Lake Okeechobee fishing report, April/May, 2025 by Capt. Angie Douthit, Okeechobee, FL

Water levels have been slowly falling for months on Lake Okeechobee so please use extreme caution when out on the water. The bass, bluegill and shell cracker bite has been “what’s biting” right now. The early morning timeframe has been the most productive and some late afternoon to dark fishing has given up some fantastic bass schooling activity and aggressive bluegill bites, targeting the bream beds. Live crickets have been the most productive if you’re wanting to catch bluegill and shell crackers. Red worms will work also, but often times you’ll catch some “sharpies”…small fingerling catfish, which are good eating for those of you who like catfish filets. The tackle needed for bream fishing is an ultra-light spinning rod/reel rigged with 4lb test mono line, small split shot, hook and bobber if that’s what you prefer. Throughout my 21 years of guiding, fishing for bream when kids are aboard offers non-stop, fun action for the kiddos which makes the parents happy and they’ll go home with some good-eating fish for dinner. The bass bite has been most active in/around the bream beds with frogs; cut tail worms; flap’n shad baits; swim jigs and small buzz baits have been offering some great top-water action. As the morning progresses, you might want to try going along the outside grass edge with senkos; worms and flipping/pitching creature-style lures. Fishing deeper water when water temperatures start to heat up out on the Lake can make fishing the Kissimmee River; J&S canal; some areas in Taylor Creek rewarding with deep diving crank baits; Carolina rigs and top water worked along the edges can give up some heavy weights. Bass lure colors are: june bug; red shad; watermelon/red; black/blue; shad and bream color patterns and white. Areas to try: Tin House; Indian Praire; Observation Shoal; some areas around Kings Bar; Grassy and a few areas around J&S. I hope this information helps you to have a better productive day fishing Lake Okeechobee. To book a fun-filled and productive day call me at 863-228-7263. I can accommodate various schedules; multi-species trips and group trips. Need more trip info? www.southfloridabassfishing.com I can help with deep hotel discounts with the best hotel in Okeechobee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

​

 

​

​

 

 

 

​

​

​