Heavy rainfall has triggered Lake Okeechobee to rise at a rapid rate. The largest rainfall of the year, thanks to Hurricane Isaac, fell in the Kissimmee Basin that feeds Lake Okeechobee making it necessary for the water structures to be opened wide, triggering an inundation of water coming into Lake Okeechobee. Some estimate that the lake may reach 16 feet. Others insist it will be lower. Whatever the final level, it is great for fishing and the local economy in Okeechobee. Add a huge bass population to the mix and the town of Okeechobee has all makings of a great fall and winter season.
As the long hot summer finally comes to a close, the water temperatures in Lake Okeechobee are dropping. The water level is high enough to provide access to the marsh areas as well as the shoreline cover. Each fall, savvy anglers eagerly anticipate the first wave of large female bass as they move along the shallow shorelines, where they gorge themselves. From October through November and into December, Lake Okeechobee’s bass go into feeding mode, chasing and eating shiners, shad and whatever food morsels that are available.
Once the bass locate a food source they will hang out in that particular area as long a food is available. Last year we located a spot early in October that bass frequented fall, winter and spring, with bass coming and going in conjunction with the moon phases. We were able to catch bass in this same area during pre-spawn, spawn and postspawn. It is not easy or normal to find a spot that will produce big bass and large numbers of bass. Sometimes a little luck plays into it. We fished this productive spot many different ways and from many different angles. At times during the season the fish would be holding in one single piece of cover along the area, other days they would be scattered along the whole stretch. Don’t misunderstand, there were a few days when we could catch fish in our number one spot and we would have to move to another area to continue to catch fish. Each year as we have fished Lake Okeechobee we have learned something different about the lake, the lesson is not always immediate or mind numbing. Many times it is very subtle and only becomes clear after much retrospect. Bass fishing is a wonderful sport and I can honestly say that I still get excited when a big bass comes to the boat.
Fall fishing on Lake Okeechobee is second to none. The sheer number of bass in the seven to twelve pound range is incredible. Traffic is relatively low during month of November, since many of our visitors from the North aren’t here yet. The days are mild and the bass are biting, quite simply it just doesn’t get much better in the bass fishing world.
The North end of Lake Okeechobee is loaded with hydrilla, eel grass, pepper grass and other great cover elements where big bass love to hold. From the east side of the lake at J&S Fish Camp all the way around the north end of the lake to the Point of the Reef, bass are already being caught in great numbers. Each year it’s only a matter of timing until the bass are triggered to start their fall feeding spree. It happens suddenly and without fanfare, one day the bass will be of average size and the next day you might catch four or five bass over seven pounds.
FORECAST BY: Capt. Mike Shellen
Shellen Guide Service
Phone: (863) 357-0892
Email: sjmike7@aol.com
Website: www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com