Lake Okeechobee

I am new to the Crappie.com Forum as of today, nice to be with you all. I am living here in Florida now for 6 years and have been trying to fish Lake Okeechobee, I am having a very tough time getting on the crappies, not sure when, where or how to fish the lake. I am hoping the some of you will help me so when I take my grandsons there I wont look like the fool I am now. I am originally from iowa and am 58 yrs old, I have fished and hunted all my life with no problem. Now I am in a totally new environment. not knowing when the fish spawn ect.... HELP PLEASE

Welcome aboard Mitch! I was in a similar situation three years ago. I live in MN but my in-laws are in DeLand and I have a fishing boat there. I was used to single pole jigging my whole life but through the forum, garnered enough knowledge to convert to long line trolling. 1/16 - 1/8 oz jig heads with curly or paddle tail plastics have worked well for me. It’s usually more efficient for me than drifting with bobbers and minnows. As the water cools this time of year, they begin to get aggressive in preparation for a late January-ish spawn. Hope you can put the kiddos on some slabs soon!


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For a diversion and a fun time catching fish take them to Everglades Holiday Park and run a ways from the landing and air boat traffic and let them drop a cricket in the lily pads. The Oscar are in there by the thousands and they fight like crazy.
We drive down from SC each spring to fish for them.
It's not stop fun 'til they get tired of catching them. Not bad eating either.
We only come in late March but I assume they are always there. Nowhere else for them to go I would think.

I am long lining on lake Monroe at this time. It is still early for them, but they are still there and are biting. Just have to look for them. I drag three rods off both sides of the boat, some times I put floats on the lines to help control the depth. Other times its just long line out back. Depends on what works. Today it was all on the long lines. I ended up removing all the bobbers. I troll around 1mph. some like it a little faster, but this works for me. I set out a 6 ft rod, then a 9 ft rod and then a 12 ft rod . Hope this helps.
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I know a lot of folks jig the reeds down there in the big O

wELCOME MITCH!!

thanks I will give it a try

sounds like I jointed the right group of people, thanks for the info

It was the toughest year I can recall last year, so it can only get better. What part of the lake are you close to? I usuallly go out of Okee-Tantie. I'm still up in Indiana, headed to my farm in Ne MO to deer hunt in the morning. I'll be on the big lake before Christmas! Good luck.

Welcome from Debary Mitch. I’m no help there but what has been offered so far is spot on.