Toxic Lake O

[Hez]

Not good....

"A test of toxins in Lake Okeechobee returned results more than twice what’s considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, raising concerns from scientists about swimming and eating fish from the warming waters."

https://www.dailycommercial.com/zz/n...jSuIzigLAeFswk

[Whiteboat]

I am scared with the loss of the vegetation and the Orlando and agriculture run off will make the Big O the the next Lake Apopka - another world class bass fishery that was destroyed in the 60's due to agriculture run off and has never recovered.

[Hez]

I am scared with the loss of the vegetation and the Orlando and agriculture run off will make the Big O the the next Lake Apopka - another world class bass fishery that was destroyed in the 60's due to agriculture run off and has never recovered.

Lake Apopka is basically in my backyard

[gambler1]

Has the Lake bounced back? How is it fishing?

Lake Apopka is basically in my backyard

[NitroZ7]

Another hurricane come through this summer and it is really going to be bad. They blamed the last bloom on the hurricane that stirred up the lake. The bottom line to me is Florida has been over developed and the boom in the central part of the state is going to make it worse. I'm beginning to wonder if the lake can be saved. I watched a video on how Lake Apopka got bad and it sure seems like the Big O is headed in the same direction.

[BassCatBrad]

Has the Lake bounced back? How is it fishing?

For the most part Lake Apopka is still dead. Most of the lake has multiple feet of muck on the bottom. During the spawn there are areas that have springs that are good.

I love how they blame the hurricanes for stirring up the muck or lake bottom in Okeechobee. The reason why that crap is there in the first place is because the constant spraying and decaying weeds put it there.

[LgMouthGambler]

Must be all those "toxins" they are spraying in the waters.

[Hez]

For the most part Lake Apopka is still dead. Most of the lake has multiple feet of muck on the bottom. During the spawn there are areas that have springs that are good.

Brad is spot on here. Most of it is DEAD...a lot of gizzard shad, gar and catfish on the bottom. There are a few spots that hold some bass....plus FWC stocked the lake with close to 1,000,000 fingerlings in the Fall of 2017. So that should help in the next couple of years...but the boat ramps suck...all 3 of them...the one in Magnolia Park I would not even fire my big motor up for all the muck in that shallow water. The best ramp (IMO) is on the McDonald Canal on the north end...

[ROBODOM]

Same here. used to have a little pond hopper I'd try to take out there but the ramps are so far from where the fish are it would take forever to get to them. It was like running thru chocolate milk. Heard the spring down at the SW end had hybrids but never made it that far to find out.

[ScottOz]

They have to leave the Natural Filters in place and stop SPRAYING

[250bassFL]

They have to leave the Natural Filters in place and stop SPRAYING

Doesn't look like that is going to happen.

[Chopper]

They have to leave the Natural Filters in place and stop SPRAYING

Looks like they are well on their way to killing this lake too. Between the spraying and the chemicals coming from the cane fields, this lake don't stand a chance. I don't guess the FWC will be happy until they have killed every lake in the state with their spraying attack. If they don't stop this insanity we will have nothing left but huge mud holes instead of lakes.

[Gamblerman65]

It is hard to believe that of all the states in the US that this has happened in FL. Without water and fishing FL. is nothing unless you go for the Disney stuff. They will realize what they have done when the tourism $ from the fishing dries up. I'm an old guy so I probably will never see it happen but someday there are people going to jail over this killing of our lakes..

[Hookset5]

The New Lake Apopka. We are not Planning on going down until the lake improves. Now that Tournaments are being canceled maybe people will wake up. I use to love the Big O, sorry to see her decline. there is no reason to go to clewiston if the lake sucks....JMO

[Lake murray]

what tournaments have been canceled?

[ScottOz]

what tournaments have been canceled?

I have not heard of any.

[ScottOz]

11.14 and on the rise

[perfect-storm]

11.14 and on the rise

Thats the ABSOLUTE worst thing that can happen to Okeechobee now. It needs to be lower and stay low for an extended period of time.

[Hookset5]

Toho One man is moved to Kissimmee.

[SuperBee]

They have already killed Lake Istokpoga as well. Some of the clubs are not coming here any more. Lake Istokpoga use to be one of the best lakes in the country.