Best Lures for Catching Bass on Lake Okeechobee in the Winter
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Reported Best Techniques and Lures for Catching Largemouth Bass on Lake Okeechobee in the Winter.
Lake Okeechobee “The Big O” is the largest lake in Florida with roughly 448,000 acres of surface area and 135 miles of shoreline. With a max depth of 15 feet and average depth of only 8 feet, the majority of fishing is done toward the outer rim in shallow water. Located in the southern part of Florida, several larger cities providing access to the water include Okeechobee on the northern side and Clewiston and Belle Grade on the southern side. Okeechobee has a number of wide flats and expansive vegetation fields, and popular fishing areas include the Kissimmee River, Kings Bar, North Shore, Uncle Joe’s Cut, and Ritta/Kreamer Islands. Based on fishing reports filed by Omnia Fishing community anglers and ambassadors, popular colors are June Bug, Watermelon/Red Flake, and Black/Blue.
Top rated techniques from fishing reports filed on the Lake Okeechobee Lake Page on Omnia Fishing
Fishing Reports filed for catching largemouth bass on Lake Okeechobee in the winter pattern recommend these top techniques:
(2) Texas Rigs (pitching and flipping)
While other techniques like swim jigs, lipless crankbaits, and swimbaits were reported, Texas Rigging in both a worming and pitch/flip style were top performers.
Products Recommended and Structures Suggested for each of these techniques from fishing reports:
(1) Texas Rigging (Worming)
Some anglers want to know. What’s the single Hot Bait reported for successfully catching largemouth bass on the Lake? A fishing report on Lake Okeechobee for Texas Rigging (worming) recommends a Hot Bait of the Strike King Rage Cut-R-Worm in black and blue flake. Accompanying products for this technique include the Picasso Lures Pro Metal Worm Weight in 1/8 oz black.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Reeds
Forage
Minnows
Bill Trout, an Omnia Fishing Ambassador mentioned “air temp was 57-70 and water temp was 62-67 with a light wind out of the south. Targeting water depth of 6-10 feet on points with reeds where wind was pushing bait".
When air temperatures started out at 69 degrees ambassador Bill Trout suggested “fishing was real slow until the sun came up and heated the water temp up into the low 70s. Fished swim jigs, 5 inch senkos, lip less crank baits and flipped a jig but nothing was working until the sun came up along with the water temp then swimming Senkos back to the boat started to catch fish.”
When Texas Rigging, target lily pads in approximately 6-8 feet of water.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Swim Jigs
Structure
Lily Pads
Air temp was low 60s water temp was 69 water was being let out at the spill way, fishing was real slow untill the sun came up and heated the water temp up into the low 70s. Fished swim jigs, 5 inch sinkos, lip less crank baits and flipped a jig nothing was working untill the sun came up along with the water temp then swiming sinkos back to the boat started to catch fish.
(2) Texas Rigging (pitch/flip)
Water temps in the 60s and mid 70s present a great opportunity to pitch and flip using a Texas Rig and a wide range of soft plastic baits. It was reported by an Omnia Ambassador on the lake that, “Fishing the wintertime can produce giants. So many ways to catch them this time of the year like throwing a Gambler big ez or throwing swim jigs etc. but my favorite way is punching Mats! I use a Dobyns 766 rod (stiffer rod with a nice tip) with a hawgtech 1.5oz weight with many baits. If it’s really cold and water temps get in the 60’s or below I use a Gambler bb cricket or crawdaddy, if the water temps get above 70/75 I use something with a little more action like a Gambler burner craw or stinger".
Here's a link to the fishing report and the soft bait by Gambler Lures that is recommended when the water temperature ranges between 70 and 75.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)
Structure
Matted Grass
Forage
Bluegill
Fishing the winter time can produce giants. So many ways to catch them this time of the year like throwing a Gambler big ez or throwing swim jigs etc but my favorite way is punching Mats! I use a Dobyns 766 rod (stiffer rod with a nice tip) with a hawgtech 1.5oz weight with many baits. If it’s really cold and water temps get in the 60’s or below I use a Gambler bb cricket or crawdaddy, if the water temps get above 70/75 I use something with a little more action like a Gambler burner craw or stinger .
