Lake Okeechobee Summer Fishing Report
Lake Okeechobee is currently at 14.3 feet. The level of the lake fluctuates throughout the seasons and depends on rainfall levels. So far this summer, the water has been very clear all over the lake. You can find the clearest water near the Kissimmee River. The heat index is the biggest concern when fishing this time of year, which is seen in the daily water temperature that has been averaging 89-93 degrees. Make sure to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water when fishing in the summer.
Also be careful when boating and fishing on Lake Okeechobee during the summer since thunderstorms tend to roll in fast and change the conditions on the lake pretty quickly. Make sure you keep an eye on the weather to be able to get back to safety as quickly as possible.
Bass and bream have been plentiful this season on Lake Okeechobee. This is much better than what you typically find during the summer months. We have been seeing bass over 7 pounds are caught consistently all over the lake! Even so, the north and northwest sides of the lake have been best locations to fish in.
Early morning has been the best time of day to catch bass this summer. They have biting on top water lures and shiners in the mornings. Further into the day as it gets hotter, senko or big worm in deeper areas have been seeing success. The deeper areas of Lake Okeechobee include Sportsman Channel, the mouth of the Monkey Box, Clewisont Channel, and areas in front of Kreamer Island and between Clewiston and Pahoke rocks. Using a Rat-L-Trap and flipping a big jig in later, hotter parts of the day have been successful in catching bass, as well.
If you are looking for bream, you should head towards the Monkey Box, Dyess ditch, Horse Island, and Dupree Bar. Other areas fishermen are having lots of luck in are Grassy Island, Tin House, South Bay, and the Shoal, so be sure to check those out as well.
When choosing a top water lure, some popular and effective ones this season have been devils horses, cranking/popping frogs, and buzz baits. And this season’s best colors are watermelon, red, blue, black, white, and shad/bream colors.
In the upcoming fall fishing season, be prepared for the water of Lake Okeechobee to cool and for the big fish to start biting! As they start getting ready for winter procreation, large concentrations of bass will start showing up along the outside fringes of inshore spawning grounds. Some fishermen report catching between 25-40 largemouth bass in four-hour fishing trips during this season. The weight of their catches average 3 pounds.
Be sure to check back in for more fishing reports from Lake Okeechobee as the seasons progress!
