Lake Okeechobee

There are a couple reports... please make sure you read them all.

Capt. Ron Stevens, Professional Guide
Submitted on Mid November 2009

The lake level is at 13.89 this morning, and the water temperature is at 72.3. This past week has been one of very high winds in the area, and had made getting out into and on the big lake difficult & uncomfortable at best. The winds have cooled the water down, and the fish are on the move, looking for their spawning places. The fishing has been good to very good all week. For those who braved the water, or made the long run around the rim canal, the "monkey box" and the "north shore" have been very productive. There have also been some very good catches of fish caught in Cochran's Pass, deep in the heavy cover.

The trail from Rocky Point back into behind the east wall has also produced some action on toads and skinny dippers. This has been a busy week, with a lot of great fishing and fish being caught. On Tuesday, we did a benefit for the Office Depot Foundation, with over 40 boat participating, Tony Stewart showed up to fish along with a lot of folks from Office Depot and the companies donating to the foundation. It took over 27 pound of bass for the winning team to take home the trophy and bragging rights. During the past week, I have had fish that have been over 8 pound, and seven pound on different trips. The wind has stirred up the fish and gotten them hungry and putting on some weight for the upcoming spawn.

I don't have much to report on the crappie or brim fishing, as a lot of the fellows didn't go out. So far, this is shaping up to be a really great season.

Capt. Ron Stevens
Sunrise Bass Fishing Charters
http://www.sunrisefishing.com

Fish for a trophy BASS of a lifetime on beautiful Lake Okeechobee in the warm Florida sun. Ron Stevens is an U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain who has guided for 20+ years. Ron is a full time professional guide and is also a Top 10 qualifier on the FLW Tour. Learn the latest and hottest tips using all new equipment. Click on our link above, or call us at (800) 236-8659

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Report submitted by Captain Mark King
November 7, 2009

Wow a little cool weather and some wind and the bass have really turned on here on Lake Okeechobee. I guess it has been a lot of wind but if the fish continue to bite like they are right now than let the wind blow. The wild shiner and artificial bite has been good all week here at the south end of the lake and from what I here from other guides at the north end of the lake it is also on fire. It has been a little tough and you might get wet getting to a good place to fish but once you get there and start catching you will forget all about the rough ride you took to get to the fish.

Some areas that have been real good this week have been the East and West Walls, the Monkey Box, and out on Long Point if you can fish it. The bass are on the move toward traditional spawning areas and looking for bait to eat along the way. Wild shiners really produced well this past week especially for the Office Depot Foundation’s first annual charity fishing tournament held at Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort. This event was a great success and raised money for the Foundation and it was pretty cool to get to see NASCAR driver Tony Stewart at Lake Okeechobee. Along with a great wild shiner bite the bass have been hitting artificial lures in all these same areas. A Gambler Ace rigged with a 1/16 ounce screw in bullet weight and a Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper is the baits of choice this past week and I think that they will work great all winter long. The vegetation is a lot thicker than it was last year and it is making it a lot tougher to fish some of the areas that were so good last year. A lot of the areas we are just now starting to get some boat trails through them and this will help open up some of these areas so that water can flow through them and the bass will have a direct route to their spawning areas.

The bluegills are still biting well and I have heard that a few crappies are being caught but no one is telling where. The snowbirds are making there way to Florida and myself like most business owners are welcoming them back. The bass are biting on Lake Okeechobee and now is a great time to book a trip with me. Hope to see everyone on the water soon.

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, Sebile Lures, 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, Fuel Medic Ethanol Treatment, 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

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