| I consider Florida to be the Mecca of Largemouth | | | | where a fast retrieve is required to catch very active |
| Bass fishing in the United States. There are many | | | | fish. On other days you need a much slower |
| places to fish in Florida. In this article I will describe one | | | | presentation. |
| place that is well known and one little known place that | | | | The key thing you need to do is be able to read the |
| offers great fishing opportunities as well. I want to | | | | water. In a large lake like Okeechobee much of the |
| stress that there are many different lakes to fish in | | | | water does not hold many fish. You need to first take |
| Florida. When I talk about Lake Okeechobee for | | | | notice of your surrounding and look for areas likely to |
| instance understand that there are hundreds of lakes | | | | hold fish. You can often do this by simply looking at the |
| that fit the same description throughout South Florida. | | | | surface of the water for action. If you see schools of |
| Lake Okeechobee is perhaps the most famous | | | | shiners and other smaller fish constantly breaking the |
| Largemouth Bass lake in the United States; It has | | | | surface of the water you can be sure Largemouth |
| earned that reputation by continuously producing large | | | | Bass are around as well. |
| numbers of very large bass. It is a very large lake, | | | | Look for ambush points and other areas likely to hold |
| over 50,000 square miles! It is also a very shallow | | | | fish. As with any kind of fishing you need to think like a |
| Lake. A large portion of this lake is less than 6 feet | | | | bass. Look for areas that make sense for the bass to |
| deep. These in fact are the areas that often hold the | | | | inhabit. The key is not to spend too much time in any |
| largest bass. I would venture to guess than over half | | | | one area that is not producing. |
| of the ten pound or larger bass I have caught have | | | | Once you find areas you should use lures like |
| come from water that was 306 foot deep. | | | | spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and other topwater baits. Sound |
| Fishing Lake Okeechobee can be a challenge but very | | | | is very important in these conditions, I prefer the |
| rewarding. You will of course want to find the shallow | | | | spinnerbaits with round blades that emit vibration and |
| weedy areas of the lake. If your only concern is | | | | attract the Largemouth Bass through sound as well as |
| boating a huge Largemouth Bass then you might want | | | | sight. A jig and pig combo is also very effective in this |
| to consider fishing with livebait. The specific livebait of | | | | lake. You can bounce this artificial along the bottom of |
| choice in this lake is the wild Florida Shiner. They are | | | | the lake with great success. |
| available at most marinas/bait shops in the area. If you | | | | I would recommend using a guide the first time you |
| are going to target huge Largemouth Bass you will | | | | visit this lake. Pay attention to where he takes you to |
| need to use large bait. An eight to ten inch long shiner | | | | fish and ask questions. You do not solely hire a guide |
| allowed to swim freely under a float, or free lined, is an | | | | to help you catch fish. You should strive to learn and |
| awesome presentation. Understand that with large bait | | | | become a better fisherman by learning and |
| you need to use a very large hook. Make sure your | | | | understanding the principles the guide uses in making |
| hook is well sharpened as it must penetrate the tough | | | | your trip productive. |
| mouth of a very large fish. You need to use a stout | | | | Southern Florida has many lakes that are smaller |
| heavy action rod that has enough backbone to set | | | | versions of Lake Okeechobee. They all can be fished |
| that hook deep inside the mouth of your quarry. | | | | in a similar manner. |
| If you prefer the more sporting method of using | | | | For a different place to fish for Largemouth Bass I am |
| artificial baits then you need to gear your arsenal to | | | | going to throw out the canal/lake system of Cape |
| fishing in heavy weeds. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and | | | | Coral, Florida. Cape Coral, Florida is known for its |
| other topwater offering are much more important to | | | | extensive system of both fresh and saltwater canals |
| have in your box than crankbaits and spoons. You | | | | and lakes. You can literally jump right out of your car |
| need to be able to retrieve your lure through the | | | | and hook into a several hundred pound Bull Shark on |
| heavy cover where the bass lie. Again make sure | | | | one canal and less than a mile away hook into a huge |
| your hooks are sharp. Vary your retrieve until you find | | | | Largemouth Bass in a freshwater canal. |
| the proper presentations. You will find some days | | | | |