Lake Okeechobee has had its ups and downs as of late. We have had dirty water, low water, windy conditions, and all of these can make fishing tough, even on a lake as great as the Big-O. With winds blowing from the south and southeast, the water has become a bit muddy on the north end of the lake. Finding clean water to fish has been tough but there have been clean pockets with plenty of action. Tin House Cove, the north end of Kings Bar, and the east side of Eagle Bay have stayed fairly clean because they are blocked from the wind most of the time. Bass action has been very good first thing in the morning in these areas with a spinner bait and a swim jig being most productive artificials. Top water baits such as Skinny Dippers and frog type baits have produced very well in the Kissimmee grass. Numbers have been in the 25 to 40 fish range early with most of them running in the 2-to-3-pound range. Bigger fish are being caught in the Kissimmee River and Rim Canal at Henry Creek. Live shiners in these deep water areas are working very well with half day catches of 30 or more fish with bigger fish up to 10 pounds.
Bluegills and Shell Crackers are still bedding in areas in the river and out around Grassy Island and Kings Bar. Panfish fishing is starting to wind down, so keep an eye on the moon phase and plan a trip to catch a mess before they move back out into the open lake. Crickets, worms and grass shrimp are the baits of choice. Specks are still being caught around the Kissimmee River bridge at Okee-Tantie Park, live minnows and grass shrimp down deep around the bridge pilings will work.
Don’t forget that gator season opened on Aug. 15th. Make sure your boat and equipment are in good shape before you head out to catch your gators. It’s not any fun if you are not prepared to catch something that big that doesn’t want to be caught. Remember he can really put a hurt’n on you so be care full.
Recently I had the opportunity to take a young boy from the Real Life Children’s Ranch, located here in Okeechobee, fishing for a morning. My girlfriend Darlyn and I picked up 8 year old Paul and his house dad, who was also named Paul, and headed to the lake. Little Paul caught 17 bass up to 3 pounds and got to have the time of his life. He had a smile from the time we got out of the truck until he got home. So remember to take a kid fishing, they don’t have to be yours, they could be a neighbor, or a kid from a place that they have to call home just because of circumstance. I believe if we spend the time with kids doing things in the outdoors, the better chance they have of staying out of trouble as they grow older. I am looking forward to taking him and more of the kids at the ranch fishing. So take a kid fishing, it will make your day.
Be sure to stop by Garrard’s Bait and Tackle for all your fishing needs, live bait and artificial bait, we have it.