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I am glad that the oscars are back. they got decimated several years ago when that big freeze came through. my son and i went down after that but did nothing. 11hrs down/11hrs fishing and 11 hrs back. might have to plan another trip shortly. the canal fishing is fun but you are right about the air boats.
glad you guys had a big time. those are some good eating fish. so are the cichlids.
Thanks for the report, now I've got to figure out a way to get down there and try that.
As someone mentioned the fish were decimated a few years back by a cold snap that killed thousands of them. Very few of the ones we cleaned had eggs in them so I don't know if it was pre or post spawn for them. The guys Rick and I went with have been going for 34 years and they said this was the best it had been in the last 3 or 4 years. I was amazed at how you could catch so many from one spot. I must have caught 30 out of a hole in the pads no bigger than a dinner plate. They just hit as fast as you dropped a cricket in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by have-a-crappie-day
As far as year round, my friends always come in the first part of April so after 34 years they found this to be prime time. However, they originally came for bream so it had a lot to do with bream bedding also. They even printed shirts for the event. Hats one year, shirts the next. I am not use to this much organization,
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Tommy, I went brain dead on the jigs. You had told me to try them and I had my RT309s with me, but I got so blown away by the fishing I forgot to try them. I am also kicking myself for not sticking with my fly rod longer than I did. I caught several bream and small bass on a popper, but I should have put on a slow sinking bream fly, but again, I was brain dead. If nothing happens, I will be going back next year and maybe get another shot with the jigs and fly rod.
Great report and Pictures for all of us to enjoy your experience. Thanks
Great report and great pictures. Brings back a lot of memories. Was stationed in Ft Lauderdale in mid 70's and fished a lot out of Holiday. Wasn't a big place in those days and Oscars were just starting to show up. Used to bass fish while wife bream fished. Used to catch some monster bream out of those canals. And like you, it used to amaze me that you could sit in one spot and fish in a 5 gal bucket sized spot and fill the boat with fish. Fly rod and black knat's. Can't remember the name of that cat fish but think it also was put into the waterways from aquarium as were the initial Oscars.
Sea Ray, you were down by my hometown Lake Placid which is about 35 minutes from Chobee. I played against Clewiston in all sports a lot of Indians in that area but are great people. I know what you experience at Okeechobee because I experience it most of my life. Glad you had a great time. Also in Lake placid there is some great crappie fishing in lake Istokpoga.
good job Ray thanks for the pics and story
a friend and I was planning to make a trip down there
but for some reason we never made it he told me stories
about like your telling == made me want to pack up and go right then
just like your story is doing :fish oh well maybe some day :dono
Ray; where did you guys stay? we are planning a trip in the next month or so and need some place reasonable in the area. thanks
First off, congrats on a great trip! Thanks for a detailed report & great pics....I know you enjoyed your trip and the memories will last a lifetime. Those are the kind of trips that we don't experience near enough. Hope you get to go back again next year.
Man, Got me thinking. Great report