Hello there, fellow anglers, this is Artificial Lure here to give you the latest fishing report for Lake Okeechobee as of February 15, 2025.
First off, let's talk about the weather. Today, we're looking at a partly cloudy sky with a high of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a gentle breeze out of the southeast. Sunrise was at 7:04 AM, and sunset will be at 6:04 PM, giving us a good long day to get out on the water. The conditions are just about perfect for some prime fishing.
Lake Okeechobee, affectionately known as the "Big O," is in prime condition for fishing right now. The bass and crappie spawn has been in full swing since last month, making this an ideal time to catch some big ones. The lake's shallow waters, rarely exceeding 9 feet in depth, are filled with diverse vegetation like bulrush, hay fields, and needle grass, providing perfect habitats for our target species.
For bass fishing, you'll want to focus on areas like the Shoal from the Blue Hole up to just past the 2nd pole area and into the opening that leads into Moonshine Bay. The Monkey Box, Whidden's Pass, Dyess Ditch, Indian Prairie, and Tin House are also hot spots. If you're willing to make the run on a low-wind day, the east side around J&S is worth a try. Bass are being caught using live golden shiners, plastic worms, spinner baits, and frog-style baits. Flipping lures into the vegetation often produces the larger bass.
Recently, anglers have been catching 5 to 10-pound bass regularly, and occasionally, 10 to 12-pound bass show up. The lake record stands at 15 pounds 5 ounces, so there's always a chance to catch a monster. Crappie catches have been plentiful as well, with many anglers reporting baskets full of these tasty fish. For crappie, areas like Dupree Bar on the north side, around Sportsman's, Indian Prairie, and the Kissimmee River are particularly productive. Jigs and minnows are your best bet for crappie.
One of the standout areas right now is Clewiston, located on the Southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee. This area offers great fishing from both shore and boat, and the Monkey Box here is notorious for largemouth bass. Another spot worth mentioning is Moonshine Bay, which is fishable even on windy days and has seen some decent catches recently.
For those targeting crappie, now is the spawning time of year, and jigging on or around the beds in the shallows is highly effective. Some people use live minnows, drifting, trolling, or pushing with longer poles in the canals and river system, which can be productive on windy days when the lake is unfishable.
In terms of lures, for bass, white, junebug, redbud, tilapia, golden shiner, and watermelon/red are good color patterns right now. For crappie, jig body colors like chartreuse, green, white, and orange, along with jig head colors such as black/chartreuse eye, white, orange, and blue, are working well.
Remember, the lake has a 5-bass limit per angler, with only one of those bass allowed to be over 18 inches in length.
Given the current conditions, it's a fantastic time to be out on Lake Okeechobee. With the right lures and knowledge of the hot spots, you're set for a fantastic day on the water. So grab your gear, and let's get fishing. Tight lines, everyone
