In spite of all of the tainted water flowing into Lake
Okeechobee through the Kissimmee River the fishery has remained very
stable. At a level of 15.5 feet the water is what we consider high,
not only on the outside edges of the grass lines but in the marsh as
well. The deeper water (7 feet) along the Kissimmee grass lines is
holding huge numbers of bass. The early morning bite has been on for
the past several months, a silver bladed double willow leaf spinner
bait with a white skirt has been garnering bites daily. When it’s
really good 20 to 40 bass will fall prey to the spinner bait in the
first few hours, when it’ not so good 10 to 15 will be the morningâ
€™s catch. The bite is over by 9am and a switch in tactics is
necessary to keep catching. With 6 to 7 feet of water around the
Kissimmee grass edges it is useful to employ a heavier weight that
will get down into the lower parts of the cover. A senko or a worm
will work, although many anglers have been finding great success using
a swim jig with a trailer worked through the grass is the hot ticket.
With Blue gill or shad imitating colors being the better choice for
catching.
The shiner bite has been very good all summer long, there are
many areas where the hydrilla and other grasses are matted up and
offer ambush points for hungry bass. There isn’t any other bait that
catches more or bigger bass than a live wild golden shiner. We are
fast approaching the fall run of big bass, the large females will move
into the shallow edges of the grass lines to feed heavily before they
move toward their spawning areas to spawn. It is a great time to catch
the trophy bass of your lifetime. Not only will large bass be caught
but large numbers of bass will fall prey to a live will shiner
suspended under a small cork. According to my fishing blog, more big
bass are caught during this time than any other time of year.
This year is going to offer many opportunities for the bass
angler, not only will bass be on the outside edges, but the 4 to 5
feet of water in the marsh areas will also be holding fish. The lake
will be fishing large this year, trails and paths that go well back
into the marsh are opening up everywhere. Catching opportunities
abound.