February has been another month of cold fronts and unseasonable cold weather for the Lake Okeechobee region. But March is on the way and good warm weather should also be on the way for south Florida. The bass fishing here on Lake Okeechobee has been good on some days and not so good on days when the cold fronts roll through here. But it is fishing and everyone seems to be having a good time catching some bass and just seeing what Lake Okeechobee has to offer now that the drought is over and we have water in the lake. The lake level is at 13.09 feet above sea level and still dropping slowly as the farmers pull water from the lake. You can access most areas with the water at the level it is at but it is starting to get skinny in a lot of the areas that we are currently fishing.
I'm so excited about what I have been seeing the past few weeks out on the lake that I just have to let everyone know. I have seen more bass making beds and around them than I can count and I don't mean just small buck bass, I have seen a lot of eight pound plus bass just roaming around looking for places to spawn. I have been seeing hundreds of fingerling bass from three to five inches swimming around in almost all of the areas that I have been fishing and there is so much bait out there that it is a wonder that you can even catch a bass on an artificial lure. The habitat is great, the bass are here, and the lake is at a great level and good shape for a super spawn this year. Lake Okeechobee will once again be the best bass fishery in the United States in a couple years. In the mean time go out and catch some of the great bass that are out there just waiting to be caught.
The areas that I have been concentrating on the past few weeks are from Cochran's Pass down to Bay Bottom. From the outside grass line back in as far as your boat will float there are bass beds and I mean a lot of them. They are not everywhere but as soon as you spot one you will start to see a lot more. We have been doing a couple different things to catch these bass that are not yet locked on the beds, one way is to blind cast a Gambler Flappin Shad or Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper and retrieve it over the heavy grass where the beds are located and the other way is to throw a Senko in the bed and wait. Color choice for the Flappin Shad and the Skinny Dippers don't seem to matter that much. Both methods are working great but it also depends on the wind and how spooky the bass are in a certain area, boat traffic in an area certainly makes a difference.
With the vegetation being so thick in most all of the areas that I'm fishing I have moved up to a heavier rod and line. For throwing the Gambler Flappin Shad and Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper I have started using a Deep South 7' 11" extra heavy rod and sixty five pound test PowerPro braided line. With this combo I'm able to get the bass up and out of the grass quick and get them to the boat, and with the extra length rod I'm able to make very long casts so I don't have to worry about spooking the bass from running my trolling motor in the grass. If you have not checked out the new Deep South line of rods you owe it to yourself to do so, they are a new rod company but soon to be at the top for sure. You can check them out at www.deepsouthfishingrods.com or call me and I can answer your questions about this awesome lineup of bass fishing rods and soon to be available inshore rods.
The bass fishing in the Everglades has been great if numbers of bass are what you are looking for. The bass are small but who doesn't like to catch over fifty bass a day and all on artificial lures. The bluegills are still going strong here on Okeechobee and crickets are the way to go to catch them. Not much to report on as far as crappies, few are being caught and this is from the guys who go out everyday.
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. Mark is an IGFA Certified Captain, active member of the Florida Guide Association and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. Captain Mark is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Deep South Rods, Power-Pole, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Minn Kota trolling motors, Gambler Lures, AFTCO clothing, Van Staal pliers, Smartshield Sun Protection Products, Northlake Marine, RMR Industries and Frigid Rigid coolers.
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 863-983-9950 or at www.markkingfishing.com and be sure and check out www.mybassclass.com