    
Capt. Harry Simmons
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2002 - 12:47 am: | |
Subject: Fishin' Report, Lake Okeechobee, May 6, 2002
Fishin' Report
Lake Okeechobee
Florida Freshwater Fishing Report for:
Lake Okeechobee, Lake Istokpoga and Stick Marsh/Farm 13.
Updated: May 6, 2002
The Bass are on their summer feed and coming to the surface in low light conditions. Crappie/Specks are in the deeper water. The Mayan Cichlids are really feeding as the water gets warmer. Shellcrackers are hitting on both the full and new moon.
Give me a call or send an e-mail for your reservations. Get some suntan before you arrive, as it is getting pretty warm. See you soon.
Weather note:
Water temperature has been around 78 to 89 degrees f.
Having air temperature with lows of around 70 with days of 93.
The big lake is just under 13.0 feet above sea level. Make sure you know the water when driving your boat. There are a lot of shoals in what looks like open water.
Check http://cyberangler.com/weather/, www.weather.com/, or www.gopbi.com /weather/, http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/DS.p19r0/si.kmlb.shtml/ before you venture out on the water.
Lake Okeechobee:
Specks are hitting minnows drifted in open water and around the edges at night.
For Bass, as usual, the Wild Golden Shiners are the bait of choice. Always keep a top water lure on deck. That includes your flyrod. Use the Pecks chartreuse #2 popper flies.
I am seeing too many top-water fisher-folks working the lures way too fast. Think of the ‘dying minnow’ as something to emulate and a dying minnow isn't racing across the water at breakneck speed. When you think you are going too slow, slow down some more.
Go with top water in low light conditions and then green glitter worms and crank baits in silver and blue and silver and black after the sun gets up. Use spinner baits in white or chartreuse when there is a breeze. Look for 2 kinds of veggies to toss your lure near. That’s where the Bass are located.
Lake Istokpoga and the Stick Marsh:
Use caution while boating in lake Istokpoga as the Hydrilla has all been poisoned and when there is a 20 mph wind the very shallow water becomes dangerous. Another case of ‘man’ messing with ‘Mother nature’.
Since the recent spraying to kill all the veggies in the Stick Marsh, the Bass hit is slow. The water is a putrid yellow tan color. You need to wait till the water clears up before fishing the Stick Marsh
Mayan Cichlids:
We are catching these imports averaging one pound and bringing home 125 to 150 per trip. We are catching 450 to 500 per trip. They are also great eating and are great fighters.
Fun on the water: The Campbell brothers, Bob and Mark, Tom Steele And Gary Muncey with a bonanza Mayan Cichlid run, Derick and Rick with Bass to 7 lbs., Pete Harbin and his Son-in-law Hans with another great Mayan run.
Safety:
Please keep in mind SAFETY at all times. I may be in the next boat.
Capt. Harry Simmons
You can contact Capt. Harry Simmons at:
Renegade Guide Service
148 Chobee Street
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Toll-free: (877) 525-7380
Local: (863) 467-0039
Cell: (863) 634-1321
E-mail: renegade@ictransnet.com
Web Site: http://www.fishfla.com/renegade.html/ |
