Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report February 19th, 2007
Clewiston-----Wow has it been cold the past week here on the big lake, but the fishing is still hot. Most of the guides have been reporting having a couple good days and then a slow day and then back to good days. I guess these cold fronts have these Florida bass guessing if they really are in Florida or in one of the cold northern states. The water level has really dropped this week to 11.30 feet above sea level and you can really tell if you go out onto the lake as land and rocks start to show themselves above the water. Capt. Ron Stevens and Capt. Jerry Wares both guides out of Roland Martin's Marina reported catching bass over eight pounds last week and Capt. Mike Balon had a couple good days in between cold fronts. The West Wall is getting very shallow and hard to fish if the wind is blowing out of this area, but the fishing continues to be good. I'm not sure how much longer these bass will be able to hold in this shallow water before they head out into the lake on the rock pile and channels . There is still some water up on the shoal and if they wind isn't beating it to bad you can catch some nice bass on the outside grassline and the grass points on wild shiners and artificial lures. I have been using a Berkley Jerk Shad in watermelon-red color and 10" worm in black-blue color to catch some nice bass up to four pounds. The dynamite holes south of Clewiston have been producing some nice bass as long as the wind isn't churning the water up to bad, wild shiners are the bait of choice but I have caught a few bass on Berkley Fenzy rattle bait in chrome/blue color fished parallel to the drop off. I have also had reports of some nice bass being caught in and around Pelican Bay, how far in you can fish really depends on the wind direction and the bass seem to be moving in and out of this area depending on the wind direction and depth of water. A lot of weekend fishermen and folks that are not real sure about running the lake with it being shallow are fishing in the main channel outside of Clewiston and have been catching a few bass on wild shiners without worrying about tearing up their boat, these bass seem to be holding right on the edge of grassline before it drops into deeper water. With the weather being not so great last week quite a few of the guides out of Roland Martin's Marina headed south to the Everglades for a day of fishing out of the wind, most reported having good fishing all day catching bass on both wild shiners and artificial baits. Some of the areas in the Everglades to try would be Sawgrass, Holiday Park and out on Alligator Alley, most of the guides from up this way are going to Sawgrass and are catching a good number of bass up to four pounds. I haven't heard to much from the crappie fishermen this past week but I do know that they were out and I did see them catching a few in Uncle Joe's Cut and south of Clewiston in the rim canal. A quick follow up report on my Garcia Revo Reels that I have been using the past two months, I have had no problems and they cast and look like they did the day I got them. I love the way they fit in my hand and how light in weight they are, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a high quality low profile baitcasting reel at an affordable price.
Bass Wishes
Capt. Scott Martin / Capt. Mark King
