It has been a great winter on Lake Okeechobee. Due to warmer than normal weather, the fishing has been terrific whether you are fishing for bass or specks. The water temperature in the lake is near 70 degrees and climbing. We are approaching a new moon period and then a few weeks later a full moon that will trigger another wave of large pre-spawn female bass toward the shallower water. When the roe laden females react to their spawning urges they will first feed heavily in order to store energy for the process of spawning. After feeding they cruise an area where they have chosen to spawn. The security of their newly hatched fry is tantamount. The more fry that survive that first few days, weeks, months, means more fry will reach adulthood and enhance the already thriving fishery called Okeechobee. The male bass is assigned the duty of guarding the fry for a short period after hatching. They are vigilant in their protective mode, scurrying about attempting to keep any and all predators away from their young. Young year-class bass are more likely to survive when they have heavy cover areas in which to hide, eat and grow. The spawning process is very important, and makes the connection between spawning and the health of a fishery most important. Very healthy spawns are what have brought Okeechobee back to a prominent fishery.
Specks are being found by anglers well outside the mouth of the Kissimmee River, some of the boats are a half a mile from the shore in open water. Many days 30 to 40 boats can be sighted fishing and catching in this hot spot. Other anglers using different methods than a small cork and a minnow are finding large specks in the heavy grass lines surrounding the lake. A small jig placed into holes in the cover will result in a good number of bites. Favorite colors vary accordingly from angler to angler, ranging from white to chartreuse.
Bass fishing is going along as it has been for the last three to four years, catching is good to great daily. Areas you should look at in your hunt for large schools of bass are, The North Shore, Observation Shoal, Monkey Box, King’s Bar, Grassy Island and J&S. As we reach into spring the water will be warming and the bass will be more active and willing to chase. Top water baits, spinner baits, buzz baits and lipless crank baits will work in addition to senkos, flukes, skinny dippers, EZ-swimmers and other soft plastics. During this period of the year a live wild shiner is responsible for greater numbers of trophy sized bass than all other baits combined.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Mike Shellen
Shellen Guide Service
Phone: (863) 357-0892
Email: sjmike7@aol.com
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com