Conference wahoo::fishing

Can we expect a full report? (fishing that is!)

Guy

What in the name of all thats holy is a " Resident Alien " .

Does he pay more due to his ability to control more rods with his multitude

of arms.

I take it you mean some form of terrestial visitor from another part of this

planet or do you........


Lawson [ possible alien ]

re. -.4

Fla. non-resident is $6.00 for a three day license. If you need more help on
where to go and where to rent etc. give me a holler.......Oh yes, the
days on "that" lake are etched in memory. 

Just for info and sizing, Okeechobee is 625,000 acres with an average
depth of 10 feet. "average" bass is 4lbs. It's been eight years since
I lived there, but then the largest caught was 20lbs 2ozs. 8-12lbs are
common, but expect to flip for these or use live shinners (6" long).

Good luck and tight lines.......Ron

RE .5  Sure, hopefully I'll have something to brag about!

RE .7 Thanks for the info!  This will be my first time at Okeechobee, and I
could use some help.  I'm looking to rent a small boat w/motor and tackle.  

I've sent out some info requests, but the only response that I've received so 
far was from a guide who gets $150 a day for two people, no thanks... If you 
know where I can get a boat and tackle for a day, I'll appreciate the info. 

Yeap, it's a big one. I've read about the lake a number of times, but have 
never been there.  A couple of weeks ago "Fishing with Roland Martin" had 
Roland and Bobby Ditto fishing there and gave a good run down on the lake.

One thing I'm curious about is how the fishing will be in the beginning of 
June, does the water temp rise enough by then to have the bass out in deep 
water, or will they still be taking cover along the edge in flippin' territory.

				Thanks,		-Don Mac

re: -.8

You didn't say which side of the state you would be on, but I'll assume the
Gold Coast (east). This means Belle Glade, right on the south eastern shore
of the lake. There are two camps there that rent what you need, both within
100yds of each other. One on the left side of the road and the other on the
right. Slims Fish Camp and the J-Mark Fish Camp. The price for the boat and
motor should run between $35 - $45 a day, depending on the size motor you
pick. Get the biggest they have, which is probably an 18hp. I don't know the
tackle prices, but they do have it. You should make reservations at least
one day in advance and two or three if you go on the weekend. I would use
J-Mark as they have some real nice people there who will go out of their way
to help. If I remember right they won't hold a boat past 7:00 or so. That means
timing yourself from wherever you are coming from. It's about an hour drive 
from West Palm Beach which is due east. Add a half hour from Lauderdale and
an hour from Miami. Dont' expect anything fancy for a boat. They are all just
plain ol' fiberglass rowboats with hard bench seats and no backrest. You get
a cushion.

The camps are located off Hwy 75 and 441. There is a huge sign there and the
locals will help if you have a problem. The road is right on the north side
of the Palm Beach Canal.

I know that the guides are expensive, but you might think twice about it since
you have never gone there. They know what they're doing and June is a tough
month because the water level in the lake will have changed as much as 3-4ft.
The shear size of the lake and how easy it is to get lost if you try and go
to far makes a guide and his "big" rig a real plus. Remember, this lake is
thirty miles across and forty long with grass that streches forever. You have
to motor about a mile and a half just to get to the lake from the rim canal
that the camps are on. And should the wind come up, 3-4ft waves are real common
because the lake is so shallow. Watch out for quick storms coming from the 
west. If a cold front moves through, cancel.........I can tell you one thing
about Okeechobee......the fish don't bite for two days after a front. It's
even worse there than here in Mass. Just before one is great. They feed like
there's no tomorrow.

>Roland and Bobby Ditto fishing there and gave a good run down on the lake.

Right. They were fishing the northeast side of the lake and flipping which in
June is still the best way to get the big ones. Live shad is another. You can
worm fish (texas rigged) for smaller ones and do okay too. But you can expect
it to be "HOT". High eighties would be my guess, and that means lots of sun
screen and hats and glasses (rap-around type). Oh yes, and the humidity will
be somewhere around the temperature. Bring towels and watch out for sunstroke.
I probably don't have to tell you all that, but some people forget that Fla.
is not like Mass. in any way, shape or form.

Since the lake is shallow the water temp is very even. You can jump into the
middle of the lake and it will be like taking a bath. Since there are very
few deep holes the bass take to the shade and this means the pepper grass
areas. Hence getting them out means big stiff rods and 20lb line. Look for
changes in the struture. Where it goes from grass to pads and hit the odd
one. Bass like the different thing. They will also be in 1-3ft of water. So
don't be afraid of getting in real close. The bottom of the lake is muck, so
if you pole expect your oar to get stuck.

I have more.........15 yrs of it, but I'll save some if it for later. I hope
this helps and you have one great time.

Tight lines - Ron (waiting for spring)

Thanks for the info Ron, that was just what I was looking for!

donmac

    Don Mac.
    
    I strongly advise you to hire a guide, your lady might not enjoy
    sitting in the sun in 90 deg 85% humidity, surrounded by little
    biters, on a hard seat, with no backrest, after motoring two miles
    down a canal to be faced with thousands of acres of grass and water
    two feet deep for miles in all directions.
    
    Think about it Don Mac...getting up from your neptual bed, eating
    breakfast or whatever, walking down to the dock and climbing into
    a souped up Ranger bass boat well stocked with beer and sandwiches
    (or whatever) and loaded with the proper rods bait and other sundries.
    Roaring across the grasslands to the good holes...which the guide
    will find for you...following his instructions and spending the
    rest of the day watching YOUR trophy (One in a lifetime) swim in
    the livewell as you enjoy the scenery, wildlife ect as your guide
    motors to the next hotspot...Think about it Don Mac,,,do yourself
    a favor...blow the $150....you only live once.
    
                                          ;^)   ED

    Don,
    
    I'll get the guide info for you in the next few days. I have all
    the needed data at home. SMART move. Not all the pros have "Rangers"
    but they all have "good" boats, (60 mph type with 150hp's). Your
    buddy Roland has a full marina in Clewston, so that's a place you
    might like to consider.
    
    Ron

    Don,
    
    Here's some info on guides in Fla. This should do for a start and
    these might lead you to others. This data is current as far as I
    know. 
    
    Ed McClister ($125 for one or two Plus Bait) (tackle???)
    	904-236-6046
    
    Tommy Frierson (as above)
    	904-685-3248
    
    Bass and Sun Condo's, Clewiston Fla (no prices)
    	813-983-2277
    
    Glen Hunter (no info on prices)
    	813-946-1569
    
    Hope that will get you started to one fine day of fishing.......
    
    Tight lines........Ron (come_on_Spring)

    re .15
    
    Thanks again, Ron.  I sure was lucky finding someone as familiar
    as yourself with Okeechobee, the info that you have provided has
    helped tremendously.
    
    		Psyched for June!		don mac

The February issue of Bassmaster magazine has an article on fishing
Lake Okeechobee.  You might be interested.  If you don't have the
issue, stop over and you can borrow mine.

-Joe-

(...sigh...when's the damn ice gonna melt??)

    
    Go for it DON MAC...sounds like you have her convinced.....maybe
    a nice fast AIRBOAT would do...I was just generalizing about the
    Rangers...keep us informed of your progress.....
    
                                              Cheers
    
                                                Ed
    
    
    
    
    

    Don,
    
    Here is another contact that you might want to use. I had a friend
    get me this as I had lost it (long time ago).
    
    Fla. Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in West Palm Beach.
    305-683-0748
    
    They are an invaluable source of info on anything to do with fishing.
    Call them for more data on guides and maps and directions or anything
    you can think of.
    
    Tight lines, Ron (on_the_way_to_some_spring_fishing_of_his_own)
    

    See whot y'll don gone an did!! Dis man's wife gonna haf to live
    wid him fo four months while he in dis condition.. By June dis boy's
    gonna be clombin de walls an his wif-mate gonna be foonchock!!
    Shame on you boys!! Anyhow, I hope y'all git de limit, an watch
    out for de gang warden!!
    Coonass Bob
    

    Ron,  I just read your (heading for the ariplane) line, and have
    seen hints that your going to do some fishing, but unless I missed
    something, you haven't told us where your going? Heading down south
    to warmer waters????    
    
    ps: Since we're using this note to carry on about okeechobee, I
    figured this'd be a good place to ask...
    
    don mac

    Right church Don, wrong pew. I "went" to Mississippi for three days
    of river fishing with a couple of friends of mine. I'll give a 
    fishing report in a seperate note, now that I'm back.
    
    But, you had it right..............cabin fever finally got to me.
    
    Tight lines, Ron (back from the big bass)

    A 10 day non-resident fishing license in Florida is only $10, and
    it's $25 for a year.     Don Mac