The bass and crappie bite on Lake Okeechobee has become steadier due to stable weather patterns. The overnight temperatures are staying warm enough to keep the water temperature ranging from the high 60’s – low/mid 70’s, which is perfect for both bass and crappie wanting to move up on the beds with each new and full moon phase. I anticipate the month of March and April to be fantastic fishing for both bass and crappie.
The “hotter” areas of the lake for bass has been the North shore ranging from the 3rd pole from Observation shoal all the way around to the Tin house areas as you’ll find that the bass and the beds will be somewhat congregated in certain spots. The most-effective catching technique has been “to fish slowly” using worms, pitching/flipping creature-style lures and some top-water worked methodically around vegetation.
On windy days, spinner baits and top-water have been producing. Some of the bigger bites have been the flipping technique into isolated reed clumps using a smaller-compact lure such as a Gene Larew hoo-daddy and/or other similar lures. Okeechobee is known for finding a nice group of bass in one area picking one up here and there until you find that next group of fish – that’s what makes it both challenging and rewarding.
For the crappie bite, limits are being caught in the Kissimmee River and very similar areas of the lake as for the bass. Areas on the east side of the lake between the big water release and Hendry Creek area have been producing some nice size crappie but you’ll have to fish it when the wind is coming out of the northeast/east as it can get a bit rough and tough to jig. Another area for crappie has been Tin house; Horse Island around the 3rd-4th pole at Observation shoal parts of East/West wall; around Rita and Kreamer Islands.
