleagle is a serious fishing owner. Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and "how to articles at his websites. Florida's Lake OkeechobeeVisit my website oldfishinghole.com and download a free copy of his "78 fishing discoveries unleashed"