It has been a great season so far here on Lake Okeechobee and April should bring even nicer weather and more bass to catch. April has a lot of good things going for it on top of warm weather, like bass still moving in to spawn and bluegill spawning and we know how the bass love to eat bluegill. April is also a great month to catch bass on artificial lures as well as the wild shiners.
The bite has been pretty good the past couple months in spite of the higher water level then normal and the fact that the wind has not quit blowing for two months now. But like I said, April will have less wind and that should allow a lot of areas that we have not been able to fish because of dirty water to start to clean up. Some of the areas that have been good the past couple months have been the East Wall, West Wall, Grassy, and around Ritta Island. The wild shiners have been the bait of choice for both numbers and bigger bass but the artificial lure bite has been getting better almost daily here on the south end of the lake. I have been pitching the new Gambler Burner Craw in and around spawning beds and picking up some really nice bass but a swimbait will also get you some good bites. As we get into April and the wind slows down a little, we should be able to fish more on the outside grass line where I like to throw a swim jig with a small swimbait trailer. This will also be a good time to throw a worm around and catch bass in any pepper grass patches or eel grass you can find. Another thing to look for this time of the year is bluegill beds, the bass love to eat bluegill and a wakebait or jerkbait over the beds can produce some really nice bass.
APRIL IS A GREAT MONTH TO CATCH BASS ON LURES AND SHINERS
I will be headed to the Florida Keys in May and June to guide for tarpon around the Bahia Honda bridge area and I still have some available dates left. If you have never done battle with one of these giants you owe it to yourself to try it, trust me you will be hooked. Until next month tight lines, good luck and I hope to see everyone on the water soon.
Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida and also in the Florida Keys out of Marathon area. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger, or to fish a tournament with him at 863-677-0983 or at markkingfishing.com and tarponinthekeys.com.
Captain Mark King is a full time guide and tournament angler guiding out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston Florida and also in the Florida Keys out of the Marathon area. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association, and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
Mark can be contacted to book a guide trip, seminars, personal appearances, test rides in his Evinrude powered Ranger, or to fish a tournament with him at 863-677-0983 or at www.markkingfishing.com and www.tarponinthekeys.com.
