Summary
Last week’s cool front produced good results in local Speck, bass and catfishing. This weekend’s cold front should lower water temperatures even further and entice Lake Okeechobee bass onto the beds.
Weather
A nice cold front will be pushing through the area on Friday afternoon with chances of rain and possible thundershowers. Once through the barometer will be on the rise for the remainder of the weekend peaking on late Sunday. The front will be pushed back on Monday bringing the return of warm weather. Once the front passes through on Friday, winds will be out of the north and shift to the east and be of moderate strength in Highlands county and strong around Lake Okeechobee. Peak winds on Saturday and Sunday should be approaching 20mph out of the east. Mornings winds will have a nice chill to them. Temperatures on Saturday morning should be near 50-degrees so dress in layers so you can shed a few layers as the sun warms up to the low 70’s.
Water Levels
Lake Okeechobee: 14.79 ASL ↑ 0.07-ft temp 74.6
Lake Istokpoga: 39.40-ft ASL ↑ 0.10-ft
Arbuckle Creek @ DeSoto: 4.01-ft ↓ 0.04-ft
Fisheating Creek @ US 27: 4.73-ft ↓ 0.21-ft
Peace River @ Zolfo Springs: 6.55-ft ↓ 0.53-ft
Kissimmee River @ S-65E: Head 21.02-ft, Tail 14.60-ft, Flow 882 CFS
Caloosahatchee River
Moore Haven Locks S-77: Head 14.63-ft, Tail 11.16-ft, Flow 306 CFS
Ortona Locks Head S-78: 10.96-ft, Tail 3.00-ft, Flow 431 CFS
W.P Franklin Lock S-79: Head 3.19-ft, Tail 1.51-ft, Flow 1006 CFS
Lake Okeechobee Locks
St Lucie Lock S-80: Head 14.80-ft, Tail 1.32-ft, Flow 65 CFS
Port Mayaca Lock S-308: Head 14.74-ft, Tail 14.79-ft, Flow 0 CFS
Lake Okeechobee South End
Slim’s Fish Camp, Belle Glade (561-996-3844): Pat reports the fishing is picking up. Females are slowly showing up. Bass remain in the hayfields. Last weekend’s tournament produced some 9 and 10lb fish. As the cold weather comes through and water temperatures drop, change your presentation and go small and slow. Dust of those plastic worms for a good change of pace. Night-time Speck fishing continues to improve with minnows being the preferred bait.
Roland Martin Marine Center, Clewiston (863-983-2128): Mike Krause Jr. reports large numbers of female bass are stilling missing from the beds. Hopefully this weekend’s cold front will coax them into the shallows. Males are present and being caught on swim jigs in 3-4 ft of water. Shiner fishing still remains steady with some nice size fish in the 6-8 lbs range being caught. Target isolated reeds and lily pad patches. Shad may be beginning their spawn so bass should be found schooling on the shad. Water quality is looking good
The Bait Shop at Harney Pond, Lakeport (863-946-0170): The Bait Shop at Harney Pond reports more 5-6 lb bass are showing up. Shiner fishing still remains the best bait but the artificial bite is improving. White spinner baits in the mornings are producing consistent results. Horse Island and Cochran Pass are active areas and have clear water. Daytime speck fishermen are producing good results in 8-9 ft of water with minnows and chartreuse colored jigs. Night time Speck fishing still remains the strong with fishermen limiting out after a few hours. Channel catfish are still pretty thick through-out the area.
Lake Okeechobee North End
Garrard’s Bait & Tackle, Okeechobee (863-763-3416): Lief reports the shiner bite remains strong though still mostly males being caught. The artificial bite is dominated by flipping and pitching. Dark colored Senko 7-inch worms have produced good results this week. Speck fishing while drifting on the lake remains good as well as in the Kissimmee River. Minnows and grass shrimp colored jigs are the prime baits.
No Bad Daze Bait & Tackle, Okeechobee (863-484-8126): Tyler reports conditions remain the same from last week. Male bass in the 3-5lb range are being caught on artificials with swim baits producing well. Shiner fishermen are producing 15-30 bass outings with a few 5-7 lbers in the mix. Speck fishing remains consistent with minnows and chartreuse jigs producing well.
J&S Fish Camp, Okeechobee: Ed reports bass are being caught in the grasses with swim baits. Their size remains in the 3-5lb range. Daytime Speck fishermen are bringing in some nice sized Specks.
Highlands County
Admiral’s Cove, Laker Placid (863-465-0155): Ed reports Speck fishing has picked up in all the local lakes. Minnows have been the preferred bait. Bass fishing has been improving.
Lorida Bait & Tackle, Lorida (863-655-1781): Lorida Bait & Tackle reports good numbers of bass being caught in the shallows. Lots of 2-4 lb males are being taken in 2-4ft of water. The speck and catfish bite remains strong in both size and quantities.
Performance Marine Bait & Tackle, Lake Placid (863-465-2814): Geoff reports the larger bass on the deeper lakes still remain scattered. They are still holding to underwater structure. Bass on Lake Istokpoga are more active and getting into the pre-spawn mode and moving through the shallows. Speck fishing remains strong especially on Lake Istokpoga with Specks now showing up in the shallows which is an indicator of spawning. Lake June and Lake Placid Speck fishing remains good.
Tale Tales bait & Tackle, Avon Park (863-452-2248): Rob at Tall Tales reports large catfish are being taken in sizable numbers. Most of the deeper lakes are reporting a good catfish bite. Speck fishing has also been improving. Minnow sales were off the hook this past week. Bass fishing was steady though no great improvement from last week.
Caloosahatchee River, Miller’s Bait & Tackle, LaBelle (863-342-8264): The folks at Miller’s report activity on the river is picking up. Speck fishermen report nice catches near Ortona Locks with minnows the preferred bait. Bass fishermen are returning to the area with tournaments last weekend and this weekend. The weather front should bring with it some rain so target bass at flowing culverts, spill ways and streams.
Final Comments
If the approaching cold front delivers as advertised and lingers for a while, water temperatures should drop once again and produce some great fishing through-out the area. Don’t waste this opportunity to get out there for a great day of fishing.
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