First time Okeechobee trip...

fishon

I have crossed back over to fish fresh water from years of saltwater fishing. I have a desire to fish Lake Okeechobee, but realize the vastness of this bodie of water! As this body of water is close to 4/5 times larger than Charlotte Harbor, it is a little intimidating, I wish to give it the respect it seems to deserve. I used to run a 24 ft Bay Boat in the harbor, now I am running an 19ft, aluminum Bay and bass, 115 motor, so I am running a smaller baot on a larger body of water? Thanks for any advise in where to stay, safety and what to pack and any fishing tips? Feel free to drop me a PM or e-mail.
Thanks Tomm

humbler

Your boat is fine for the lake. If it's windy you can stay inside the rim canal, behind the grass walls
and boat trails. if it's nice you can run anywhere. Just pick a ramp and fish a a 4-5 mile radius around it, ignoring the rest of the lake. Okeetantie ramp on the Kissimmee river is nice for fishing the north side. Clewiston ramp on the south end. Lots of places to stay in both areas. Clean water is key down there and it can change quickly with a chance in the wind direction. Then, just try different types of cover, cattails, kissimmee grass, hydrilla, pads and different methods till you see where they are located and what they want. I like to use the usual stuff, flukes, swimbaits, worms. I will flip 1-1/2oz baits in the thick stuff if nothing else works. It's a great lake to learn and any bite can be the fish of a lifetime.

fishon

Thank you, humbler! Good info.

capt louie

Been awhile since I fished it but humbler is correct !!

:Agree

mikenav

Like humbler said, a good place to start is to pick a boat ramp and fish a radius around it. Look for the typical fishing spots: cuts between islands, little drop-offs, places where there will be some water flow and places to ambush bait. Then, of course, cover like pads, grass, etc. You can check out the link below. That's the Navionics webapp, if you want some info before you hit the water. Zoom in and out and move around to different places. Good luck

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#[email protected]&key=mlmcDnillN

fishon

Thanks for the chart and info. I look to pick up a lake chart tomorrow. As I need a better since of distance and a legend that I can see distance.

fishon

Any guides you like out of the northern ramp, that will lure fish? Thanks

mikenav

There are a ton of good guides on Lake O. Mark King is one. Mike Shellen is another. Just two off the top of my head. And, in keeping with the Navionics theme, look at their Boating app for your phone. It will give you that same chart I sent the link to and GPS positioning on your phone. The only reason I know that is because I have it on my phone and ipad and use it on the water all the time.

crazyaboutflorida

I've been wanting to go over to Okeechobee myself when I get a chance to drive from TN to FL, lol! When do you plan on going on your trip? would love to hear how it goes and what to watch out for.

fishon

It looks like I have an open date! Ready to go, but where to stay? I really wish to stay on the north end? And wish to be on the lake. It does not have to be nice, just clean and friendly...thanks Tomm
Crazy I look forward to sharing my expierence!

fishon

Hoping to fish Thursday, stay the night and fish Friday and return home Friday afternoon. So just a quick trip, but it may be my only window for another two or more months.

humbler

fishon wrote: »

Hoping to fish Thursday, stay the night and fish Friday and return home Friday afternoon. So just a quick trip, but it may be my only window for another two or more months.

Let us know how you did. Prefontal, could be real good. Sent you a an email about hotels. Did you see it?

fishon

Humbler, thanks for the info, just found it. We did not make the Okeechobee trip. Ended up at Hatchinah with a medium bite on shiners. No bite on artificial.

humbler

I'm always surprised to see how many fish are around when you put shiners out after fishing the same areas with art'is.