Summary
The recent cold weather and rain has cooled of lake temperatures and kicked started the winter patterns. The Crappie bite through-out the area is in full gear. You may have to search around to find a group of them but when you do, you’ll find the bite very active. For local bass fishing, though bass are moving onto the beds in Lake Okeechobee the weather is producing a hit and miss bite. Some large females are showing up but not in large numbers as of yet. Tis the season to fish!
WEATHER
The cool front that passed through the area the other day is making its way north again only to be pushed back south on Sunday by a new cold front. What this means is another wet weekend. In short Saturday will be the best chance to get out on the water. Starting late Thursday the front pushes north into the southern regional of Lake Okeechobee. By Friday the front pushes through Highlands County. While the front pushes north expect periods of moderate rain and possible thunderstorms. Winds on Friday will start from the SE and change to a westerly component. Winds will be in the range of 15-20mph and higher during thunderstorms. Now the good news, Saturday should be partly sunny, warm with light to moderate winds. On Sunday the weather turns again with the front being pushed south. The day should be rainy with winds shifting from the WSW to the NW at 15-20+mph. On Friday sunrise is at 7:13am and sets at 5:49pm. The waxing crescent moon rises at 11:12am and will be 25% reflective. The AM:Major occurs at 3:46am and the PM:Major occurs at 4:12pm. Remember the periods advance approximately 1-hr per day.
Water Levels – January 13, 2016
Lake Okeechobee 14.78 ASL ↑ 0.10-ft
Lake Istokpoga 39.35-ft ASL ↑ 0.03-ft
Arbuckle Creek @ DeSoto 4.10 0↑.30-ft
Fisheating Creek @ US 27 3.82 ↑ 1.04-ft
Peace River @ Zolfo Springs 7.37 ↑ 1.59-ft
Kissimmee River @ S-65E Head 20.96-ft, Tail 14.60-ft, Flow 971 CFS
Caloosahatchee River
Moore Haven Locks S-77: Head 14.81-ft, Tail 11.35-ft, Flow 64 CFS
Ortona Locks Head S-78: 11.17-ft, Tail 2.94-ft, Flow 656 CFS
W.P Franklin Lock S-79: Head 3.11-ft, Tail 0.82-ft, Flow 1615 CFS
Lake Okeechobee Locks
St Lucie Lock S-80: Head 14.38-ft, Tail 2.07-ft, Flow 70 CFS
Port Mayaca Lock S-308: Head 14.74-ft, Tail 14.30-ft, Flow 0 CFS
LAKE OKEECHOBEE – SOUTH
Slim’s Fish Camp, Belle Glade (561-996-3844): Recent weather conditions have made fishing the south end pretty tough. Strong northerly winds have created 2-4ft rollers making fishing uncomfortable and has stirred up the lake’s sediment. Those venturing out are finding good Crappie fishing with nighttime being the best time. The Crappie are taking both minnows and jigs. Bass fishermen need to search for clear water which is being found on the outside edges. Shiner fishing remains the best bet for catching a trophy bass. Fishermen using artificials are having luck with swim baits and spinners in the morning and Senko style baits during the day. The bite this past week has been hot & cold, one day the bite is hot in the morning and the next day it’s cold in the morning but heats up during the day. Elsewhere in the Rim Canal and neighborhood canals, panfish are biting on crickets, redworms, and minnows.
Jim also wants to remind all boaters, especially those new to the Big ‘O’, that the weatherman is predicting a clash between a warm front moving up from the south and a cold front coming in from the north. There is the potential for thunderstorms and lightning over the lake. Lightning over Lake Okeechobee is a very serious matter and can be fatal. So if a storm approaches, seek the nearest shelter until the storm passes. Every year we lose a few boaters to lightning strikes so take thunderstorms and lightning seriously.
Roland Martin Marine Center, Clewiston (863-983-2128): Mike Krause reports there are plenty of male bass being taken in the area around Roland Martin’s. Most females are being caught on the outside edges of the grass and in reed clumps. These fish are in the 5-7-lb range. More of the larger females are being taken a bit further south and are taking Senko style baits and flipping creature baits. During the mornings also try a swim baits and chatter baits in the thick needle grass. The wild shiner bite has been very active.
The Bait Shop at Harney Pond, Lakeport (863-946-0170): Jonathan from The Bait Shop at Harney Pond reports the Speck bite remains strong. They seems to be clustering in the area been Bird Island and Horse Island. Nighttime fishermen are limiting out within a few hours on the lake. Minnows and jigs are both producing well. You might need to search a few locations before finding them but once you do, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts. In the area around Kissimmee River and Indian Prairie the Speck bite has tapered off, possibly due to the large numbers of tournament and pre-tournament boaters hammering the area. The Bait Shop and Becks Hardware are teaming up for a weekly Crappie contest. Biggest Crappie of the week wins a $10.00 gift certification from the Bait Shop & Becks. The monthly winner wins a $ 20.00 certificate from each and a $50.00 certificate is for the season’s winner. Check with the Bait Shop for details and rules. As for the Bass bite, plenty of males are being taken with some in the 7-8 lb range. Search for clear water or isolated pockets of vegetation. Flipping the reeds with creature baits is producing as well as swim baits in the mornings and Senko’s during the height of the day. There have been hundreds of boaters in the area as of late so be careful and be mindful of other boaters.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE – NORTH
Garrard’s Bait & Tackle, Okeechobee (863-763-3416): Lief reports the bass bite has remained steady. Shiners still out paces artificals though by the recent BFL tournament producing a 31-lb+ winning bag, it would be safe to say the artificial bite is improving. Boaters are concentrating in the area around Tin House Cove, Kings Bar, and Indian Prairie. Flipping anything dark has been the recent trend in baits. As always wild shiners produce the best results. The cCappie bite remains good around Little Grassy Island with minnows and white and chartreuse jigs being the best bets.
No Bad Daze Bait & Tackle, Okeechobee (863-484-8126): Female bass are showing up in the grasses on the north side of the lake. They’re not the big girls but ranging in the 5-7lb range. The area in front of Henry Creek Lock has been building up vegetation since its closing and has become a new home to some bass. Along the northeast side of the lake heading towards J&S Fish Camp bass are being taken in the grass lines on swim baits and flipping baits. Specks remain very active both drifting the open lake and they’re now showing up in the Rim Canal along with some bluegill. If you’re targeting Bluegill then crickets should be your choice of baits.
HIGHLANDS COUNTY
Admiral’s Cove, Laker Placid (863-465-0155): Fishing the shallow lakes around south Lake Placid have been up and down following the weather pattern and resulting changes in water temperature. The bass bite seems more impacted by the weather than the Crappie bite. At the moment Crappie remain hungry and preferring minnows. On good days you can find bass, mostly males, in the shallows and a few smaller females. They’re taking swim baits, topwater, and plastic worms. On bad days, you’ll have to cover some ground just for a few hits.
Lorida Bait & Tackle, Lorida (863-655-1781): Lake Istokpoga has undergone a change in temperature and water levels with the recent cold front and rains. The bass have been slow to respond to the changes but the Specks remain very active. Only difference is that the Speck bite seems to have shifted towards the south end of the lake though this could be short termed. Minnows are producing the best results and the slabs are of nice size. Bluegills are also beginning to bite on crickets. For bass fishermen, beside shiners, flipping jigs, swim baits, and topwater in the mats are producing fish. If the air temperatures are cold the bass will be deep and move into the shallows during the latter part of the day.
Performance Marine Bait & Tackle, Lake Placid (863-465-2814): The folks at PMB&T report Lake Istokpoga is having some nice days of bass fishing. Some of the bigger fish are now close to the edges for the taking. Lake June has also been an active lake for bass. The bass bite for most lakes have been heavily dependent on the type of weather conditions. You need to be ready to adapt to the conditions presented to you. The Speck bite remains active in all the local lakes.
Tale Tales Bait & Tackle, Avon Park (863-452-2248): Rob at Tall Tales reports minnows remain his top seller which means Crappie are still very active. Lakes being mentioned these days are Lake Sebring and Lake Granada though most local lakes are producing fish. Bass fishing remains a hot and cold event with the shallows being active on warm weather days and shifting to deeper water on colder days. Baits selection will depend on where you’re fishing. Try drop-shots on brush piles and deeper structure on the colder days.
Caloosahatchee River, Miller’s Bait & Tackle, LaBelle (863-342-8264): The folks at Miller’s reports bass fishing has slowed down a bite. The Corps is still pulsing water through the gates though not as much as in the past. Catfish still remains active.
IN CLOSING
The weather finally has broken away from the late fall heat and the fish are responding according. Now if only the weatherman would give us fair weather conditions for the weekends and leave the rain for the work week we should be all set.
