Bad days on Okeechobee - any help appreciated

[Tonyc]

I'm down from New York State(upstate around albany) on the big O and have been fishing now for 4 days. We have 10 days left and I'm trying to find some help with our fishing. So far we have nothing over 4 pounds and the bigger fish are far between. We can catch small fish though but they also are far between bites.

We are fishing black and blue fleck 5, 6, and 7 inch senkos type worms, weighted around the grass. The outside edge seems to produce better for us. Have tryed skinny dippers and white willow leaf spinnerbaits/

Any help much appreciated. God Bless. Happy New Year!

[BlaznbyU]

dont know much about Okeechobee but if it were me I would hire a guide for the day...

[cwilt]

haven't been there in the past couple weeks but when i was there I was throwing big ez's with a 6/0 hook not weighted through the kissimme grass. the bigger females were in there. they wouldn't take a pitch or flip bait or frog .every week is different with the changing. conditions . have a club tx there early next month. I am originally from ny. and spent lots of time upstate, Delaware, river area.

[jbasslouie]

Hey Tony, welcome to the Big O. I think the cold front the last couple of days has made it tough. Where are you fishing at? North or south end?

Moved out here from NJ a year ago. For Okeechobee, you have to find clear water, these fish don't seem to bite well in any dirty water.
The warmer weather over the next couple days should get them back on the bite. As someone posted earlier, the Big EZ's seem to be popular. Copperfield is a good color. Also try fishing this bait with a small bullet weight, fish slowly and let it drop and sit every now and then.

Good luck and hope you have a good trip.

[perfect-storm]

Check your IM

[cwilt]

+1 what louie said. you have to find the cleaner water.

[Tonyc]

We found clean water. Fished tin house, east shore, buckhead, horse island, indian prarie, Didn't see anyone getting any good fish, only small. We had a total of 5 fish today, 1 5,1lber and the rest all small.


Modified by Tonyc at 4:34 PM 1/1/2012

[Tonyc]

As far as hiring a guide, we don't waNt to pay big bucks to fish shinners. $350 a day is alot of money when you are on a tight budget. Was just looking for some local help and to see if anyone was doing good?

[ol man river]

youre doing just fine, from what ive heard and seen. the big girls have left with the cold front, and the next one will be worse....

[STRATOSEXTREME ROY]

The fish keep changing, the big fish have been caught flipping and caught on frogs/swimbaits.
you want to find the break in water clarity where the water just starts to get clean.
Throw a Big EZ copperfield or Forty Niner color, cast long burn it then slow it down, if you see a wake or think you see a wake drop it and wait.
the shoal/observation island area is a good place to start, but you want to be near beds, not necessarly on them, with the the weather change this week they will be transitioning on and off the beds.
also try a smaller EZ Swimmer or Horny toad type frog.
Good Luck Hope this helps!

[LexIS307]

what part of the lake are you at, n,s,e,w. try throwing the big swimbaits and slow down with the fronts....get back into the thick stuff if you can...west wall and uncle joes cut

[Tonyc]

we are fishing the north end, launching at scott driver park. fishing mostly in or around the tin house, 2nd and 3rd point. Tryed buck head today. Only three fish today and none for me, my partner caught the three. we were out when the front moved in, thought bite would turn on, no doing. I fished an ez, slow, fast, you name it. I don't think we are around fish.

[red sled]

we fished the South end out of Clewiston Sat and Sun. We fished the coves and pockets just off of the Rim Ditch throwing a 6 inch Producto Producer June Bug in color texas rigged worm Fish real slow. The fish seemed to be fairly shallow 1-4 ft. We could not get the big girls to play. My wife out fished me Sat pretty bad. She was fishing real slow. Our biggest was 4 lbs both days. We caught about 20 fish Sat. Sunday was slower we noticed an algae bloom or something had the water pretty dirty. We fished closer to Belle Glade where the water was cleaner. Thanksgiving weekend we had better quality fish out of the same areas

[storm 22]

call me 239-910-3807 Steve

[Tonyc]

Hi Steve,

I gave you a call, got storm boats.

[Gamblurr man]

If all else fails, just follow the other guy out there that looks like hes got it figured out

[cartrader]

going to fish the big O in late march, what is a Big EZ ??? thanks Phillip

[krainium]

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