Lake Okeechobee fishing report

Current Lake Okeechobee water level is around 14 ft. above sea level. Both pan and bass fishing has been real good. Both bluegill and shell crackers are being found and caught in the shallows around scattered Kissimmee grass and lily pads. If you’re fishing for bluegill, an ultra-light rod/reel rigged with a beetle spin works the best. The color of grub hasn’t mattered all that much, it’s mainly what you have confidence in using. My preference of colors are: chartreuse; white or black/with a yellow stripe down the middle. For catching shell crackers, live red worms rigged on ultra-tackle as well will catch them. For rigged of a live-worm, use a small split shot pinched on the line about a foot above the hook and a small bobber if preferred. By mixing your day of fishing for both these type of pan fish, you’ll have a great day on the water and as a bonus, provide for some good eating for diner. Areas to look at for pan fish while out on the big O if launching around Harney Pond is Bird Island; Monkey Box; Dyess Ditch and Whidden’s Pass. If launching from the south-end try: East Wall/Football Field area; Rita Island ( both west/east sides); all of the west side of Kreamer, which includes Buzzard Roost, Little Grassy, Long point and tip of Kreamer Island as well and don’t the forget about Pelican Bay area. If launching from the east side, try around the J & S canal area.

While guiding on Okeechobee, I’m constantly being asked, “what would be you’re favorite time of year to fish Okeechobee for bass and why”? My answer, the time is now. May/June has produced some of my biggest bass bites and hook ups, bar none. The months of May/June marks the end of the biggest majority of the bass spawn on Okeechobee with a few amounts of real late spawners left. This specific time of year allows us to fish a variety of ways and marks the time of year that you’ll see a lot of anglers fishing offshore structure such as rock reefs for “schooling bass”. You’ll also see a lot of anglers flipping and pitching their way along good solid grass lines and weaving in and out of scattered Kissimmee grass, lily pads, hydrilla pads throwing top water lures, trying to get that exciting reaction bite.

Two of my favorite ways to catch bass are throwing top water and flipping/pitching. Although don’t rule out throwing a rattle trap bass or crank baits, it’s a good choice of lure to use to find these school’s of bass out in open water feeding on shad.

Areas to start your search for bass are the same areas I’ve mentioned above for pan fish and most of these areas have either a harder bottom contour or rock reef located nearby such as the grass islands located out from Uncle Joe’s cut, if launching from the south-end, which can produce great quality bites, especially early in the morning throwing top water, rattle trap or a worm. Another good rock reef area to fish, and bass can be caught throughout the day is the area located about a mile from the NW tip of Rita Island. Kreamer Island’s, Long point (west side) area has a good hard bottom and about 500 yards or so out from the main grass line, would be a great place to start for both bass and pan fish. This particular area has given me some of the best bass and pan fishing over the years on Okeechobee. While over in the Kreamer Island area, check out Pelican bay, it has some deeper holes and offers some great summertime fishing. I’ve caught bass throwing top water, worms, rattle traps, crank baits and Carolina Rigs.

Some suggestions for lure choice, the next time you’re out on Lake Okeechobee are: East Texas Big Bass lures (hard top water lure); Gene Larew 11” salty snake worm (June bug, watermelon or red shad); silver/blue back 3/8 oz or ½ oz. rattle trap; Gene Larew Hawg Craw (black/blue/blue; June bug and watermelon colors) or tube in and around pan fish beds and Rapala’s DT 4-10 ft. crank baits (bluegill, shad and baby bass colors).

I hope this information will help you to have a more productive and fun-filled day while fishing on Lake Okeechobee and remember to be kind and courteous to your fellow boaters. We all want to enjoy our day on the water !

To book Capt. Angie for your next fishing trip on Lake Okeechobee, Lake Kissimmee and other surrounding bodies of water, give her a call at 863-228-7263 or send an email to angie@southfloridabassfishing.com. Accommodations can be made for additional boats if needed.

Angie’s sponsors include: East Texas Big Bass Lures; Gene Larew Soft Plastics; Real Magic; Mega Strike; and Rapala.

April, 2010 Lake Okeechobee’s fishing report submitted by Capt. Angie Douthit.

Lake Okeechobee’s water level has remained around the 13.50 ft. above sea level for the past months and should continue to hold. Navigation on the lake has remained very safe for the most part but use caution at all times.

Pan fish anglers still catching fair amounts and average size crappie on and around the Kissimmee River are still being reported. For the most part, the better bite has been coming at night on the River using live minnows. Parts of the River contain ledges; this would be a great starting point when scouting for areas to fish. Other areas on the river to try are cuts that run off the River, Lilly pads and Kissimmee grass lined along the edges.

Trolling with your trolling motor set on 20 or so using small crank baits or hair jigs would be something to try next time you’re out on the water. This works well within the canals and river. Colors in hair jigs are white and crank baits should have some chartreuse in them.

Lately while out on the big O, I’ve been seeing some shell crackers in the shallows. So have your light tackle and live-worms on hand.

Areas to try for pan fish next time you’re out on Okeechobee are Sportsman’s Channel, Fish Eating Bay, Harney Pond canal, Bird Island, Dyess Ditch, North-shore area(s), J&S Canal and lake side, Taylor Creek canal and lake side, Kissimmee river.

The month of March brought us wind, rain and cold days. This made it very tough for a consistent bass bite. With the month of April upon us, we’re experiencing more consistent weather and more consistent, normal water temperature. This helps to give us, more consistent fishing conditions. The bass spawn is still continuing but signs of it slowing down are being seen. Bass beds are being spotted in a variety of water levels, depending on the clarity. The average water level for bedding has been in the 2.5 ft – 1.0 ft. of water range. But I’ve seen beds in 4ft. of water as well.

The month of March, I used two main lures when fishing with guide clients, which produced bites, a worms and top water. On windy days, I’ve been throwing the new MegaStrike StrikeBack spinner bait which has a swivel head, allowing a hook set from any angle. In the scattered grass and Lilly pads, I’ve been throwing the Lonnie Stanley Ribbit for some awesome blow-ups and hook ups in the thick stuff.

Areas to try for bass fishing are Norman’s Channel, Airport hole (depending on wind direction), Pelican Bay (especially around Kreamer Island) Long point (west-side of Kreamer Island), Coot Bay and East Wall and Bird Island.

When throwing plastics, stick to your basic colors like: Watermelon, Green Pumpkin, June bug and Red Shad, all depending on water clarity and cloud cover.

Don’t forget your favorite top water lure. It’s fun and it’s been producing some great quality bites for my guide clients while out on Lake Okeechobee.

Capt. Angie Douthit’s Lake Okeechobee fishing report submitted for March, 2010.

Lake Okeechobee’s water level has been hovering around the 13.50 feet above sea level mark for the past several months. Despite cold air temperatures and very windy days while fishing out on the big O, bass fishing has remained very good. With spring time just ahead, we’ll see a more consistent basis for water temperature to remain around the mid 60’s to low 70’s which should produce a more consistent big bass bite.

Pan fish anglers are catching some good size and quantity in and around the Kissimmee River on live-minnows. Other areas that pan fish are being caught are J&S Canal area, Taylor Creek (deeper water located just outside the lock area), Harney Pond area and Sportsman Channel area.

For the BASS anglers. Most areas of the lake are producing bites but windy day’s plays a major role in where to launch and what areas are fishable of late. Lures to try the next time you’re out on Okeechobee are: Top water (East Texas Big Bass Lures) this is a prop style top water lure that I’ve been throwing as part of my arsenal the past six months or so. I have a lot of confidence in this lure which is hand-made out of Western Cedar and produces excellent sound as it’s worked on top. Using and throwing this lure has given my clients and myself a lot of very productive days of fishing which includes some really nice bass weighing over 6 lbs. Other lures to use are worms with a little wider tail for more vibration as it descends to the bottom, then worked very slowly especially during cold water temps. Colors to try are watermelon/red flake, green pumpkin, June bug and redbug. A 3/8 oz. double-willow leaf spinnerbait rigged with a white colored skirt or white/chartreuse thrown in open holes and scattered Kissimmee grass has been producing some very good reaction bites. I’ve also been throwing flukes rigged with a 1/32 oz. weight. Colors that have been producing are watermelon/red flake, watermelon, pumpkin seed and June bug.

Another lure that many anglers have gotten away from throwing is an old-fashion Rapala Husky Jerk. The cold water temperatures we’ve been having lately makes for a great opportunity to throw this lure and catch some really nice bass. My favorite colors are Gold, Silver and Tennessee Shad which has an orange belly than draws more strikes in off-colored water.

Areas to try the next time you’re out on Lake Okeechobee is Dyess Ditch and Monkey Box areas; Observation Shoal, Norman’s Channel and Airport Hole (Belle Glade area), J&S inside canal and outside edge of grass line, Kings Bar, 1^st point, and Little Grassy.

I hope this information will help you to have a great day of fishing while out on the big O. Remember to be kind and courteous to your fellow boaters, we all want to enjoy our day on the water.

Angie’s sponsors include: East Texas Big Bass Lures; Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop (makers of Bob’s Jack Plate); Ft. Myers Bass Pro Shop; Gene Larew Soft Plastics (original inventors of the salt-impregnated plastic lures); Real Magic; Bullet Weights; Megastrike Fish Attractant and Rapala.

Average water level for Lake Okeechobee has been hovering around the 13.5 ft. above sea level. The month of January we received a lot of Mother Nature activity such as wind, rain, cold temps. The early part of January had produced record-setting bass catches for myself and guide clients and anticipate another great month of fishing for February as well.

During the month of January Okeechobee was host to two major bass events, the B.A.S.S. Southern Open and the FLW. A lot of bass were caught and anglers were happy to see the water level holding over 13 ft. for boat and safety navigation. We look forward to having them back again next year.

For pan fish anglers, the hot spots have been the Kissimmee River, Little Grassy, Monkey Box, Dyess Ditch and Indian Prairie areas, Dynamite Holes and Tree Island on the South-End. Pan fish anglers are catching some real nice size crappie this year on live-minnows. If you opt for jigging for crappie, Gene Larew makes a nice 2” Orange/Chartreuse Silver Slab Slay’R and 2” Baby Shad in colors Bluegrass and Cajun Cricket. These soft plastics works best when rigged with 6 or 8 lb. test Trilene on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz. round jig head.

For the bass anglers, big bass were caught during the first part of January before we experienced the consistent colder temperatures, which always slows the bite way down when the fish become lethargic trying to adjust to such drops in water temps. Big bass were caught using top water lures, flukes, senkos, big worms and flipping baits. My go-to colors for plastics are junebug, black/blue, watermelon and red shad. Oh, did I say red shad! While fishing from the north-end of Okeechobee lately, I’ve seen a lot of areas that have a multitude of grass vegetation such as pepper grass, hydrillia, eel grass and lilly pads. These are the areas to look for when scouting. These types of areas hold bass and will continue to hold fish for the coming months. Areas to try the next time you’re out on the big O are J&S, Taylor Creek, Little Grassy, Kings Bar, Dyess Ditch area(s), Monkey Box, parts of Bird Island and the Shoal area(s).

While out on Okeechobee, remember to be kind and courteous to your fellow boaters, we all want to enjoy our day on the lake.

To book your next guide trip on Okeechobee for bass or pan fish you can contact Capt. Angie by email at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com or by calling 863-228-7263. Capt. Angie is based out of the Okeetantie area but can meet her guide clients in Clewiston or Belle Glade for customers driving from either the East or West side of the Lake.

Current Lake Okeechobee water level has remained around the 14 ft. above sea level mark for the past few months. While navigating out on the big O, this makes for less fear of hitting and below surface rocky areas that the lake is famous for but still advise the utmost caution for your safety while out on Okeechobee.

Some pan fish are still being caught using light tackle and beetle spins. My favorite color grub to add when throwing beetle spins is chartreuse, although I’ve had much success with white or black which mainly depends on the water clarity. When fishing for pan fish, I normally let the beetle spin fall and with a steady-slow retrieve bring it across the targeted areas about a foot above the bottom and hang on when they hit it. Pan fish are being caught off-shore as well as in and around the scattered grassy areas. Areas to try next time your out on the south-end is Rita Island, Grassy, Long Point, Pelican, Cross area, Bird Island and the Shoal.

The month of October had produced a mixture of size of bass for me while guiding out on Okeechobee ranging anywhere from your feisty 1-2 lber’s up to some great quality big bass weighing over 9 lbs. Most of the bass caught throughout October were caught on plastics, mainly a Gene Larew 11”inch salty snake in colors red shad, watermelon and June bug. Oh, did I say red shad….definitely. If I had to pick one color to use for any fishery around the country to throw, hands down, my choice is red shad. Most importantly to keep in mind, everyone has a favorite lure or color and whatever that may be for you, you have to have confidence in what you’re throwing!

The month of November is a great top-water time of year and my go-to bait is a Zara Spook in colors bluegill, baby bass or shad. During windier weather, I like to throw something that produces more noise, and that’s when I throw my 3/8 oz. gold-bladed buzz bait rigged with a chartreuse/white colored skirt. There are times that darker colored buzz bait with a black skirt works really well depending on certain conditions. Top water bait I personally like to throw especially in and around scattered grass areas is the Lonnie Stanley Ribbit. Lonnie makes two sizes and I also throw the bigger one, only because you can crank it slower and still get the noise and water displacement in a much more even, consistent basis. My favorite colors are watermelon/red, white, and black, all depending on water clarity and cloud cover at the time.

While out on the big O, you’ll see and hear schools of bass within the month of November so keep your rattle trap and crank baits close by. I’ve had some very successful days on the water throwing both but I’m very fond of throwing crank bait more so than a rattle trap….back to the confidence thing again. My favorite all-time crank bait is a Rapala DT 4, 6 or 10 and my go to colors are bluegill and shad. When I do throw a rattle trap, it’s hard to beat the basic color of a chrome-blue back in a ¾ oz size.

If you’re a flipper and pitcher like me, now is a great time of year to get your practice in. The water levels are up and we’re able to reach a lot of thicker, grassier areas than we could six months ago….hurray!! My go-to lure of choice, I can’t say, I’d like to keep it to myself, but I will tell you that it’s made of plastic and hardly anyone throws it anymore. But I will tell you that I stick to basics when choosing flipping/pitching lures such as the Gene Larew 5 or 6 inch salt craw in colors black w/blue flake and blue pinchers, June bug and watermelon. In sparser areas of grass, I throw a smaller profile jig and trailer, there again, it’s a confidence thing. My choice of jig is the ¼ oz. Eakins brown jig rigged with a 4 inch Gene Larew salt craw, nicked down in size to fit the jig, so it looks well proportioned. I’ll often time pitch a big worm in areas of scattered/sparser areas of grass but the tail seems to get wrapped around reeds and cattails if you’re aim isn’t right on the mark, so I would suggest in down-sizing your worm size to a 7 or 8 inch worm to help in these type situations.

Areas to try when fishing for bass on the south-end of Okeechobee are: Observation Shoal area(s); West and East Wall on the outside scattered areas; Rita Island on both the West and East side on the outside main grass line and in thicker grassier areas; Kraemer Island, specifically around the south-west area from the point of Kraemer; the deeper holes located in Pelican Bay (east side of Kraemer) and Norman’s Channel.

I hope this information helps you to have a more productive day while fishing the big O. As always, be safe and be courteous to your fellow boaters…we all want to enjoy our time on the water.

To book Capt. Angie Douthit as your guide for a fun-filled day on the water, call 863-228-7263 or email her at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Torry Island Campground & Marina; Bass Pro Shops; Gene Larew soft plastics; Rapala; Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop; Real Magic; Navionics; Trilene and Lowrance Electronics.

Fishing from the south-east end of Lake Okeechobee from Torry Island Campground & Marina by Capt. Angie Douthit.

With the current water level hovering around 14.44 ft. above sea level, the lake is a mixed bag of fishing for bass. Bass are being caught in and around the scattered grass as well as open water areas. If you plan on fishing off-shore and around rock reefs try throwing a top-water lure such as a Zara spook in colors shad, bluegill, clear or baby bass. Other top-water lures that have produced bites is a 3/8 oz., three-bladed buzz bait rigged with a white/chartreuse colored skirt but the blade color hasn’t really mattered that much. Also try a shad colored pop-r worked kind of slow and don’t forget the toad in colors watermelon or white. When the bass come up busting the surface, I always keep hand a chrome/blue back colored rattle trap as well as a Gene Larew 11”inch salty snake red-shad colored worm. While fishing a Women’s Bassmaster Tour event last year on Clark’s Hill, SC., I’ve found that when bass are schooling and you can’t get them to bite try rigging and throwing a double-rigged fluke in colors white or watermelon/red, depending on the water clarity and work it with a constant jerk and pause motion. This action gives the illusion of a small school of bait and will attract and catch bass…sometimes two at a time, so be ready.

Bass are still being caught in and around the grass. The outside edge of a solid cattail line is a good place to start. If the bites are few, try moving in and do some flipping/pitching in the heavier cover. I’ve found lately that the bigger bites are scattered right now with no real big concentration and have to cover water quickly but efficiently. The good old plastic worm has worked really well especially around the scattered thicker-looking clumps of grass. My favorite go-to color is Gene Larew’s 11”inch red-shad or june bug rigged with Bass Pro Shops 17 lb. Fluorocarbon line and a Johnny Morris Elite 7ft. medium-heavy rod and Johnny Morris Elite reel. If the water clarity is a little off-colored I use a little heavier weight such as a 3/16 oz., but if the water is pretty clear is use a 1/8 oz. weight. I’ve often been asked by my guide customers if using a rattle weight, such as Gambler’s makes a difference in getting more bites. I truly think that a rattle weight is only necessary when the water is really stained but it’s mainly due in what you have confidence in.

Other lures to try next time you’re out on Okeechobee in the morning around scattered grass is a Zara super-Spook in colors shad or bluegill. If it’s a little windy in the morning, use a spook with rattles. Rattles will get their attention quicker. A zoom horny toad worked on top with a steady-medium retrieve rigged with a small weight in colors watermelon/red, watermelon or white has been producing some good reaction bites. I’ve also been throwing a Rapala DT 4 around the grass. My favorite go-to color is shad or bluegill. When cranking in somewhat open water I use Trilene’s 10 lb. big game and a David Fritts’s 5:2:1 gear ratio reel with a David Fritts 7 ft. medium-heavy cranking rod.

Next time you’re out on the water try some of these areas: around both West and East sides of Kreamer Island and back in the thicker grassy areas; deeper holes in Pelican bay and back in the scattered grass; Grassy area; long point area; both East and West sides of Rita Island as well as back in the thicker grass; East and West wall area(s); both rock reefs; Observation Shoal in and around the grass and be sure to fish off-shore and try fishing out around the Cross area, especially in the early morning throwing a top-water or worm; some areas of the Monkey box.

If you’re launching your boat from the Belle Glade area, be sure to take time to check out all the great improvements happening on Torry Island and the Campground.

I hope this information will help you to have a better day of fishing on Lake Okeechobee. To book Capt. Angie as your guide for bass or pan fish on beautiful Lake Okeechobee, call 863-228-7263 or send an email to angie@southfloridabassfishing.com

Lake Okeechobee’s approximate water level is 13.5 ft. above sea level. Unlike last year, these past few summer months has given us enough rain to help keep the water level up which makes for easier and safer boating but still advise to use caution at all times.

With the month of September in full swing, I’m still able to catch some bluegill and shell crackers around Rita and Kreamer Island; Observation Shoal area; some areas of the Monkey Box; and in certain areas of the rim canal and Norman’s Channel. My favorite lure to catch bluegill is a small beetle spin and ultra-light rod/reel. As in the past few months, the color of the plastic grub hasn’t mattered all that much, just look for the beds, aim your cast beyond your target, let the lure sink to almost the bottom and slow roll your beetle spin to your target area and hold on. If you’re fishing to catch shell crackers, you can’t go wrong with live bait, especially a worm. My choice of rigging a worm is simple. I use a Bass Pro Shop ultra-light rod/reel spooled with 6 lb. Trilene monofilament. I use a small split shot weight and pinch it on the line about a foot above my hook. Some people use a bobber and some don’t but highly recommend it when children are holding the rod and reel.

Fishing for pan fish with ultra light tackle can be a lot of fun and I encourage my guide clients to try it if they have never done that type fishing before. I try to give my clients as much opportunity to various types/styles of fishing while out on the big O. That’s what makes for a great, fun-filled day on the water.

Bass fishing has slowed a bit mainly due to limited areas of concentration. This is the time of year that you’ll find bass out in open water chasing shad their main forage and due to the water level, you’ll still be able to find and catch bass in the grassy parts of the lake. My pattern(s) have consisted of both open/grassy areas. The bigger bites have been sporadic, with some days covering a lot of water to catch a big one and other days, they’ve been more concentrated in one area.

My choice of lures have been a shad or bluegill colored top water such as a Zara Spook for more open water areas and scattered grass; a Toad or Frog in colors white, black and watermelon for thicker grass areas; a Gene Larew 8 or 11”inch june bug, red shad or watermelon colored worm, depending on water clarity. For schooling bass, I throw a Spro lipless rattle-trap in colors green shiner or blue shiner. For those of you who like fishing a Carolina rig, I’ve been catching some bass in certain areas of the lake using a fluke, senko and worm, colors depending on water clarity. I’ve also been throwing a crank bait in and around the rim-canal. The best lure and color for me has been the Rapala DT 6 or 10 in colors bluegill, shad, and your chartreuse colors, all depending on water clarity. Area’s of the lake to try next time your out on the big O are: The Cross-Islands (out from Observation Shoal)…this is a great early morning summertime pattern; Observation Shoal in and around the grass/cattail edge; Monkey box area(s); Rita Island on the west and east side; Kreamer Island and Pelican Bay.

I hope this information will help you to have a more product and enjoyable day while fishing on Lake Okeechobee. When booking your next fishing trip with Capt. Angie out on the big O, be sure to ask her the benefits of a guided split day of fishing this time of year. Contact Capt. Angie by calling 863-228-7263 or email at: angie@southfloridabassfishing.com.

Capt. Angie’s sponsors are: Torry Island Campground & Marina; Bass Pro Shops; Gene Larew Soft Plastics; Rapala; Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop; Real Magic; Navionics; Trilene and Lowrance Electronics.

Capt. Angie Douthit’s July, 2009 Lake Okeechobee fishing report from the south-end of Torry Island.

Current Lake Okeechobee water level is around 12ft. above sea level. The bluegill and shell cracker bite is still in full swing and should continue through the month of July. If you’re in search of bluegill, I’ve had lots of success catching them on light tackle spinning gear. Try using a 6-8 lb. test Trilene smooth casting line rigged with a beetle spin and my choice of colors in a grub have been a black w/yellow stripe, all-white or orange w/chartreuse stripe. For shell cracker fishing, a live-worm, rigged with a small split-shot sinker attached to the line about 1 ft. above the worm for optimal presentation seems to work best. The more aggressive shell cracker’s will bite a small jig head rigged with a black grub but takes a little more patience if you have no live-worms available. Both bluegill and shell cracker beds are located very closely together and sometimes see both in the same area.

The bass fishing has still been producing some “quality bites” along main cattail lines, cruising shallow water around the bluegill and shell cracker beds. The top-water bite has been producing some bigger bass throughout a day’s fishing but mainly in the morning. Lures to try are a Zara spook in the frog or shad pattern, a black Spro frog, Zoom toad in colors watermelon, white or June bug and Sam Griffin’s “Little Richard”, which is a lure that is ripped on top and has a small prop on the back. If you have buzz bait handy, I would definitely give it a try as well….the slower retrieve seems to work best.

For all of you who like to throw plastic worms and lizards, now is the time to put them to use. The best color to use is red shad, June bug, and watermelon. Although I’m a big fan of the Gene Larew 11” salty snake, it seems the bigger bass have been wanting something a litter smaller both in diameter and length, so I’ve switched to Larew’s 8” ringtail worm.

Every now and again you’ll see and hear some schoolies, so keep your senses aware because they go back down just as fast as they come up.

If shallow water crank’n is what your go-to lure is, I’ve been using the new purple-gold colored Rapala X-Rap Shad Shallow, which mimics the color of a bluegill almost exactly.

With the above mentioned artificial lures for bass and bluegill along with live-worms for shell crackers, I believe you’ll have a successful day of fishing while out on the big O. Be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen and your favorite wide-bream hat for maximum sun protection.

When booking your next fishing trip with Capt. Angie out on the big O, be sure to ask her the benefits of a guided split-day of fishing this time of year.

Side note: While out on Okeechobee lately, I’ve been seeing the commercial boats using their nets closer in to the shoreline. This can cause a very hazardous situation for all involved, so keep an eye out and be sure to report anything that can cause unsafe boating conditions, etc. to the FWC.

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Torry Island Campground and Marina; Mercury; Motor Guide; Gene Larew Soft Plastics; Rapala; Bass Pro Shops; Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop; Real Magic; Navionics and Trilene.

Lake Okeechobee’s current water level is around 11 ft. above sea level. Despite lots of windy days lately while navigating on the big O there has remained many pockets/areas of cleaner looking water to help start your search for bass fishing.

The bluegill bite is in full-swing and can be caught on crickets, live-minnows or jigs. The color of the jig hasn’t really mattered as much as finding the right little area(s). Some areas to try next time out is Tree Island, Pahokee rocks, East wall, Bare beach and around parts of Bird Island and Shoal.

The bass fishing has been picking up and I’m hooking some really nice ones along with a lot of 2-3 lb. ers. A lot of bass have been moving on out towards the edge of the cattail line and on out further into the lake feeding on schools of shad and bedding bluegill. This is the time of year you want to keep your ear and eye senses on constant alert for the schoolies which can be a lot of fun when you’re able to reach them in time to catch one with every cast J

Area’s I’ve had success fishing with guide trips for bass have been, Kramer Island (point), areas south of Kramer, majority of Rita Island (ditch), some areas of the East wall, West wall, Shoal and some parts of the Monkey box.

Also, their should be some bass moving on out in the lake towards the reef(s)….depending on water clarity, wind, etc.

As you navigate the big O, keep in mind the constant drop in water level and remember what/where the rock bottom areas are, so when shutting down off of plane be sure and give yourself plenty idle time if needed….there’s no hurry !

Producing lures to try next time you’re out on Okeechobee: Gene Larew’s 11” inch worm (salty snake) in colors junebug or watermelon, senko in colors watermelon candy or junebug, the skinny dipper (it’s a soft plastic swim bait for those of you who’ve been sleeping), Horney Toad, fluke, jig and Gene Larew’s 5” crawdad in black/blue or junebug. Hey, I just mentioned the color junebug 3 times, must be a pattern here J

I hope this information will help you to have a more productive day on the lake.

Remember; be safe, kind and courteous to your fellow boaters….we all want to enjoy our time on the water.

To book Capt. Angie for a fun-filled, knowledgeable day on Lake Okeechobee/Sawgrass area as your guide, contact her by calling 863-228-7263 or send her an email at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com

For customer’s convenience, Capt. Angie can accommodate and arrange late afternoon trips, split day’s (to catch the morning/late afternoon bite) and can arrange to meet her clients at the Sawgrass Rec. area as well.

For all your tackle, live-bait, boat/pontoon rentals, snacks and drinks, stop by Jolly Roger Marina located in Clewiston just off of Highway 27.

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Mercury, Motor Guide, Bass Pro Shops, Gene Larew, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop; Real Magic, Trilene, Navionics, and Mega Strike.

The current water level on Okeechobee has dropped to just over 12 ft. above sea level. With the constant water level changing each day boaters will have to use extreme caution as we navigate the big O this time of year…at least until the rainy season is upon us.

I’m seeing a lot of shell cracker’s on and around beds. To catch em’ I’ve been using a small jig head (color of the jig head hasn’t mattered as much as the color of plastic lure you choose to use). My favorite lure is the Gene Larew 2” baby shad in the bluegrass color (bottom side is green and topside is blue) this color will work in both stain and clearer water. Many people use crickets and live small minnows which will catch them too.

After spotting shell cracker beds, there’s a good possibility that they’re bass in the area as well.

When fishing for bass, the hot bait of “late” has been the swim bait bite, using the skinny dipper. This lure will come through both thick and sparse grass areas depending on how the lure is rigged. This lure can be thrown and worked on top or just underneath the surface with a medium steady retrieve. I always use these type lures with a heavy action 7ft. rod, a good one to use is the BPS Johnny Morris Elite with JM Elite reel and line of choice is Trilene 30 pound test big game. The color of the skinny dipper hasn’t really mattered much but I’ve had success using Lemon Ice, Bull Frog and Blue Pearl.

Another choice of lure that has always produced bites for me is the 12” Gene Larew salty snake in colors junebug, plum, red shad and watermelon.

Tying on a small double willow leaf spinner bait and working it on top of patches of eel grass has landed me some bass as well.

The flipping/pitching bite will also work and produce some really great quality bites. The key is finding some clumps of cattails closely located to some scattered grass. When flipping/pitching, I use Gene Larew’s 6” Hawg Craw or 6” Hoodaddy in colors, black-blue, junebug, and green pumpkin.

The areas that have been producing both shell crackers and bass has been Observation Island area(s), parts of Rita Island, some areas of the West Wall, south-end of Bird Island, behind Horse Island, some parts of King’s Bar, and parts of Pelican Bay.

The majority of the bass spawn is pretty much over and with the water level coming down each day the bass should keep moving out towards the outside grass line, then on out into the lake for the summertime pattern(s).

I hope this information helps you to have a more productive day of fishing while out on Okeechobee.

For all your tackle, live-bait, boat rentals, fishing license, drinks and snacks be sure to stop by Jolly Roger Marina located in Clewiston, located off of Highway 27.

Remember, be safe and courteous to your fellow boaters….we all want to enjoy our time on the water.

To book Capt. Angie as a professional guide on Okeechobee or the Sawgrass Recreational area, call her at 863-228-7263 or email her at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com.

Angie’s sponsors include Mercury marine, Bass Pro Shop, Gene Larew soft plastics, Navionics, Trilene, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop and Real Magic.

The current water level for Lake Okeechobee is just over 13 ft. above sea level. During the month of February the big O experienced a lot of windy days from the north, northeast, northwest. On days like these, it’s best not to fight mother-nature, so I load up my guide customers and travel to the north end and fish the upper part of the big O. At the end of the fishing day, customers appreciate the extra effort and they’re left with a feeling of an enjoyable day on the water and look forward to their next visit on Okeechobee.

When the wind is more conducive to fishing the south-end, I’ve found the area(s) of Observation Island, West wall, East wall, Rita Island and South-Rim to hold bass. I like to start the morning with a top water bite which can consist using a zoom cut-tail worm in colors plum or junebug, a Lonnie Stanley ribbit in white or watermelon/red and a flapp’n shad (be sure to cut the tail at a 45 degree angle to get the most action). In the sparse grass areas I throw a shad color pop-r, small buzz bait rigged with a white shirt and a zara spook. On some days and when conditions are “right”, I didn’t have to lay down my top water rod…….now that’s fun and customers love it !!

When fishing conditions slow, I throw my two favorite plastic which is a worm and tube. My choice is either the 8”in. or 11”in. worm in colors; junebug/blue, red shad, plum and watermelon, all depending on water clarity. When throwing the 4.5” fat tail tube my choice color is green pumpkin/green.

Other lures to try is the watermelon/red or white fluke and senko in colors watermelon or junebug. These are my basic weapons to find/locate and catch bass !!

These past few weeks I’ve also been throwing “some” spinner baits and rattle traps. When using the rattle trap I try to stick with your shad patterns unless the water is overly stained. When throwing spinners, I use a white/chartreuse colored skirt or just white and rig it with a double blade willow leaf, one gold, and one silver. If the water is somewhat muddy I switch to a copper colored Colorado blade for more thump/vibe. Try the spinner bait and rattle traps on the outside edge of a good-looking reed line or cattail line with some eel grass J

For the pan fish anglers, some bluegill is being caught and the crappie bite is starting to pick back up. Areas to try are around Bird Island, Horse Island and the point of the reef around the Monkey box area. Live bait has been working best but you may want to tie on a jig head and rig it with a Gene Larew 2” in. baby shad in colors bluegrass and licorice/chartreuse pearl.

If you’re launching your boat in Clewiston, be sure to stop by Jolly Roger marina for all your angling needs ranging from fishing license to live-bait. If you’re launching around the Belle Glade area Slim’s Fish camp is conveniently located right on the water with several boat launches and also keep live fresh bait on hand as well as fishing license, snacks and drinks.

I hope this information helps you to have an enjoyable and fun day on the big O.

To contact Capt. Angie for a guided bass/pan fish trip you can call her at 863-228-7263 or send an email angie@southfloridabassfishing.com.

Angie’s sponsors include: Mercury marine, Bass Pro Shop, Gene Larew soft plastics, Rapala, Bob’s Hi-Performance machine shop, Navionics, Trilene and Real Magic.

Lake Okeechobee water level is currently 13.79 ft. South Florida has experienced some cooler temperatures lately which have helped to pull some of the bigger female bass into certain areas of the lake to spawn. Fishing on the big O has picked up from last month and is evident with some nice “sacks” of fish being brought in to the weigh scales at local events held around the lake. Approximate weight of a 5 bass limit has averaged around 20 lbs. which usually contains a good kicker fish (7lbs. or heavier).

While out on the big O guiding, I’m seeing areas of the lake that have eel grass, pepper grass and hydrillia which can be a good starting point to look for when bass fishing. Bass are being caught on the north-end (Okeetantie area) and south-end (Clewiston area) on both hard/soft lures. If it’s top water action you like tie on a shad colored pop-r or a zara spook (clear colored) and aim your cast to the open-holes in the grass. When fishing the heavier grass areas try a frog, flappin’ shad or cut-tail speed worm in colors watermelon, june bug or red shad. Bass are also being caught on spinner baits and rattle traps around the outside edges of the grass line. When the bite slows, try throwing a fluke, senko or worm (either 8 or 11in.) in colors watermelon, green pumpkin, red shad, june bug and black-grape. When fishing with the fluke or senko I’ve been using an 1/8 or 1/32 oz. weight and a Gambler 1/8 oz. rattle weight when fishing a worm. I’m a firm-believer in using as little weight as possible. The most important tip I can give to anyone fishing with plastics is to always be able to maintain constant contact with your lure, if you’re fishing and can’t feel what that lure is doing, then its time to switch to a heavier weight.

When flippin’ and pitchin’ it is vital that you control the decent of your lure because a lot of times that’s when the bass strike and without constant contact you may never realize you have a bite until she’s got you wrapped around some heavy cover and your left wondering what just happened J

Some areas to try next time your out on Okeechobee is around Rita Island, some areas of Pelican bay (look for the clearer-colored pockets of water), around Uncle Joe’s, Observation Island area(s), outside Monkey-box area and the Okeetantie area(s).

I hope this information will help you to have a more successful day while bass fishing out on the big O. Always be kind and courteous to your fellow boaters…..we all want to enjoy our time on the water !

To all the lady bass anglers out there who are thinking of competing in the upcoming 2009 Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) log onto www.bassmaster.com/wbt. Once at the site, you’ll be able to view the tour schedule, rules, etc. This will be another exciting year with the top-female angler earning her spot in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic Championship !!

Angie Douthit’s sponsors include: Mercury marine, Motor Guide, Bass Pro Shops, Gene Larew soft plastics (1-800-yes-salt…ask for Luke), Navionics, Real Magic, Bob’s Machine Shop and Rapala.

December, 2009

The current water level on Lake Okeechobee is just over 14 ft. While fishing the big O you’ll find variations in water clarity mainly due to wind pushing the clearer colored pockets of water around, this usually makes for a good starting point when scouting to find and catch bass.

For the pan fish anglers, some are being caught at the lake-side entrance into Uncle Joe’s ditch and some areas of the ditch itself. Other areas are Bird Island, Observation Island and the “old” inside rim canal area between Clewiston and South Bay. Angler’s choice seems to be live-minnows and a jig rigged with anything chartreuse colored.

It’s no secret that Okeechobee has been fishing tough lately and with that in mind may I suggest several different approaches you may want to try next time your out on the big O. One main pattern is to go back to the area(s) that you’ve always been able to catch a few fish…for that time of year. Once there, look for any bait fish, birds feeding, etc., if both or one is present more than likely bass will be in the vicinity as well. I always start out with my “go-to lures” and we all have our favorite. After fishing the area and still have no or little success try downsizing your presentation such as lure and line.

Another pattern to try is something that I strive to do whether fishing the big O or a lake located across the country and that is to fish slower !! On the cover of the December 2008 Bassmaster issue KVD says to “slow down” literally !! It’s true, a lot of times the bass just don’t react as quickly as we’d like them to and when this happens we have to slow down or fish the area more thoroughly in order to get the bites.

As anglers, we all drive past an area(s) that look good to us but we keep driving by and say to ourselves “ I should stop and fish that” or “I should stop and fish it more thoroughly”. Well next time, do just that, you just never know what you may find.

I hope these tips will help to make your day on the water more successful. Have a safe and happy holiday and remember, be kind and courteous to your fellow boaters.

For all your tackle and bait needs stop by Slim’s Fish Camp located in Belle Glade or Jolly Rogers marina located in Clewiston.

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Mercury motors, Motor Guide, Gene Larew soft plastics, Bass Pro Shops, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop, Rapala, Navionics, Real Magic, Trilene and Stanley lures.

To book Capt. Angie as your guide on Lake Okeechobee located in Clewiston contact her by calling 863-228-7263 or by at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com

As of Nov. 13, the current water level for Lake Okeechobee is 14.62 ft. The Corps. of Engineers has been releasing water out of the lake in pulses which has kept the level between 14-15 ft. The big O will have lots of boat traffic for the next 4 months or so especially with the coming of two major bass fishing events kicking off in Dec., are annual northern trekkers in search of some great pan/bass fishing and not too mention the local guide activity as well as our neighboring friends from both coast.

While guiding out on the big O, I’ve noticed a lot of pan fish activity going on in the Uncle Joe’s area both in the canal and on out into the lake somewhat. A lot of small bluegill and some crappie are being caught right now with the occasional bigger ones mixed in and the choice of bait is live-minnows. The inside areas of Observation Island has been buzzing of late with the air boaters scouting and fishing for both pan and bass.

Other areas I’ve seen some activity include the West wall which stems from the west side of the Clewiston canal all the way up to Uncle Joe’s cut which is the area we (meaning locals) call the goal post or spoil islands that run along Uncle Joe’s out in the lake. That whole area contains clean water, a nice wide boat trail to run, thinner areas of clumps of grass surrounded by thicker grass, which, as a bass angler is what you look for. I’ve even trolled down the boat path floating shiners out of the back of the boat while throwing artificial lures from the front, this works great when one person in my guide party doesn’t want to use artificial lures and the other does. I’ve seen some boating activity (mainly bass) in most of the dynamite holes located between Clewiston (heading south) towards South bay and on over to Belle Glade (Bay bottom area) at Slim’s fish camp. These areas have been and will always be a popular fishing spot mainly due in part of the rock ledges they contain as well as close proximity of deeper water…which at times you’ll hook up with an occasional snook or tarpon.

If you’re traveling to the big O coming from the West Palm beach area (Rt. 441/7) you can launch your boat at Slim’s fish camp, located in Belle Glade just up from the golf course. Once there, see Howard and he’ll fix you up with live-bait ranging from small minnows for pan fishing to 6-7 in. shiners for bass fishing, he also has crickets on hand. Slim’s also sells beverages, snacks and fishing license.

If you’re traveling from the Ft. Lauderdale area (Highway 27) to the big O, just stop by Jolly Rogers marina on the right just before crossing the small bridge coming into Clewiston. Brett or Dick, the owners, will have everything on hand ranging from artificial lures to fishing licenses to help make your day on the water an enjoyable one.

Both Slim’s and JR’s will have Capt. Angie’s business cards on hand for a guided fishing trip on the big O.

If your launching your boat on the west side of Okeechobee, Harney pond canal is where most, if not all people are putting in. Once you run out of the canal you’ll have a few areas to try for bass fishing. The other side of Harney pond where the bottom was scraped last year will be a good starting point, especially around the full/new moon phases J I haven’t heard much of late of many catches around the Monkey box or Bird Island area, but I definitely wouldn’t rule them out and be sure to check it from time to time. Horse Island and Twin palms area (back in) have been producing and I’ve seen most of the boat activity in this general vicinity, mainly bass anglers.

The lures I’ve had success with lately are the Gene Larew 11” watermelon or junebug colored worms rigged texas style, also Gene Larew’s lizard in the same colors (depends on water clarity). For bedding bass, I rig the lizard a little differently so as to entice a bite faster (pro’s secret). A top water such as the Lonnie Stanley Ribbit (the bigger size) can produce some strikes, and depending on the weather conditions, can be used all-day. The good old watermelon colored fluke can be twitched on top, jerked just below the surface or just throw it and let it sink has been producing both small/bigger bites. Don’t forget about the rim canal itself. Remember last year, when everyone was fishing it…..keep an eye on your depth finder and look for rock or any change in the bottom contour, that is always a good place to start J

My bass fishing tournament season has just ended and will resume this coming mid March, so I’ll be out on the big O everyday with guide trips and scouting for my upcoming re-peat and new guide clients. Be sure to call ahead for your preferred fishing dates with Capt. Angie. Contact her at www.southfloridabassfishing.com or send her an email at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com or by calling 863-228-7263. Angie is willing to work with her guide customers if they’d like to fish a different body of water (or canal) other than Okeechobee, just let me know what you have in mind when calling.

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: STORM boats, Mercury marine, Motor Guide, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop (Bob’s Jack plate), Bass Pro Shops, Gene Larew soft plastics, Navionics, Rapala, Stanley lures and Real Magic,

Lake Okeechobee’s water level has remained around the 15 ft. mark for the month of Oct/Nov. and should remain at that level throughout the coming months. As we approach the end of Nov. and the coming holidays, we’ll see our neighbors from the north start to trickle down to south Florida for some fun pan and bass fishing. Both local and visiting anglers alike are now able to reach and fish certain areas of Okeechobee that have not been accessible by boat for over two years. Because of the past low-water level conditions, the big “O” has had the opportunity to grow its grass further out into the lake giving it the appearance of the “old” Okeechobee feel and look.

Because we actually have grass out in the lake that is reachable/fishable, be sure to bring along your favorite flipping stick…..yes, I said flipping stick !! If flipping/pitching is your favorite type of bass fishing, you’ll have no shortage of miles and miles of grass to cover. I’ve had success using a Gene Larew 5” black/blue salt craw.

Along with your flipping stick be sure and bring a heavy top water rod rigged with a Lonnie Stanley watermelon colored ribbit. A black or white colored one will work as well, depending on cloud cover.

The flipping/pitching and top water technique can be used all-day long but if the bite slows way down, I can always get them to bite an 11” Gene Larew salty-snake. My favorite color(s) is junebug or red shad.

For the past month or so, I’ve been seeing some cleaned off beds with bucks hanging around preparing for the early female spawners to move in, so keep your eyes open and be sure to aim some of your casts to the open holes in the grass.

If you’re launching your boat out of the north-end or west-end of Okeechobee some areas to try is King’s bar, Horse Island and Indian Prairie.

If you’re launching out of the Clewiston city ramp or South Bay ramp, which is located on the south-end of Okeechobee try fishing the edge of some of the dynamite holes which have produced some top water action as well as a crank bait and worm bite.

Other areas to try on the south-end are the east wall, west wall, football field and the lower-end of Rita Island.

Some lures to try for the top water bite is the Lonnie Stanley ribbit, Rapala skitter pop (shad color) or zara spook (clear or shad colors). For crank’n I always throw my go-to lure which is the Rapala DT 6 or 10 in the shad color. For shallower water I use the DT fat series or the “newest” clackin’rap lipless crank bait. For soft plastics, I use Gene Larew products such as the 11” salty snake and 5” salt craw. For other great Larew products just call 1-800-yes-salt for their complete line of products and brochure.

To book Capt. Angie as your guide for a great fun-filled and knowledgeable day on the water call her at

Capt. Angie Douthit is a “current” touring Professional angler on the Women’s Bass master Tour who resides in Clewiston, FL. and is currently ranked 7^th in the country and who’s had two top 3 finishes during the 2008 season. If your wanting to learn the newest and hottest techniques that the Pro’s use to find and catch bass, Angie will be happy to share her knowledge not only of Lake Okeechobee but techniques you can use on any lake in the country.

Angie’s sponsors include: Storm boats, Mercury Marine, Motor Guide, Bass Pro Shop, Gene Larew, Rapala, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop, Real Magic and Navionics,

Lake Okeechobee (south-end) fishing report submitted to the “Outdoor Florida” monthly magazine for September, 2008 by Capt. Angie Douthit.

The current Lake Okeechobee water is 11.26 ft. Tropical storm Fay is heading our way and should add another couple inches (if not more) to the already rising lake level which is great news because we are still on the low side of catching up to our normal water level for this time of year.

The pan fish anglers are still catching some bluegill on and around the beds during the full and new moon phases. The lure of choice seems to be the beetle spin in yellow w/ black and live crickets. Some areas to try on the south-end of Okeechobee are: Observation Island (middle to north-end); East wall/Coot bay area; West wall, Bare beach (channel) and along the Clewiston channel (spoil islands) going out into the lake. Bass fishing on the big O has been good early in the morning but as the day progresses and the temperature heats up the bite can slow way down and mixed with no wind, can be a challenge at times. When booking guide trips this time of year (especially July/August months), I mention to my customers, this is the best time to take advantage of both the morning and late afternoon bite and won’t have to experience the intense sun and humidity and still enjoy our day on the water and get a full-day of fishing in.

As the water level keeps rising, we’re able to reach some areas of the south-end that have GRASS which we haven’t been able to do for quite some time and gives me the feeling of being on a whole different lake…..but this is a good thing J and gives us anglers something new to look at and fish.

On the south-end of Okeechobee you may want to try these areas that are easily accessible to everyone wanting to enjoy a day of bass fishing: The rocks along the Clewiston channel; East wall/Coot bay area; Uncle Joe’s cut and ditch (runs out into the lake) and Bare beach ditch. If you’re not familiar with running the lake, these areas are the safest to reach and are fishable. There are other places on the south-end that are producing but I do not recommend anyone running to these areas despite the water level slowly rising unless you have knowledge of the lake and how to run it. If you want to fish these other areas of the lake and experience some grass fishing, I would be happy to be your professional/knowledgeable guide for the day.

Here are some lures to take with you next time your out on the big O. For the morning bite, try tying on a Zara spook (with rattles) in colors either bluegill, shad, clear/w lemon back. A slow rolling buzz bait with skirt colors in white or black will work, as well as a Rapala skitter prop in shad worked very slowly. I’ve also had success lately with a Lonnie Stanley ribbit in colors watermelon red and white. As the morning bite slows and the sun continues to get hotter, you’ll want to slow your presentation way down, especially if there is no wind present. When this happens, I down-size in line and weight but stick to the bigger baits, like a Gene Larew 11” worm in colors red shad, june bug and watermelon. Keep in mind that the bluegill are still bedding at times, so I keep a rod rigged with a tube tied on, usually in colors, pumpkin pepper/chartreuse or watermelon/w green flake, both are rigged with no more than an 1/8 oz. weight and 12 lb. BPS fluorocarbon line. I’ve also been using a Gene Larew floating lizard lately in your basic colors such as: greens; red shads and june bug.

When the schoolies show themselves, I’ll reach for my Rapala Original floater F13 or F11 in colors bleeding olive shiner or shad, twitch the lure once and they’ve got it.

For all your travel needs at a discounted price, check out www.NetTrav.com/fl

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Storm boats, Mercury marine, Motor Guide, Bass Pro Shops, Gene Larew soft plastics, Rapala, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop, Real Magic, Trilene and Navionics.

Despite the almost daily afternoon rain showers south Florida has been receiving, the current Lake Okeechobee water level has remained around 10.00 ft., which is still 4-5 ft. below what it should be for this time of year.

For the pan fish anglers, the bluegill are still spawning around the full and new moon phrases and beds can be found out on the south-end of the lake in areas such as: Bare Beach; East Wall (Pipeline area); Uncle Joes; Observation shoal; and parts of the West Wall area.

The good old Beetle Spin in colors chartreuse and yellow/black has always worked well for me. I rig my Spin with Trilene 4lb test on a Bass Pro Shops Bill Dance pan fish combo.

For bass fishing, the same areas as for pan fish have been producing some quality catches mixed in with some big ones as well. For the morning bite, I’ve had the best success throwing a Zara Spook in colors: clear and bluegill. If its crank’n you like I’ve caught them on lipless crank bait in colors: green shiner, chrome/w blue back and blue shiner.

Rapala’s new DT Fat Sure Set (rigged with 2 VMC red hooks) and Fat series (more aggressive wobble) works well and both will run in depths ranging from 3”- 3ft.

Finesse fishing lately has really been producing both quality/quantity bass. My finesse tackle consist of the Johnny Morris Elite 7ft. medium rod and Johnny Morris Elite bait cast reel or a Johnny Morris 7ft. spinning rod/reel combo. My line of choice is Bass Pro Shops 10lb test Fluorocarbon rigged with a 3/16 or 1/8 oz. Bass Pro Shops round jig head. For lure selection I like Gene Larew’s 5” Salty head shaky worm and Zoom’s finesse-style worms. When choosing colors, I stick with the basics like: June bug, black, red shad and watermelon w/red flake.

The big O has always been a big worm lake and my favorite #1 go-to lure has been the Gene Larew 11’ salty snake in colors: red shad, June bug and watermelon, depending on water clarity and cloud cover.

While fishing out on the lake, I always keep a rod/reel handy rigged with a mojo weight, which you can find them at your local Bass Pro Shop store. This is nothing more than a skinny version of a Carolina rig. It’s quick and easy and it requires no swivel. Just slide the weight to the depth you want, peg it with a rubber stopper, tie your hook to the end and rig it with your favorite finesse-style lure.

For all your travel needs at a discounted price, check out www.NetTrav.com/fl

Capt. Angie’s sponsors include: Storm boats, Mercury marine, Motor Guide, Bass Pro Shops, Gene Larew soft plastics, Rapala, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop, Real Magic, Trilene, Navionics, and Gambler.

Lake Okeechobee (south-end) fishing report submitted to the “Outdoor Florida” monthly magazine for April, 2008 by Capt. Angie Douthit.

The water level on Okeechobee has remained around the 10 ft. above sea level mark for the past months and is currently 10.16.

As a bass fishing guide on Lake Okeechobee, I’m constantly being asked by customers, “just how low is the lake for this time of year”….approx. 5 ft. and “will the lake eventually recover” ?

My answer to these questions is very positive, and yes, I truly believe that Lake Okeechobee will recover and we’ll begin to see more vegetation and a stable, desirable lake level to meet a “happy medium” for everyone.

If you’re planning a day on the water, be sure to stop by Jolly Roger Marina in Clewiston for all your supplies and live-bait.

Bass fishing on the big O has been excellent on wild-shiners and artificial lures.

Some lures to keep handy in your boat next time your out fishing is a shad pattern Zara spook jr. and super spook; Rapala’s skitter-prop and Gene Larew’s three-legged frog in colors, black and watermelon pepper. When the cooler air temp’s arrive from time-to-time be sure to keep a Rapala Husky Jerk close at hand which has produced some very good quality bass.

Other lures I’ve had success with has been Rapala’s 4, 6, and 10ft. DT series crank baits. I stay with the shad, bass and chartreuse colors and switch according to the sky conditions. If finesse style fishing is what you like, then the drop-shot and mojo rig will produce both quality/quantity. Some great baits for finesse fishing are the centipede styles, trick worms and small craws in colors, june bug, red shad and watermelon.

It’s still our spawn time here on the big O, so with that in mind be sure to throw some tubes and lizards in your boat. Gene Larew soft plastics at www.genelarew.com makes an awesome “floating lizard” which comes in a wide variety of colors and offers a little different presentation.

The rim canal area is “still” the hottest area to fish on the big O which has humps, drop-offs, points, ledges, rock, etc. If you have the opportunity to fish the lake stay with the areas that you are confident in running/fishing for safety purposes.

During the recent annual Bass Pro Spring Fishing Classic held at the Dania Beach, Fl. location, I was asked to talk about the reasons/importance of knowing how to choose the correct rod/reel combination. As I’ve mentioned in my previous articles, “in order to get the most out of your day on the water”, having the right equipment can be the difference between a so-so day vs. a great day. If your not sure as to “what works best for the specific style of fishing that you’ll be doing I would be more than happy to answer any emails with questions.

The pan fish anglers are still catching good quality crappie and with the now-and-then cooler temperatures helps to kick it up a notch. The choice of most anglers is live-minnows and jigs.

With April fast approaching, I’d like to take a moment and mention to all the women angler’s out there to check out the www.bassmaster.com/wbt website. If you want to experience some top-quality tournament angling either as a boater or non-boater, what better way to get started than fishing BASS. The 2008 season is composed of 5 tournaments which kick-off in early April in Texas. For more information on these events check out the website or by calling 407-566-2277 and ask for the WBT department.

Angie’s sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Motor Guide, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop (Bob’s Jack plate), Navionics, Bass Pro Shop, Gene Larew, Rapala, Real Magic, Gambler lures, Trilene and Mega Strike.

The current water level on Lake Okeechobee is 9.98 ft. above sea level. Because the water level has been hovering around the 10 ft. mark for the past few months, the rim canal has been very busy with both pan/bass anglers along with some rented pontoon boats from Jolly Roger marina in Clewiston.

The pan fish anglers have been getting some great catches both in size and quantity, stemming from Sportsman’s canal all the way towards Pahokee, especially with the occasional cold front that passes through from time to time. Choice of bait is live-minnows but artificial lures like the Bobby Garland soft plastic 2” baby shad in Bluegrass (LAM) or Cajun cricket and a 2” & 3” Slab Slay’r in Electric Chicken have been produced quite well. These and bass lures can be viewed and purchased at www.genelarew.com or 1-800-yes-salt.

Here’s a question for the bass anglers that have some knowledge of real estate. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Location, Location, Location”. Well, a somewhat similar term applies here on the big O. For example, “Rim canal, Rim canal, Rim canal” especially as evidence from a recent major bass fishing event that stopped and fished the big O, “one of the country’s best fisheries” just a few weeks ago.

Yes, the rim canal area has been producing some awesome fishing lately, and for those of you who like the safety factor of finding some deeper water, that’s great news. Along with the canal fishing of late, let’s not forgot what actually put the “big waters” on the map, the lake itself. After the occasional cold front passes from time to time and wind dies down and settles the water clarity, if you truly know your body of water, you will experience a great day of fishing and you’ll probably have it all to yourself. If you’re launching from the Clewiston city ramp, here are some areas to try: the channel itself that runs out into the lake which has rock on both sides; Coot bay, which has been referred to lately as the pipeline area; East wall; Point of Kreamer Island; outside area of Pelican bay and Uncle Joe’s ditch.

For the morning bite, try your technique and “walk the dog” with a Zara super spook Jr. in colors, black shiner or bone. After the morning bite slows, my favorite has been the trusty old favorite, the worm. Gene Larew makes a great 11” salty snake floating worm, colors to try are the red shad (LAM) and black blue. I’ve also had success with their new 12” El Salto Grande in jalapeño pepper. For finesse style fishing try throwing Gambler’s Giggy head rigged with the bumble bee colored floating worm or sweebo in pepper grass for clearer colored water and red bug in off-colored. If crank’n is your go to lure, Rapala has come out with some great shallow running lures, like the DT Fat SureSet Series rigged with VMC hooks and the aggressive wobble and square lip of the DT Fat Series. Stick with your shad colors on clearer sky days and chartreuse colors on over-cast, cloudier days.

For line choice, I’m a big fan of Fluorocarbon and Bass Pro makes a great one with their XPS line for performance and price. I use Fluorocarbon mainly for slower presentations like worming, Carolina rigging and jigging. I do however use a Monofilament line for crank’n and top water such as Trilene XL smooth casting ranging from 8lb-17lb test.

For all the women anglers out there who want to put their skills to test, check out the BASS website at www.bassmaster.com and look for the WBT (women’s bass master tour). Once there, you’ll find all the information you need to sign up either as a boater or non-boater. The season kicks off in early April at Lake Lewisville, Texas. This upcoming season is one you don’t want to miss out on because the top female angler at years-end will earn a spot in the 2009 Bass master Classic! How cool is that.

Until next time, be safe, have fun and be courteous to your fellow boaters.

As a current touring professional angler and Lake Okeechobee guide, sponsors play a very important role, without them I could not enjoy doing what I love most, which is FISHING. My sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Motor Guide, Bob’s Hi-Performance Machine Shop; Bass Pro Shops; Gene Larew Soft Plastics; Rapala; Navionics; Mega Strike; Trilene; Sure Life and Real Magic.

To contact Capt. Angie for a great day of fishing on the big O call 863-228-7263 or log onto www.southfloridabassfishing.com and send her an email at angie@southfloridabassfishing.com

Lake Okeechobee:

Lake Okeechobee, world renowned bass fishing destination, is the second largest freshwater lake inside the US borders. It cover nearly 750 square miles in south central Florida and is the natural headwaters of the Everglades.

Professional Angler:

Lake Okeechobee Professional Guide Service:

Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report

by Captain Angie Douthit

Lake Okeechobee: