By Capt. Roan zumFelde.
Hope everyone is surviving the Corona Virus. Sitting here in the first week of April writing this article puts me in a quandary, just not sure what to say and what to talk about. All of our freshwater fishing in SWFL is kind of up in the air at this time. Boat ramps are closed across I-75, throughout Dade County and across Hwy 41. On the bright side, it seems Interceptor Canal is still open and Faka Union at the Big T, but the fishing in these two canals has been lackluster at best. Golden Gate is very low and hard to access, but been a few peacocks biting there. Other than that you have Okeechobee and Trafford and the Highlands County lakes still available to fisherman. Maybe by the time this comes out they will have opened more water, but who the heck knows.
Lake Okeechobee in May can be an excellent month on the lake. Fish are usually available to all anglers including the fly flingers, since there is a great chance the water levels are going to be at their lowest all year. This should really bring the Rim Ditch Canals into play and make it easier for you to find the bluegill and shell cracker beds that the big bass should be patrolling for an easy meal. Fly-rodders, this is the time of the year when you can really smoke some fish on the lake. They should be in the right places for you to catch them and if you fish early and late, you just might get a fish of a lifetime this month. This is a Dire Warning: if you are going to fish the lake and the water levels are low, PLEASE BE CAREFUL WEHRE YOU RUN YOUR BOAT!!! Large Lime Rock Boulders abound in this lake and can quickly make for a bad day on the water and a dangerous and costly disaster.
Trafford Fishing should be pretty good; water levels are very low, so be careful. Looks like we are in for a little rain so maybe it will bring them up. Congrats to the gentleman that caught the 16lb bass there while crappie fishing. “WOW” With the low water levels and the heat, early and late fishing should be a must in May, so good luck and good fishing and stay clear of the Corona.
Come visit Mike and me at Mike’s Bait House and Indian Pass Outfitters on Danford Street, next to Bayview Park in Naples and we can talk fishing. We carry a full line of tackle including: fly fishing needs and both saltwater and freshwater gear, food, drink, and bait. Thanks and good fishing. Roan z
