Lake Okeechobee is getting shallower by the day but the bass are still biting as good as ever. The lake level is at 10.72 feet above sea level and getting shallower every day, as we keep letting water out to both coasts and for the farmers. If they keep letting water out at the rate they are now we will be back in a drought on the lake before the end of the month and that is a shame that the government can’t do a better job of managing this lake. The lake is at a dangerous level to be running your boat and a lot of props and gear cases are starting to get destroyed so please be careful.
The bass fishing has been great the past few weeks and you can catch them on wild shiners or on artificial lures it really doesn’t matter. Most of the bass that my clients have been catching have been bass in the two to five pound range with a few bigger ones also being caught. As I mentioned above you can go out and use up three to four dozen wild shiners in a morning or if artificial lures are what you prefer than topwater, worms, swim baits, and crankbaits have all been working. I had a couple great mornings last week catching bass on Zara Spooks and even had two four pound bass at the same time. I have also been catching a lot of bass on a Gambler Super Stud in watermelon red color rigged with a 1/16 ounce screw in sinker and a 4/0 Gamakatsu hook. One other bait that has been really working great is an Azuma Wake-Z; it is amazing new wake bait that you can get in almost any finish but the bluegill pattern is my favorite. If you have not checked out the new line of Azuma hard baits you need to do so because in my opinion there is no finer line of crankbaits and topwater lures being offered by anyone and the finishes and colors are top of the line. And of course don’t forget to match up any of the lures that I talk about with an all new Deep South rod, they are the next generation of fishing rods including the signature series shakey head rod with my name on it and the all new lineup of inshore rods.
The areas that I’m going to talk about to fish are extremely shallow and you should use caution getting in and out of these areas. The shoal from Uncle Joe’s Cut to Turners Cove has been a hot spot with most fishing at least two hundred yards out from the reed line. I just zigzag in and out till I locate the bass and than just move up and down the shoal and catch bass till my clients are tired of catching them. Yes we do have a few tough days but it has been really good for the most part and if you just keep fishing an area you will find the bass. Some other areas that have been producing bass are around the tip of Ritta and Kramer Islands.
The bluegill fishing has been great from one end of the lake to the other. I have been catching them on Bettle Spins but a cricket fished under a cork will work just fine. Now is a great time to fish Lake Okeechobee, give me a call and set up a fishing trip of a lifetime. I’m fishing for both bass and bluegill on the lake and inshore saltwater fish in South Florida at this time.
Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Captain Mark is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Deep South Rods, Azuma Baits, Power-Pole, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Minn Kota trolling motors, Gambler Lures, AFTCO clothing, Van Staal pliers, Smartshield Sun Protection Products, Northlake Marine, RMR Industries and Frigid Rigid coolers.
Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger or to fish a tournament with him at 863-983-9950 or at www.markkingfishing.com and be sure and check out www.mybassclass.com
Picture of Judy Cartwright from Youngstown Ohio with a nine pound Lake Okeechobee bass caught 5-11-09. This trip was her mother’s day present from her son Henry.
