Cpt Mike Shellen
www.okeechobeebassfishing.com
863-357-0892

Temperate weather conditions have warmed the lake water, which leads to terrific fishing in ideal conditions. Bass receive the most acclaim of all the fish species in Lake Okeechobee, if you have fished the big lake you already understand why. Guided shiner fishing trips are providing large catch numbers, in some cases anglers with very little or no experience are catching 25 to 40 bass per morning. The Pass area is flush with bass; there is however a large amount of underwater vegetation which can intimidate anglers. It is necessary to find the openings in the vegetation to fish shiners efficiently; another option is artificial bait that can be fished above or thru the heavy vegetation. Grassy Island, Eagle Bay and the J&S area are all holding good numbers of bass, and depending on the wind direction one or more of these areas will provide all the bites you desire. Try your favorite top water bait during the very early morning, or on cloudy days. Swim baits, flukes, spinner baits and a senko will also draw strikes when fishing the grass lines or underwater vegetation areas.
Although not as highly touted, the blue gill and shell cracker fishery of the Big “O” is immense. Pan fish can be found in abundance throughout the entire lake. Blue gill and shell cracker are great table fare and can be caught using many different methods. A fly rod with a popping bug or floating spider can provide fast action when the fish are willing to rise to the top and strike. Many anglers use a spinning rod and reel with light line to cast to the bedding areas of the fish. A small bobber and tiny hook with a cricket or a red worm is all that’s needed to complete this rig. Many anglers prefer to use a bream buster pole which in effect is a fiberglass replica of a cane pole, once it’s equipped with light line the length of the rod, a tiny hook, small sinker and a small bobber, this rig can be placed into spots where even the best cast has difficulty reaching. Once the use of the long pole is mastered, placing your bait in the strike zone is quite easy, and when a fish strikes all that is necessary is to lift, swing the fish into the boat, unhook it, toss it into the live well, and put another bait on your hook, and your back into the water ready to catch another chunky pan fish. The local canals, the Kissimmee River and the grass lines in the lake are all viable places to start your search for pan fish. With liberal limits and ease of catching, pan fish are great fun for anglers of all age and skill levels, and they provide tasty filets for a family fish fry.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892



OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
Cpt Mike Shellen
863-357-0892

Lake Okeechobee has provided first class fishing opportunities for many years, and in angling circles is widely known for its great bass fishing. Many changes have occurred through the years that affect the lake and its environment. In spite of human/governmental intervention Mother Nature has allowed the fish population on the giant lake to flourish, providing what may arguably be the best bass fishing Lake Okeechobee has ever experienced.
For those anglers that prefer to fish with artificial lures the month of April offers myriad opportunities. To enjoy the purely visual aspect of bass fishing a top water plug can provide heart stopping strikes. Casting your favorite lure close to the Kissimmee grass lines that surround the lake can provide numerous strikes. Fishing a lure over the top of underwater hydrilla beds is another widely used technique, but heavy line is required to work a bass out of the thick cover. There are so many lures that can work at the right time and in the right situation. Lipless crank baits like a rattle trap can provide fast action when bass are chasing bait during a feeding frenzy. A weightless fluke has been a staple in the boat for many years and continues to catch fish; being weedless it can be worked through very thick cover areas without fear of getting hung-up. A senko style bait rigged wacky style or Texas rigged can be fished very slowly to tempt bass that may be reluctant to bite a faster moving bait. For those that can’t stand the ultra-slow approach rubber swim bait rigged weedless can be cast and retrieved as fast or slow as an angler or the fish desire.
A live wild shiner is still the premier bait for catching large numbers of fish, or trophy bass. Many of the bass have already spawned and will be looking to replenish the energy expended from the spawning ritual by feeding heavily on shiners, shad and other baitfish.
April also bring shell cracker and blue gill into the fishing mix, both of these hard fighting and tasty fish are plentiful in the lake and can provide fast action. Red worms, crickets and grass shrimp all work, with grass shrimp being the best of the three, but also the hardest to find. Many or the guided trips this time of year will start with shiner fishing for bass early in the morning and then moving to the pursuit of panfish as the morning sun gets higher in the sky. We’ll see you at the dock.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892




Springtime On Lake Okeechobee
Fisherman's Paradise

Lake Okeechobee has been experiencing what we call the yo-yo effect. For a few days and nights the air temps will be warm, consequently the water warms and the bass feed as if there is no tomorrow. Then, a cold front rolls in and the air temps plummet, depending on the severity of the front, bass fishing (catching) may slow or shut down. Happily, we have reached a time of the year when the day and night temperatures are relatively mild, resulting in water temperatures that are warm and stable.
Several species are on the bill of fare for anglers during the Spring. Bass anglers are relishing catching not just big bass, but also large numbers of bass whether we are using artificial baits, or live bait such as a wild shiner. Blue gill and shell cracker, aka. Pan fish make their presence known in late March and can be caught throughout the Spring and Summer. There are a horde of anglers that are dedicated to the pursuit of these prolific great tasting fish. The moon phases have a great effect on the movements of all fish, particularly when it comes to spawning. Pan fish seem to disappear when the water is cold, but once Spring arrives and the water warms they show up seemingly overnight. Huge numbers of blue gill and shell cracker can be found fanning their beds in spawning areas when the water is clear enough to allow sight fishing. Areas for catching a boat load of panfish are The North Shore, Horse Island, Grassy Island and the Harney Pond area.
Numerous styles of fishing are used to catch pan fish. Ultra-light spinning tackle is favored by many, whereas an old school cane pole is preferred by many seasoned anglers. Purists will pursue blue gill with a fly rod, using a small popper or a rubber legged spider as bait. Light line, a small bobber and a tiny split shot pinched above a small hook are all that is need to load the boat with blue gill or shell cracker. Bait preferences vary from angler to angler, with grass shrimp having proved over time that they will attract any fish that swims in the lake. Grass shrimp can be difficult to acquire, whereas crickets or red worms can be purchased at nearly any tackle shop around the lake.
Spring time offers us unique fishing opportunities giving us a chance to change things up a bit. We still start our morning catching bass on shiners until the sun rises well into the sky. Around mid to late morning we either switch to bass fishing with artificial baits or utilize a bream buster pole (cane pole) and pursue blue gill or shell cracker, whichever is readily available. It’s a wonderful time to fish Lake Okeechobee great weather and first class fishing is just the tip of the iceberg.



Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892




It has been a great winter on Lake Okeechobee. With warmer than normal weather the fishing has been terrific, whether you are fishing for bass or specks. As this piece comes together the water temperature in the lake is near 70 degrees and climbing. We are approaching a new moon period, and then a few weeks later a full moon that will trigger another wave of large pre-spawn female bass toward the shallower water. When the roe laden females react to their spawning urges they will first feed heavily in order to store energy for the process of spawning. After feeding they cruise an area where they have chosen to spawn. Trying to find the ideal spot where they feel their eggs will have the optimum chance of survival. The security of their newly hatched fry is tantamount, the more fry that survive that first few days, weeks, months, means more fry will reach adulthood and enhance the already thriving fishery called Okeechobee. The male bass is assigned the duty of guarding the fry for a short period after hatching. and they are vigilant in their protective mode, scurrying about attempting to keep any and all predators away from their young. Young year class bass are more likely to survive when they have heavy cover areas in which to hide, eat and grow. The spawning process is very important, and makes the connection between spawning and the health of a fishery most important, several bad spawns and any fishery would be in a decline that could take decades from which to recover. Very healthy spawns are what have brought Okeechobee back to a prominent fishery.
Specks are being found by anglers well outside the mouth of the Kissimmee River, some of the boats are a half a mile from the shore in open water. Many days 30 to 40 boats can be sighted fishing and catching in this hot spot. Other anglers using different methods than a small cork and a minnow are finding large specks in the heavy grass lines surrounding the lake. A small jig placed into holes in the cover will result in a good number of bites, colors vary according from angler to angler, ranging from white to chartreuse.

Bass fishing is going along as it has been for the last three to four years, catching is good to great daily. As with any fishing there are some days that are better than others. During this period of the year a live wild shiner is responsible for greater numbers of bass and trophy sized bass than all other baits combined.
Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com

863-357-0892



























To see pictures of the 11 lb 4oz bass go to www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com and click on the blue box on the front page to go to Cpt Mikes blog.

January 1, 2013

In past years late December and January have provided some very cold days and night in our area of Florida. This year has been quite mild in comparison, which lends itself to great fishing conditions, and great fishing on Lake Okeechobee. Bass anglers from all over the Country are making Okeechobee their winter home. The lake is hosting numerous national tournaments as well as local club events. The BFL was held this past weekend with 200 anglers vying for the top money, the winning stringer was brought to the scale by Steven Stinson weighing in a hefty five bass limit of 32lbs 10 oz to capture the $6000 prize. Everstart Series anglers will be competing January 10 thru the 12th, and will feature some of the nation's best anglers. Then the FLW Tour pros hit the lake in mid February, it will be interesting to see if the pros can top the 4 day winning weight posted last year of 107 pounds for 20 bass.
Locally anglers are finding big numbers of bass in all sections of the lake. The Big "O" has been in great condition for several years now and this winter is further enhancing that reputation. The low water periods of several years ago served to enhance the fishery greatly, enabling the bass to have prolific spawns, and allowing the young bass to grow to a size where their survival rate was extremely high. Many of the bass that were spawned during that time are now very healthy 4 to 7 pound fish.
After a very wet summer the lake level is 14.97 feet, a level that gives fish of all species vast areas of marsh to roam through. Fishermen are finding the bass scattered into all areas of the lake affording anglers the opportunity to catch them using may different techniques. Top water baits can draw strikes in open pockets in the thick cover, while swim baits fished on heavy braided line afford the angler a better chance of landing a big bass in heavy cover. Traditional baits such as spinner baits, plastic worms or a senko will garner bites, but most often from smaller bass. The technique used most often by the pro's to catch true heavyweight bass is a flipping or pitching technique. Using a creature bait, a large tube, or one of hundreds of baits designed strictly for that purpose. Anglers using this presentation are fastidious in regards to their tackle and the presentation of their bait. Using 50 to 65 lb braid on a extra heavy 7 1/2 to 8 foot rod that allows them to wrestle Okeechobee's giant bass from the thickest cover and into the boat.
Shiner fishing with a guide gives the less experienced angler a chance to catch the bass of a lifetime and also catch large numbers of bass, while anchored in position, often in one spot. On Jan. 2 Mario Pineda from Leesburg caught 35 bass during a morning trip, topping his day off with an true Okeechobee giant bass weighing 11lbs 4oz. The big lake is a beautiful piece of history where peace , quiet and great scenery surround you.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892

























Lake Okeechobee

Due in part to the mild weather and warm water, the Fall bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee has been spectacular. There are many factors involved, one being the bass population of the lake is at a level not seen for many years. The good fishing is contingent upon the health of the lake as well. Native vegetation can be found in traditional areas where it has not been seen in years, prior to the rejuvenation that has taken place over the last 5 to 7 years. The catch rates for anglers has continued to impress throughout the fall months, as we approach the New Year the future looks bright. Large numbers of bass are being caught, with big Bass being caught regularly, particularly by the guides and their clients using wild shiners as bait.
Lake Okeechobee's massive size can be quite daunting to even an experienced angler/boater. When first setting eyes on the lake nearly everyone makes the same comment, "everywhere I look appears to be a great fishing spot". That quote is true to a certain extent as fish frequent every area of the lake. However the areas where a fishermen can catch large numbers of bass are very "area specific" once located though an angler can experience the best fishing/catching of his or her life. Being able to read the cover is critical to the process, and is something learned with time and experience.
During the fall and winter months the prevalent wind is from the North to Northeast which makes the Northern end of the lake fishing friendly. Areas to fish during this time of year are, Grassy Island and further along the East side of the lake to the J&S Lock area. The main lakeside of Kings bar is a good spot when the winds are NNE, as is the entire shore from the pole at Pierce canal, traveling West to Harney Pond. Horse Island, Worm Cove and Indian Prairie are all great fishing areas between these two points.
Techniques being used at this time are varied, as nearly all anglers have a style of fishing they prefer. Fast moving baits such as a rattle trap are putting numbers of small bass in the boat especially in areas where they can be found schooling. Flipping or pitching with a creature style bait or a jig are responsible for more big bass at this time of year than any other artificial bait. Senkos and other plastics will draw strikes from small bass as will the old school standby, the rubber worm.
During the winter months no other bait accounts for the catching of more bass and big Bass than a wild golden shiner. The shiner fishing technique is a little different than you may be used to and there are many subtleties to refining your presentation even with live bait. Experienced anglers or newcomers to the sport of fishing find great fun in shiner fishing. Aside from the fast action, the possibility of catching a giant bass is always present.


Cpt mike shellen
www.okeechobeebassfishing.com
863-357-0892


November on Lake Okeechobee is a wonderful time for fishing, with mild weather and great catching. The water level has risen to 15.75 feet thanks to hurricane Isaac and normal summer rains. Each Fall as the days get shorter the water temperatures get cooler. There is much speculation about what really triggers big bass to move toward their spawning grounds and start feeding like they have not eaten for months. But every year in late Oct. or early Nov. the large female Bass suddenly make an appearance. When the water level started going up some anglers expected that the bass would start moving back further into the marsh, putting us and the fish into a transition period of sorts. In actuality we are still catching bass in the same areas as we were prior to the water rising nearly 3 feet.
The great fishing is not limited to only bass. Specks, shell cracker and blue gill are also being taken in good numbers. Being on the water nearly every day allows us to observe and learn exactly what is going on with each species of fish, giving insight into where and how they are being caught.
Specks are showing up along the North Shore of Okeechobee, many are on the very outside edges of the cover, such as hydrilla or Kissimmee grass. At this time a greater amount of specks can be found just outside the edge of the cover, holding well off of the visible cover, and tight to the bottom. If you can find areas where there is a new growth of eel grass, pepper grass or hydrilla that is not yet apparent to the naked eye, you just may hit the mother lode of fat, pre-spawn specks. The anglers that catch early season specks are the savvy veterans, there are always new additions to the catching spree, but the same learned anglers that I have seen for years are out there catching fish, and many times it is in the same general as it has been for years. The more successful anglers are catching their specks on a small jig, colors vary greatly with each anglers preference. Pink, chartreuse, white, black red and any variation or mixtures of these colors have proven effective. I am a firm believer that you will have greater success with a color you have confidence in, believing in your bait choice is crucial to your success.
It's quite easy to ramble on about Okeechobee's bass fishing and how great it is, and the reasons for the great fishing are many. Massive amounts of native vegetation are prevalent, the fish have had terrific spawns for the last 4 to 5 years, leading to huge numbers of small fish, that are now starting to become big fish. The water is gin clear along the whole North end, and the water quality is good. Add all of these factors together and it leads to a fishery that is second to none.
Shiner fishing is as consistent right now as it ever gets, catches of 30 to 50 bass are common, it is all dependent on how many shiners you want to buy. For a live wild shiner once they are loaded into the live well at the tackle shop it's a one way trip, shiners rarely make the return trip back to the shop.
The bass are feeding heavily, storing up for the spawning ritual that will take place gradually over this winter season. There is not a better time to catch bass on Lake Okeechobee than during the fall feeding frenzy. With big bass in the 7 to 10 pound range being caught with regularity on guided shiner trips.


Go to my website www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com and click on the blue box with Cpt Mikes Fishing report blog to see the bass we are catching everyday. Come join us and catch the bass of a lifetime.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892





Oct 8, 2012


Heavy rainfall has triggered Lake Okeechobee to rise at a rapid rate. The largest rainfall of the year, thanks to hurricane Isaac fell in the Kissimmee Basin that feeds Lake Okeechobee making it necessary for the water structures to be opened wide, in turn triggering an inundation of water coming into Lake Okeechobee. Some estimate that the lake may reach 16 feet, others insist it will be lower. Whatever the final level, it is great for fishing and the local economy in Okeechobee. Add a huge bass population to the mix and the town of Okeechobee has all makings of a great fall and winter season.
As the long hot summer finally comes to a close, the days are getting shorter and the water temperatures in Lake Okeechobee are dropping. The water level is high enough to provide access to the marsh areas as well as the shoreline cover. Each Fall savvy anglers eagerly anticipate the first wave of large female Bass as they move along the shallow shorelines, where they gorge themselves. From October thru November and into December Lake Okeechobee's bass go into feeding mode, chasing and eating shiners, shad and whatever food morsels that are available.
Once the bass locate a food source they will hang out in that particular area as long a food is available, they may not feed every minute of each day, but they are never very far away from the food source. Last year we located a spot early in October that bass frequented Fall, Winter and Spring, with bass coming and going in conjunction with the moon phases. We were able to catch bass in this same area during pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn. It is not easy or normal to find a spot that will produce big bass and large numbers of bass as well, sometimes a little luck plays into it as well. We fished this productive spot many different ways and from many different angles. At times during the season the fish would be holding in one single piece of cover along the area, other days they would be scattered along the whole stretch. Don't misunderstand there were a few days when we could catch fish in our number one spot and we would have to move to another area to continue to catch fish. Each year as we have fished Lake Okeechobee we have learned something different about the lake, the lesson is not always immediate and mind numbing, many times it is very subtle and only becomes clear after much retrospect. Bass fishing is a wonderful sport and I can honestly say that I still get excited when a big bass comes to the boat.
Fall fishing on Lake Okeechobee is second to none, the sheer number of bass in the 7 to 12 pound range is incredible. Traffic is relatively low during month of October, since many of our visitors from the North aren't here yet. The days are mild and the bass are biting, quite simply it just doesn't get much better in the bass fishing World.
The North end of Lake Okeechobee is loaded with hydrilla, eel grass, pepper grass and other great cover elements where big bass love to hold. From the East side of the lake at J&S fish camp all the way around the North end of the lake to the Point of the Reef. bass are already being caught in great numbers. Each year it's only a matter of timing until the bass are triggered to start their fall feeding spree. It happens suddenly and without fanfare, one day the bass will be of average size and the next day you might catch 4 or 5 bass over 7 pounds.

Cpt. Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBASSFishing.com
863-357-0892




























Wednesday, October 03, 2012
October


I fished with Joe Slomian from NJ and his friend Mike today, it's the first time we have used shiners since last spring and I would say our timing was about right. We caught over 40 bass and these three were the biggest of the bunch. Each fall the months of October, November & December provide the best fishing for Big Bass that you can find in the United States. The lake level is perfect and it looks as if another banner year of Bass fishing is at hand.

Call : 888-203-3474 toll free to book your guided trip.
Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
www.OkeechobeeBassFishingGuides.com






















September 10, 2012


Hurricane Isaac saturated the Lake Okeechobee area with copious amounts of rain, up to 13 inches in some areas. The Kissimmee Basin received more than enough water to raise the lake level. Luckily we did not have the high winds that can wreak havoc on the native vegetation, uprooting plants and muddying the water. The water on the North end of the lake is still very clear, which allows sunlight to penetrate the water and keeps the native vegetation growing. So far the grasses that line the outside of the lake are growing at the same rate the water is rising.
The fish are still holding in the same general areas as prior to the lakes rise. There is a large amount of bait for the bass to feed upon, shad ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches can be seen skipping along the surface in their efforts to avoid being eaten. Schools of baitfish are holding in the Kissimmee grass, so naturally that is where the bass are feeding and holding too. The basic pattern for our fishing day has not changed since early summer. We arrive to our fishing spot before sunrise and then search the Kissimmee grass patches with a spinnerbait making short accurate cast to the points and edges of the cover. A white skirted double willow leaf spinnerbait with silver, gold or copper blades will draw the bass up to aggressively attack the shad imitating bait. There are days when a certain size works better than another, but 3/8 to 1/2 ounce baits have proved to be most efficient. An array of broken baits are strewn across the floor of my Ranger boat. Where a collection of spinnerbait that have been destroyed by bass can be found, the blades get ripped off, or the wire frame breaks from being bent too many times, so be sure you have a back-up for the bait that works for you.
Bass can be located along the grasslines or around one of the many structures that are allowing water into the lake. Nubbin Slough, Taylor Creek, J&S, Kissimmee River, Indian Prairie, and Harney Pond have all been flowing. Many times the inflowing water is oxygen depleted and carries dirt or silt along with it. Finding an area where the incoming water is clean is key to catching bass. Once a school of feeding bass is located a rattling crankbait such as a rattle trap will perform nicely. A chrome colored bait with a blue or black back is my go to bait to catch school fish quickly. Once the fish cannot be seen schooling on top a Carolina rigged plastic or other bait will help you to continue catching.
The rising water has triggered an earlier than normal move of the bigger bass in the lake. A live wild shiner fished under a small cork is accounting for 20 to 30 bass during a morning outing. Many of the bigger bass that are difficult to catch on an artificial bait will readily eat a wild shiner dangled in their face.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com 863-357-0892


















The great fishing continues on Lake Okeechobee, the big lake has been on an upward swing for several years now and just keeps getting better. Last year we caught record numbers of big bass as well as huge daily catch numbers. The lake level has not had highs above 14 feet for several years now and each winter we have seen low levels around 11 feet or lower. The somewhat stable low water periods have led to numerous great spawns that have exploded the fish populations of every species in the lake.
In the past we have experienced many great years of pan fishing, this year has provided some of the best summertime catches of shell cracker I can ever remember. Of course the big blue gill are caught in the same areas as the shell cracker, but anyone that has eaten freshly caught and fried shell cracker filets knows exactly what I am alluding to. The tremendous run of shell cracker started on the full moon in April and has continued on each moon phase up through August. How long it can and will continue remains to be seen. With the water level in the 11 to 12 foot range the pan fish stayed mostly to the outside edges of the vegetation, some even fanning spawning beds well out into the lake, where the water is still only 2 to 3 feet. The primary baits have been grass shrimp, red worms and crickets, many anglers target and catch large numbers of bluegill on a fly rod and popping bug when they are in such shallow water.
Bass fishing tournament anglers have found that it takes 5 bass that weigh 25 to 30 pounds to win a tournament on the lake. The numbers of quality sized bass in the 5 to 10 pound range in the lake right now are staggering, and these bass are growing each season getting bigger and fatter.
During the summer months we try to get onto the water before sunup, if possible, in order to take advantage of schooling action that takes place along the outside grass lines. Bass can be seen and heard blasting bait fish such as shad and shiners in the cover and sometimes well out into the lake as well. When they are schooling on bait a spinner bait tossed well back into the grass and worked toward the outside edge can present heart stopping action. Some morning we may catch 8 to 12 bass and the action ends quickly, other days we catch 35 to 40 in the first couple of hours. The catching can end in a second and the rhymes or reason alludes me, but the sun rising higher into the sky is certainly one reason. Once they quite eating the spinner bait we switch to soft plastics, flukes, speed worms and senkos being a key part of our arsenal. Those anglers that want to target only large bass very often will opt to flip and pitch matted vegetation or thick clumps of bulrush with a creature style bait. There are many styles, configurations and colors of creature style baits, some use a jig with a trailer others uses a punch skirt and creature baits. Personal preference and confidence in your choice makes a world of difference. But don't be afraid to climb out of your comfort level and try something new, there are new baits of all kinds hitting the market every day, some work well, some not so much.

Cpt Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892





























One of the most asked questions received of a fishing guide is, when is the best time to fish Lake Okeechobee? The answer most often is that there is never a bad time to fish Lake Okeechobee, some days are just better than others. The big lake has a tremendous amount of bass and you can always find fish that are willing to bite. Pinpointing a single day is nearly impossible. Fishing is about having fun and Lake Okeechobee has much to offer, the birdlife on the lake is incredible, not to mention alligators, manatees and other wildlife. There are so many things to see sometimes it is hard to concentrate on just fishing.
If you are a pan fish angler that likes to catch blue gill or shell cracker, then Spring and Summer are your prime time for catching. Pan fish can be caught most days, but the full moon periods are when pan fish can be found in large schools near their spawning areas. The fact that they are gathered together in large numbers in a specific an area makes catching them easier. Pan fishing is great for beginning anglers that may want to learn some angling basics and enjoy some fast action. As table fare blue gill or shell cracker freshly filleted and fried are delicious.
The water temperature in the lake is near 80 degrees, which means that the bass are feeding daily. The North end of the lake has a many different areas that are holding large schools of fish. The outside vegetation lines around Buckhead Ridge and Grassy Island are holding large numbers of small fish. If you can find a mixture of native vegetation odds are it will be holding bass. Top water baits, flukes, lipless crankbaits, swim baits, and flipping or pitching type plastics are all drawing strikes. There are a lot of different ways to entice fish to bite, don't get stuck in a rut and use the same thing all of the time, try to become more adept at using other methods that you are not necessarily in your comfort zone, it will make you a better angler.
While many anglers are fishing the outside edges of the lake, others are delving behind the first line of grass and finding openings in the grass where fish are holding too. Many times we have found a mother lode of pan fish while we were bass fishing in these extreme skinny water areas. We simply mark the mark the spot on our GPS and return later to harvest the fish, or share the info with others so that they may go in and catch them.
The average catch rates for shiner fishing trips have been impressive, 40 to 60 fish can be caught in a morning, when they are biting. Many anglers have become so spoiled by the incredible numbers of fish they have been catching, that a morning catch of 15 to 30 fish leaves them disappointed. Big bass are still in the mix, normal size bass may bite where you are fishing everyday for a week, and then the next time the spot is visited big bass seem to have taken over, only to revert to average fish again the next day. Go figure!

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892

















February 26, 2012

The incredibly warm Winter continues in Okeechobee, driving water temperatures into the mid-seventies. The lake level is presently about 9 inches higher than at this time last year. The lake very close to going under the 13 ft mark, and it is still many days until the rainy season arrives. Tournaments are being held all around the lake, and the success of these are fueling more and more traffic for the lake. The Bass master Elite Series will be the next major tournament on the lake, with the World's number 1 bass fishermen, Kevin Van Dam returning to fish Okeechobee once again. The pro's are going to find Okeechobee's bass in post-spawn mode for the most part, which should provide for interesting fishing patterns.
Local anglers are still enjoying good success with artificial baits of all types providing bites. Top water, spinner baits, speed worms, flukes and flipping and pitching baits are all providing bites.
We should be very close to finding shell cracker spawning in the shallow water areas. I talked to one seasoned angler that reported catching a limit of shell cracker on the far outside edges of cover, the fish are in pre-spawn mode. With the shell cracker, blue gill will not be far behind. It's a great time of year to fish Okeechobee. Access to all species of fish in the lake is readily available to those willing to put their time in to locate the fish. Once you find them, catching them is the easy part.
Grassy Island, the East wall of the lake and the North Shore, including the shoal are all going to produce great fishing this spring, and it feels like Spring now.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassfishing.com
863-357-0892s









January 15, 2012

The recent cold fronts had the expected and normal affect on bass fishing for Lake Okeechobee. Prior to the cold snap the water temps were near 70 degrees. With four nights of very cold air temperatures the water in the lake dropped daily over a four day period until the temps hit a low of 56 degrees. A water temperature drop of fourteen degrees is shocking to Florida largemouth, slowing their metabolism to a snail's pace, making the odds of catching numbers of fish very small.
Once the weather pattern changes and the water temperatures start to climb the bass become relatively predictable again. After two seventy plus degree days the water was once again in the sixties, and the bass responded by biting. Sunday the bite was decent, but slow, our catch was 22 bass but most were on the smaller side. Monday morning we fished with John & Alexandra Bechy from Binghampton NY and found that the bass were once again on a tear. John caught a 9lb 1oz bass, then he caught an 8 1/2lb bass, then his wife Alexandra got in on the act by catching an 81/4 lb bass, this in addition to another 35 bass for the morning left them with memories of the fishing trip of their lifetime.
Shiner fishing trips are producing large numbers of bass, and big bass for anglers that are using live wild golden shiners.
The lake is seeing incredibly heavy traffic, all of the major tournament trails will be fishing in Okeechobee this spring and every tournament angler that can possibly get here to pre-fish is here, after all where else can you go to have fishing like Okeechobee offers? Many different techniques and lures types are producing bass, and in many different kinds of cover. Many of the bass are still relating to the outside edges of the lake, where spinner baits, skinny dippers, flukes, senkos and top water baits will all work. For anglers that choose to move further into the heavy cover (slop) flipping and or pitching baits will produce, a sweet beaver or a paca craw are both good choices for this technique. Some anglers are fishing the vast hydrilla fields that are along the North shore where many varied techniques are employed. Along with the hydrilla there are areas where pepper grass, eel grass and kissimmee grass abound, locate an area where several different kinds of these native vegetations come together and usually you will find fish too. I am curious as to how long the boom period for bass fishing on Okeechobee will last. The water is already starting to go down, due to the pulse releases to the Caloosahatchee River and the Sugar Cane industry.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892





















November 12, 2011

Okeechobee is on Fire, Big Bass!

November on Lake Okeechobee has always been a wonderful time to catch fish. The water level has risen to 13.75 feet and as the days have gotten shorter the water temperatures have cooled. There has long been speculation about what really triggers big bass to move toward their spawning grounds and start feeding like they have not eaten for months. When the water started rising quickly a few weeks ago we fully expected that the bass would start moving back further into the marsh, putting us and the fish into a transition period of sorts. In actuality we are catching bass in the same areas as we were prior to the water rising 2 feet.
The great fishing is not limited to just bass. Specks, shell cracker and blue gill are also being taken in good numbers. Having been on the water nearly every day lately allows us to observe and learn exactly what is going on with each species of fish and whether they are being caught, and how.
Specks are showing up along the North Shore of Okeechobee, many are on the very outside edges of the cover, whether it be hydrilla or bulrush. Even more specks can be found just outside the edge of the visible cover, holding well off of the visible cover, tight to the bottom. If you can find areas where there is a new growth of eel grass, pepper grass or hydrilla that is not yet apparent to the naked eye, you just may hit the mother lode of fat, pre-spawn specks. The anglers that catch early season specks are always the same people, oh sure there are always new additions to the catching spree, but the same hardcore savvy anglers that I have seen for years are out there catching fish, and many times it is in the same general as it has been for years. The more successful anglers are catching their specks on a small jig, colors vary greatly with each anglers preference. Pink, chartreuse, white, black red and any variation or mixtures of these colors have worked well for us. I am a firm believer that you will greater success with a color you have confidence in, believing in a bait is crucial to finding success.
I could write 100 pages about the Okeechobee bass fishing and how great it is, and the reasons for the great fishing are many. Massive amounts of native vegetation are prevalent, the fish have had terrific spawns for the last 4 to 5 years, leading to huge numbers of small fish, that are now starting to become big fish. The water is gin clear along the whole North end the water quality is good. Add all of these factors together and it leads to a fishery that is second to none in the World.
Shiner fishing is as consistent right now as it ever gets, catches of 40 to 100 bass are common, it just depends how many shiners you want to buy. A shiner makes a one way trip on Okeechobee, we load them into the live well at the tackle shop prior to leaving each morning and no shiner makes the return trip. The bass are feeding heavily, storing up for the spawning ritual that will take place gradually over this winter season. There is not a better time to catch bass on Lake Okeechobee that during the fall feeding frenzy. Big bass in the 7 to 10 pound range are being caught regularly.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBASSFishing.com
863-357-0892
























As we move toward Fall the water temperatures will start to cool due to lower daytime temperatures. Already we are seeing water that is 2 to 3 degrees cooler than a month ago. The cooler water will trigger Lake Okeechobee's many bass to go on a feeding spree, gorging themselves on shad, shiners and whatever else they can track down. More tepid water temperatures are conducive to a bite that will last all day as opposed to an early morning frenzy, such as when it is scalding hot. Already in the last few weeks we have started to see the larger bass in the lake become more active and they are showing up in anglers daily catches. October can be one of the best times of the year to catch a true lunker bass and is also a great time to catch truly staggering numbers of fish per outing. During the Fall last year our guided bass fishing trips caught large bass almost every day, with numerous 5 fish catches that weighed over 35 pounds. Lake Okeechobee is in the middle of a bass population boom and each year there are more bass reaching trophy size, very few anglers take bass from the lake anymore leaving the brood stock to proliferate and build a fishery like no other.

As the water level in Lake Okeechobee continues to rise. The canals surrounding the lake on the outside of the dike, particularly the rim canal on the East side of the lake is at a level where water is being allowed to flow from the canals into the lake, aiding in the rise of the lake. The East side of the lake around Port Mayaca has received enough rainfall that the St. Lucie canal has been running backwards, with water flowing into the lake instead of running from the lake toward the coast. Running water creates current situations where gamefish such as bass, blue gill and speckled perch can actively feed on minnows and other small food items swept along by the movement of the water. Moving water does have its drawbacks in some instances, black water as local anglers refer to it, is water that is very poorly oxygenated and in some instances is carrying suspended silt with it. The fish will not necessarily leave the area with the bad water, but it can definitely affect the bite. For months we have been catching bass at a rapid pace on the North Shore of Okeechobee, but after heavy rains last week the runoff from Fisheating Creek carried black water into our fishing hole and all but ended our bite, forcing us to move to cleaner water so we could keep catching bass.

The more productive areas for bass fishing have been in the Kissimmee River and around King's Bar. Carolina rigs with plastic worms are drawing numerous strikes from small school sized bass although occasionally a five to 7 pound bass will be landed. There has been a shad hatch on the lake and schooling bass and other gamefish in large schools can be seen actively crashing the bait on top. Lipless crankbaits are a great search bait for schoolies, a chrome rattle trap with a blue or black back has long been a fish producer for us when bass are schooling on bait. Other areas where water flow can be found are Harney Pond, Indian Prairie canal and Henry Creek. Many times after heavy rain the water will flow out of the marsh on the West side of the lake through the open boat trails, setting up a feeding situation

Many of the bass are still a long way from the reed or grass line. Hydrilla, Pepper and Eel grass are growing well out into the lake and the fish are holding there in large numbers. A few large bass have been showing up in our catches and are a good indicator that the big females will be moving very shallow to feed voraciously very shortly. Anglers are always asking me "when is the best time to fish on Lake Okeechobee"? I can only say that there is never a bad time to go fishing, especially on the best bass fishing lake in the U.S. The next bite you get may be the fish of your lifetime.


Cpt MIke Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892

















September 2011


As we move toward Fall the water temperatures will start to cool due to lower daytime temperatures. Already we are seeing water that is 2 to 3 degrees cooler than a month ago. The cooler water will trigger Lake Okeechobee's many bass to go on a feeding spree, gorging themselves on shad, shiners and whatever else they can track down. More tepid water temperatures are conducive to a bite that will last all day as opposed to an early morning frenzy, such as when it is scalding hot. Already in the last few weeks we have started to see the larger bass in the lake become more active and they are showing up in anglers daily catches. October can be one of the best times of the year to catch a true lunker bass and is also a great time to catch truly staggering numbers of fish per outing. During the Fall last year our guided bass fishing trips caught large bass almost every day, with numerous 5 fish catches that weighed over 35 pounds. Lake Okeechobee is in the middle of a bass population boom and each year there are more bass reaching trophy size, very few anglers take bass from the lake anymore leaving the brood stock to proliferate and build a fishery like no other.

As the water level in Lake Okeechobee continues to rise. The canals surrounding the lake on the outside of the dike, particularly the rim canal on the East side of the lake is at a level where water is being allowed to flow from the canals into the lake, aiding in the rise of the lake. The East side of the lake around Port Mayaca has received enough rainfall that the St. Lucie canal has been running backwards, with water flowing into the lake instead of running from the lake toward the coast. Running water creates current situations where gamefish such as bass, blue gill and speckled perch can actively feed on minnows and other small food items swept along by the movement of the water. Moving water does have its drawbacks in some instances, black water as local anglers refer to it, is water that is very poorly oxygenated and in some instances is carrying suspended silt with it. The fish will not necessarily leave the area with the bad water, but it can definitely affect the bite. For months we have been catching bass at a rapid pace on the North Shore of Okeechobee, but after heavy rains last week the runoff from Fisheating Creek carried black water into our fishing hole and all but ended our bite, forcing us to move to cleaner water so we could keep catching bass.

The more productive areas for bass fishing have been in the Kissimmee River and around King's Bar. Carolina rigs with plastic worms are drawing numerous strikes from small school sized bass although occasionally a five to 7 pound bass will be landed. There has been a shad hatch on the lake and schooling bass and other gamefish in large schools can be seen actively crashing the bait on top. Lipless crankbaits are a great search bait for schoolies, a chrome rattle trap with a blue or black back has long been a fish producer for us when bass are schooling on bait. Other areas where water flow can be found are Harney Pond, Indian Prairie canal and Henry Creek. Many times after heavy rain the water will flow out of the marsh on the West side of the lake through the open boat trails, setting up a feeding situation
Many of the bass are still a long way from the reed or grass line. Hydrilla, Pepper and Eel grass are growing well out into the lake and the fish are holding there in large numbers. A few large bass have been showing up in our catches and are a good indicator that the big females will be moving very shallow to feed voraciously very shortly. Anglers are always asking me "when is the best time to fish on Lake Okeechobee"? I can only say that there is never a bad time to go fishing, especially on the best bass fishing lake in the U.S. The next bite you get may be the fish of your lifetime.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892



















August, 2011


We are right in the middle of Summer, dog days as the old timers refer to them. The water temperatures on Lake Okeechobee have risen into the mid to high eighties in the shallow water areas of the lake. The deeper water canals, the Kissimmee River and the moving water sections of the lake are several degrees cooler. This week in order to continue to catch bass we found it necessary to either fish current areas or shade.
Bass react to bright sunlight similar to people, seeking areas that offer shade, and will hold underneath the edges of a steep drop-off or hydrilla wall. A bait presented tight to that wall where the bass are holding will often draw a reaction strike from the fish. Many areas in the Rim Canal have rocky edges and over the years the wave action has eroded the water underneath the rocks forming an underwater ledge where bass will hold, just out of the sunlight.
With the ultra warm water the hydrilla fields in the lake have proliferated and are actually growing right to the edges of the depth changes in the lake. Even the deep water canals have hydrilla lines forming along the edges of the canals which offer shade for bass. Of course deep water offers shade too, but our best fishing, and catching are still in the shallow water of the main lake.
Our morning fishing trips find us on the water just as the sun starts to rise. Each morning we start with a top water bait of some sort. A pop'r, chug bug, tiny torpedo or a walking style bait have all worked well for us at different times. Some days we catch as many as 20 to 25 bass with our top water offerings, other days we may only catch 5 to 10 fish before the sun gets up and they refuse to rise up and hit the bait. In that case it's necessary to change to a bait that gets deeper in the water column, many times right on the bottom. Skinny dippers, swim senko's, plastic worms and flukes are all part of our catching arsenal
As a rule we always use the lightest weight possible when fishing with plastics, as not to inhibit the action built into the bait. As the water has gotten hotter over the last month we have found ourselves having to use heavier weights in order to get the bait right on the bottom in the face of the fish. Along with more weight our presentation has been slowed as well, we are just inching the bait along trying to keep it in the strike zone for as long as possible.

Pan fishing for blue gill, specks and shell cracker also picks up as the water cools. Speck fishermen will dot the Kissimmee River at night trying to catch limits of Specks, anchoring their boat and using a minnow under a tiny bobber. Another popular techniques is trolling a jig, which enable anglers to cover more water. Both of these methods have merit and at times produce great catches of fish. Blue gill will be close to the banks in the local canals as well as along the weed lines that line the main lake. Grass shrimp and crickets are the better baits fished under a bobber. Some anglers have great success fishing a red worm on the bottom in deep water in the Kissimmee River, catching good numbers of large shell crackers and blue gill too. The water has risen just enough, that the outside grasslines are fishable, it requires shutting you boat down well offshore and idling in to fish, but is well worth the effort.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892






July 11, 2011
Lake Okeechobee is rising at an agonizingly slow rate. The slow rise is actually favorable for the lake as opposed to a huge inundation of water that brings in silt and pollutants, causing numerous problems within the sensitive ecosystem. The lakes overall health is good, although long term pollution problems still of great concern. The fish populations are huge, bass, blue gill and shell cracker abound in all areas of the lake. Crappie (speckled perch) have made a great recovery since the inception of the 10 inch minimum length law and should continue to get better as time goes on.
Bird and wildlife are everywhere you look, many people are amazed by the sheer numbers and types of birdlife they see in a day. Throw in manatees, alligators, otter and other marsh and lake dwelling creatures and you have the making of the greatest eco-tour of all times.
Bass fishing of course is the headliner on Lake Okeechobee and has been for many years. Any bass angler worth his salt has either fished Okeechobee or has it on his bucket list. The past year has been one of the most productive and enjoyable times I personally have ever spent on the lake, and it all ties in with the great fishing. Simply put, when anglers of any skill level are able to have fun catching large numbers of their favorite fish and at the same time do it in one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in the World it is a great situation. To share the skills honed over years of fishing with others is only a small part, but add in sharing the wondrous beauty of Lake Okeechobee and it can open someone's eyes to something totally new and exciting.
The Kissimmee River has been a fish factory for many anglers lately, providing big numbers of bass as well as a shot at a big fish too. Carolina rigged plastics and crank baits are two of the better methods being used at this time. Schooling bass can be found in areas of moving water chasing and eating wild shiners, shad and minnows. A chrome with black back rattle trap with entice many bites from the schoolies, making long cast to the fish will help to avoid spooking them and ending the feeding frenzy.
The North Shore from King's Bar to Indian Prairie is loaded with bass, many of the local canals are running, and moving water brings food with it, which in turn get the fish congregated in certain areas making them easier to find and catch. Whether you want to catch a 100 bass in a day or just have a great time seeing the sites, Okeechobee is in top form.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892





























June 14, 2011
Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee is just as remarkable as it has been for the last two years, this past week guided trips averaged around 75 bass per outing. Artificial baits are providing fishermen with as much action as they want. Top water baits fished close to cover in the early morning under low light conditions are providing great action. Old school rubber worms will draw strikes from the myriad of small year class sized fish that populate the lake like never before. If you have an artificial bait that you love to catch bass on, now is the time to put it into action on the lake. Each morning we start out with top water baits and use them until the bass lets us know they are no longer going to eat them. Once the sun gets well into the sky we are changing over to slower moving , yet subtle baits like a fluke, fished with very little if any weight. The subtle fall of a fluke is irresistible to a bass and we are catching fish daily on them, alternating between many different colors and color variations. On days when they don't seem to want the fluke we are still catching fish on a skinny dipper fished slowly thru the heavy cover areas. When all else fails we are going to an rubber worm dragged slowly across the bottom, there is a reason the rubber worm has been around so long, it works!
The full moon periods are providing non-stop pan fish catches, blue gill and shell cracker are hanging around in the ultra shallow water, whether they are on spawning beds or holding near canal bank break lines. Crickets, grass shrimp and red worms will work, with one of the baits usually outperforming the others at any given time, so try them all.
If you read the newspaper or watch Television you know by now that Lake Okeechobee is very low. What has not been told and understood is that the giant lake still offers fishing opportunities that exceed all other fisheries in every respect. Guided trips are still fishing in the lake every day, thirty years of experience helps us to navigate the low water safely and also to locate great numbers of fish of all species. The dynamics of fish behavior are the same, fish like access to deeper water, especially large bass. Deep water is a relative term on the lake, although the canals that surround the lake offer water depths to 15 feet or more in spots, the main lake portion of Okeechobee does not offer areas of great depth change. Even at a normal level the water may be three feet deep on the edge of the grass line and a mile further offshore only reach a depth of 4 feet. Lake Okeechobee resembles a huge shallow saucer that is home to more fish and birdlife than anywhere on earth.
People that know me understand that I have what can only be called a "maniacal love" for the lake and what it represents to our community. It is the premier fishery in the United States and maybe the World, at least for largemouth bass. On the other hand the birdlife that exists on Lake Okeechobee is unparalled. Healthy water environments attract birdlife like a magnet. To truly be a bird paradise several factors have to be present, food, nesting areas and clean water. If the birds have those basics they will breed and stay around a lake forever. At this time Lake Okeechobee is home to what can only be called the World's largest aviary, with numerous species of birds using the lakes assets to make their lives and ours more enjoyable.

cpt mike shellen
shellen guide service
www.okeechobeebassfishing.com
863-357-0892






























May 11, 2011

Fishing on Lake Okeechobee has been so amazing for the last year that it has been nearly impossible to find anything negative to write about. Fishing is still terrific, and weekend tournament results attest to that. Five bass limits of thirty pounds or more have been the norm. Anglers from all over the U.S. are visiting the lake to experience the incredible bass fishing Lake Okeechobee offers. The lake holds such a huge population of fish at this time that anglers of all experience levels are finding success.
In addition to fishing, people are learning that the big lake has much more to offer. The sheer size and beauty of the lake and its unique habitat are breathtaking. Bird and aquatic life abound, varying from alligators and manatees to white pelicans, numerous species of ducks and the very shy and beautiful pink roseate spoonbill.
Pan fishing for blue gill and shell cracker is very good. Two to three days before and after the new and full moon phases have been the peak times. A mixed bag of pan fish has been the result of our fishing trips with grass shrimp or crickets. We have been catching blue gill, shell cracker. specks and bass all in the same areas. Fishing is more than just catching, it's about spending time with family and friends and learning about the outdoors. Although we all like to catch fish, we sometimes forget that the experience can be just as rewarding as the catching.
Many of our trips during this time of year start with a few dozen shiners. We are on the lake when the sun comes up and try to get a giant bass to eat one of our shiners. A bass can't resist a shiner swimming tantalizingly in front of its nose for very long, without at least striking at it. Once our shiners are gone we turn to artificial baits. Artificial lures have far outperformed live bait for sheer numbers of bass caught. It is not unusual to catch 40 to 50 bass per trip on artificial baits alone, which makes for a lot of hooting and hollering.
Top water baits like a Zara Spook Jr, or a pop'r will draw strikes on cloudy days. Speed worms and or trick worms fished with a very light weight draw strikes every day too. A weightless senko or fluke are all that is needed some days. For colors, watermelon or watermelon with red is an Okeechobee staple, black with blue is another favorite that the fish have proven over time that they will eat.

Cpt Mike shellen
www.okeechobeebassfishing.com,
863-357-0892





Bass fishing on the North end of the Lake Okeechobee has been as steady and as predictable as we've ever seen. Artificial baits are accounting for large numbers of bass daily. Top water baits, flukes, skinny dippers and senkos, have been working daily. Most days artificial baits will outperform live bait, especially for numbers , shiners however do account for more of the big bass that are caught than artificials. We have fished areas in the past week that we have not fished this year and regardless of where we stop we are catching bass. Catch rates have been nothing short of spectacular with a high of 120 bass and the average around 50 bass per trip. There is not a bass fishery around the US that can match lake Okeechobee at the present time. If you have a favorite bait that you like to catch bass on bring it with you and I bet you will catch fish on it.

The winter tourism season around South Florida and more particularly Lake Okeechobee is winding down, but the terrific fishing on the big lake is showing no signs of letting up. The lake is at a level presently that urges fish to move toward the outside edges of the marsh where they can find deeper water.

During April the local canal banks and the shallow edges of the lake are teeming with several different species of fish that are searching for spawning grounds. While most of the bass have completed spawning and are now feeding heavily, pan fish such as blue gill are just getting started. Shell Cracker made a brief appearance around the full moon in March but another wave will spawn around the full moon in April. There are many different ways to catch these great eating pan fish. A traditional light weight spinning rod and with 4 to 8 lb test works well for casting to spawning beds or fish that are spooky. Another method preferred by many anglers is the use of an old school type cane pole, which allows an angler to get closer to the fish and is more efficient when the fish are biting quickly, simply hoist the fish into the boat, rebait your hook and repeat the process. Other anglers use a long limber rod and cast a tiny jig head, which can be sweetened with any number of live baits. Each of these methods have merit and produce fish. Preferred live baits for pan fish are grass shrimp, crickets and red worms, with grass shrimp being the best .

It's hard to describe to someone that has not seen Okeechobee before how incredibly amazing the health of the lake's environment is at this time. Aside from the terrific fishing the vast amount of birdlife is stunning. We have been watching a huge flock of white pelicans assemble in the marsh this week as they ready for their long journey North, at this time we estimate that there are at least 200 to 300 birds flocked together feeding and storing energy for the long flight. Ducks too are abundant, hundreds of them can be seen feeding and flying about the marsh feeding on the hydrilla. The lake is teeming with life and must be seen in person to begin to understand the gravity of its importance to South Florida's tourism industry.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com, 863-357-0892





























Springtime on Lake Okeechobee is a favorite time of year for many anglers, aside from the fact that the cold weather has departed, fishing for bass, blue gill and shell cracker is at its peak. The full moon in March normally triggers a wave of large bass, shell cracker and blue gill to move into the shallow water to spawn. If you add warm stable weather and the beautiful Lake Okeechobee scenery to the prospect of being able to catch about any species of fish your heart desires, it's a beautiful thing. For those of you that have never witnessed the sheer beauty of the big lake and its incredible amount of wildlife, you are truly missing one of nature's great works.
The lake level is at 12 feet, a full 18 inches lower than this time a year ago. The falling water level urges the fish to slowly move toward the outside band of vegetation around the lake. Of course when the fish get concentrated on the outside edge and in the Kissimmee Grass that surrounds the lake in many areas they become more accessible to anglers. Spinner baits, speed worms, horny toads and skinny dippers will all draw strikes. The massive expanse of eel grass that lines the North Shore and the West side of the lake is home to great numbers of all species of fish. The grass is thick in some areas but also provides areas where clumps of isolated grass grow well off of the shoreline. The fish will sometimes stack up on the hard edge of the cover where the grass meets the hard sand bottom, the fish can be seen swimming along on the bare sand searching for an easy meal. Others times bigger fish can be found holding on the isolated clumps offshore and if targeted can be caught on a senko, lipless crank bait or some type of worm.
Specks are being caught out beyond Kings Bar straight out of the Kissimmee River in large numbers, as the specks move toward the grass lines where many of them will spawn they temporarily stack up in large schools offshore. Minnows and slow trolled jigs will work best. Some hard core anglers are already gleaning some very nice specks from the grass lines on a jig. First the males show up and then the females will move in to spawn in the grass.
Starting this month blue gill and shell cracker will be the focus of many anglers around the lake. Everyone, including myself love tom catch and eat the large pan fish that Lake Okeechobee has to offer. When the fish move shallow in large numbers to spawn the catching can at times be fast and furious. Crickets, grass shrimp and red worms are the go to baits for many savvy anglers. Fly rod anglers can simply tear it up when the fish get in the skinny water. Popping bugs and or a spider or cricket look alike can illicit savage strikes on top from the chunky pan fish. There are many species of fish to pursue in the lake, but for the joy of catching and then eating, blue gill and shell cracker are unsurpassed. The filets are white, mild and flaky and when freshly caught, filleted and fried offer a sartorial treat of epic proportions.
Bass fishing continues to be very good on the lake, stable weather and warm water are a recipe for biting bass. Whether shiner fishing or casting artificial baits we are catching bass daily. Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice wanting to learn the ropes, it is possible to catch bass, the fish numbers are huge and the bite on most days is friendly, meaning the fish most often cooperate to a degree, whether it's a rampant bite or a steady bite, that's why it is called fishing.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892






February 8, 2011
The recent FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee set the lake on fire. A total of 160 pro anglers from all parts of the world ventured out into the lake on Thursday to test their skills against the Big "O". During practice many anglers spoke of seeing small buck bass and a few females roaming the shallows, but Thursday morning was different, a wave of large female bass had moved into the shallows and were occupying beds in all areas of the lake. Pro Angler Chad Prough led the tournament for the first three days boosted by the strength of a day one five fish limit weighing nearly 35 pounds. Overall there were many 30 pounds plus limits brought to the scales, but as is usually the case consistency ultimately reigned. Brandon McMillan from Belle Glade fishing in his first FLW Tour event was the most consistent angler in the field bringing 5 bass limits to the scale each of the four days that weighed between 25 to 28 pounds. In winning the tour event Brandon also became the first angler in FLW history to top the 100 pound mark, lugging just over 106 pounds to the scale, that's better than a five pound average per fish.
Weigh in each day turned into a testimonial for Lake Okeechobee, with anglers singing the praises of the lake and its massive population of big bass. Pro's and co-anglers alike shared stories of catching more than 100 fish per day. The different styles and kinds of baits were many, with pitching & flipping scoring many of the larger fish. A Gambler big E-Z was mentioned by many anglers as was the skinny dipper. Anglers were scattered all over the lake commenting about finding bass everywhere they fished.
Local anglers too are finding great success even though there seems to be traffic everywhere. Flukes, trick worms, senko's, spinner baits and flipping baits are all drawing strikes. Top water baits are working in the skinny water, when worked over the top of the bass a vicious response can be drawn. As this wave of bass concludes spawning the outside edges of the grass lines will continue to get better with bass looking for a meal after expending great energy spawning.
Shiner fishing has been tremendous with large numbers of bass, and big bass falling prey to wild live shiners daily. With warm and stable weather the extended fishing forecast looks very bright. Average daily catch rates for the last few week are impressive, 50 to 60 fish days are more the norm than the exception. Lake Okeechobee is fulfilling its potential and then some for anglers looking for fast and furious catching action.
If the warm weather and water temperatures continue the full moon on the 18th could actually spur spawning action by bass, blue gill and later possibly shell cracker. These two pan fish are prized by those that love a good fish fry and can be caught in huge numbers when they move into the shallow water to spawn.
Lake Okeechobee is smack dab in the middle of one of the best periods for bass fishing it has ever seen. Many reasons contribute to great fishing, one of the major reasons Okeechobee is so good right now is the 18 inch slot limit that gives small bass a chance to reach trophy size without being harvested. Let's hope them FWC has the common sense to leave the slot in place.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
8563-357-0892


























The recent FLW Everstart Series tournament on lake Okeechobee gave anglers a pretty good indication of how good the bass fishing is on Lake Okeechobee. Even though the weather changed drastically during the event many large five fish limits were brought to the scale each day. On day one Joey Thigpen from St. Johns Fl. brought a five fish limit to the scale that weighed over 34 pounds, nearly a 7 pound average. The winner of the three day event was Brandon Medlock from lake Placid. Medlock managed to bring over 60 pound of bass to the scales for the three days to claim the $35000 first place check. Flipping and pitching were the most productive ways that the pros targeted the spawning bass around reed clumps and matted vegetation. Heavy jigs, paca craws, sweet beavers and bb crickets were just some of the more popular baits. Skinny dippers, spinner baits and 10 inch worms were popular for those casting to the scattered cover. The North end of the lake was responsible for the majority of the large bass that were caught, with the North Shore, Horse Island, Kings Bar and the Monkey Box being popular areas with the pros.

Earlier this winter when the large spawning females moved into the shallow grass lines to spawn we caught many bass in the 7 to 11 pound range. Many of the bass spawned early this year, but this last week just prior to the full moon another wave of spawners moved shallow and we started catching female bass full of roe on the outside grass lines once again. This pattern will continue throughout the winter and as we enter spring. One of the great things about this time of year is that we have bass that have completed spawning and are looking to feed heavily after expending their energy. Then on the other hand we have another wave of females moving into the shallows to spawn, so there are fish in different stages available in the shallow water and along the grasslines. This process is what makes Lake Okeechobee the tremendous bass fishing resource that it has been for many years.

The town of Okeechobee has even more to offer than just tremendous fishing. Okeechobee is situated right on the Northern tip of the lake and is easily accessible from every point in the entire state. Okeechobee offers great new Inns and hotels for your staying pleasure. for the early morning fishermen Okeechobee has restaurants that open early and close late. Whatever you prefer in the way of food is available from steaks to barbecue or seafood you can get it all here. The town of Okeechobee is the only town around the lake that can provide full amenities and easy access from all major airports. If you have questions about where to stay and need some guidance, give us a call and we will steer you in the right direction .

Cpt Mike Shellen
863-357-0892
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com







Lake Okeechobee welcomed the New Year with fireworks. It was not an aerial display as is typical most places, instead it was a display of angling fireworks not seen on Lake Okeechobee for some time in a major event. The FLW Everstart Eastern Series season opening tournament was held out of Scott Driver park on the North end of the lake with 164 professional anglers vying for bass fishing glory and $35000 cash. On day one Joey Thigpen from St. Johns Fl. brought a five bass limit to the scale that weighed 34 lbs 8 oz, his huge catch was anchored by a giant 9 lb 11 oz. Ultimately Brandon Medlock from Lake Placid won the 3 day event with just over 64 lbs of bass. The weather got progressively worse for the anglers as the days wore on, high winds and cooling water leading to smaller stringers the final two days of the event. Flipping and pitching were the ongoing theme for success with anglers finding spawning bass in skinny water in the proximity of heavy cover.

The North Shore area is yielding large bass to anglers adept at sight fishing, flipping and or pitching. Many of the bass moved well back into the marshy areas under matted vegetation when the water got cold. Once the water warmed the fish moved directly into a spawning mode. Heavy braided line is required to wrestle large fish from the tangled jungle of marsh vegetation. A Heavy weight is needed to punch thru the thick mats, up to 1 oz in some instance. A black & blue jig with a chunk trailer or a paca craw are favorites. As the fish leave the beds they are very hungry and will once again be roaming about looking for feeding opportunities. The skinny dipper, spinner baits and lipless crank baits will all come into play.

The spawn sometimes puts a momentary lull on the shiner fishing bite, but once completed the fish will avidly gulp shiners making for some great catching opportunities. It appears that we have gone thru a major spawn earlier than normal and may bode well for some great bass fishing in the upcoming months. It's all about the water temperature and stable weather in January, when we get stable periods the fishing is good. There have been two fish in the 11 pound plus range caught in the last month, one we caught on a shiner, the other fell prey to a spinner bait. Okeechobee is flexing its fishing muscles, it should be very interesting to see how the rest of the winter and spring play out.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com, 863-357-0892






























Our Fall/Winter season started with a bang this year. We had mild weather and warm water temps and the bass responded by going on a feeding frenzy. The water level is below 13 feet, which urges the bass to slowly migrate toward the outer edges where the water is slightly deeper. With abundant hydrilla and eel grass beds around the lake, finding bass has not been a problem. Anglers from all over the U.S. have been hearing about the great bass bite on Okeechobee and are returning to find themselves enjoying bass fishing that is not possible in many other spots in the world. Artificial bait aficionados are having a heyday catching large numbers of bass on many different types and styles of baits.

Any mention of great artificial baits for catching fish on Lake Okeechobee would be incomplete without the mention of the skinny dipper. Aside from being responsible for numerous tournament wins, everyday anglers can use it effectively and catch big fish and large numbers of fish, when the conditions are right. It comes in many colors and several sizes, but the original size in Houdini, California 420 or watermelon are tough to beat. A large 10 to 12 inch worm will work nicely as will a spinner bait. Top water walking style baits will draw strikes early morning over submerged grasses or among standing cover areas.

The full moon periods are pulling big bass into the shallow water areas where they are vulnerable to anglers. Our clients have experienced what they have called unbelievable & inconceivable fishing this early season already. During a particularly productive stretch of days our clients were catching as many bass as they wanted to take time to catch. More than once our best five fish exceeded 30 pounds, with bass to 11lbs 1oz pounds being our best recently. The sheer number of 7 to 8 pound bass being caught on a wild shiner is even impressing me. I find myself very proud of our fishery right now and am eager to show it off to anglers from all over the world.

Great fishing is not limited to one area of the lake, with every area of the lake holding large numbers of bass. From Lock 7 on the Northern tip of the lake, traveling West all the way to Observation Shoal, bass are being located and caught. We are approaching the time of year when cold fronts can effect fishing, if a front moves through and drops the water temps in the lake it can get tough to catch these Okeechobee Bass. The Okeechobee strain of largemouth is not fond of cold water and becomes inactive when its environment changes drastically. Metabolically a bass is driven by hunger to feed, the warmer the water gets the faster they metabolize the food they intake. When the water cools their body is not metabolizing the food they intake as quickly, thus the urge to feed is far less frequent. That in itself takes a great number of fish out of the equation. When the water is warm bass will be active and feeding. It is just fishing and if you don't go, you could miss the catch of a lifetime. Many times we have caught big bass and had great fishing when the weather was horrible, and there were no other anglers fishing. Have a great day!

Decmber 11, 2010 Chris Peterson from Charlotte NC caught an 11lb 1oz bass on a wild shiner, go to our website and visit our fishing reports/blog to see pictures

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassfishing.com
863-357-0892






























Lake Okeechobee has experienced a rebirth of sorts, the extreme drought of several years ago served to dry out the marsh areas of the lake. The South Florida Water Management District then performed scraping projects, removing thousands of truck loads of muck and sediment that had built up over the years. The following spring and summer when the water again reached normal levels native vegetation started growing in all of the scraped areas. The areas of native vegetation, plus hydrilla have served as hiding places for young fry to grow and proliferate, leading to a boom in the numbers of fish in the lake.

This past summer was incredible, anglers with varying levels of bass fishing experience were able to catch bass and a lot of them. We did not have to take shiners in order for our customers to catch bass, opting instead to use soft plastics to catch large numbers of bass. As the summer progressed the fishing outlook got better and better with 50 to 80 bass days being normal.

With the arrival of fall we were excited with the anticipation of the first waves of large female pre-spawn bass moving toward the shallow grass lines. The big females showed up early. Normally the full moon in November is when we will experience an influx of big fish. This year however, around the full moon in October we started catching big bass like crazy, with 6 to 8 pound bass being an almost every day occurrence, the largest bass our clients caught was a 9 1/2 pound, 26 1/2 inch long female that ate the largest shiner in our bait well.

There is great anticipation surrounding the upcoming winter season. The water level is around 13 1/2 feet, moving the bass toward the outside edges of available cover, where the odds of them being caught increase greatly.

Around the North end of the lake an angler can start fishing and catching bass at Lock 7, located right in the town of Okeechobee. If you work your way West all the way to Sportsmen's Canal you will experience great fishing. Launch your boat, put the trolling motor down and go fishing. It is a great time on lake Okeechobee.

For many years I have been a proponent of sizing up the relative health of a fishery by the state of its bird/wildlife. There are more birds on the lake than in many years. Eagle, Osprey, Roseate Spoonbill, Herons, Marsh hens, Coots, King Fisher, and too many others to mention them all. We have been watching Manatee, Alligators, Otters and Snakes as well as seeing Deer and wild Hogs feeding along the dike or canal banks. The lake is a thing of great beauty, beautiful sunrises and sunsets as well as breath taking views are an everyday occurrence. The town of Okeechobee is situated on the Northern edge of the Lake and has long been known as a wonderful place to visit and catch fish. However Okeechobee has grown into a destination for travelers from all over the world, come visit us and see what your missing!

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892



























October arrives and immediately we can feel a change in the air, with lower daytime temperatures and cooler nights. This weekend was the first time since last spring that a jacket was required during our morning run to our first fishing spot. It is a welcome surprise for both us and the fish, just weeks ago the water was in the high to mid eighties. We found water temperatures as low as seventy eight degrees this week, a temperature that has triggered a bite by the larger bass that were reluctant to eat when the water was hot. Three fish were caught in the eight pound class this week, and the overall size of the bass being caught has increased too. In general we are catching more quality size bass on our live bait trips than we caught when the water was still very warm.

With the water temperatures in the seventies the bass seem to be moving around, roaming in both the shallow marsh areas and along the grassy outside edges of the lake. In explorer mode we ventured as far back into the marsh as we could go and found fish of every species in the lake residing there. The area was one that had been involved in the SFWMD scraping project several years ago and earlier in the year it was basically wide open with only a small amount of submerged vegetation on the very bottom. It was incredible to see how the area had grown in over the summer, there were patches of eel grass, pepper grass, hydrilla and pickerel weed all growing interspersed with one another.

The cooler water temperatures had triggered each one of these plant species to flower. There were teeny little flowers atop the eel grass as well as the hydrilla. The pickerelweed had a beautiful purple flower on it and there were stalks of water pimpernel with white flowers dotting the landscape as well. Lake Okeechobee has so much to offer, the panoramic view is beautiful and breathtaking, and of course the terrific fishing is a bonus too!

Fishermen prefer many different water conditions, some like ultra clear water, and others like it slightly stained. Depending on the wind direction everyone can find what they are looking for. Some days you may have to go inside of Grassy Island or Tin House Cove to find clear water. When the wind blows out of the North the clear water can extend well out past the outside grass line into the main lake. Every lake requires learning and studying the conditions, Lake Okeechobee is daunting in that it is a humongous body of water where very distinct, sometimes small areas hold fish. The better fishermen on the lake know what to look for when it comes to vegetation and or water conditions, if you study the water and learn something from every trip you make your success rate will soar.

Year class size bass are being caught from
The East side of the lake all the way to Fish Eating Bay on the West side. The Shoal is still holding loads of fish, but is subject to an East wind, which is prevalent this time of year.

Guides Tip: Early morning top water frogs in across and through the hydrilla will get results. Skinny dippers still taking a lot of fish when worked through the grass, use heavy line or braid to get the fish out of the cover. Lightly weighted flukes and trick worms are racking up bites on the outside edges, let them sink into the holes in the cover and hold on, we are using 12 pound test to get the bait down and lose a lot of fish, but also get a lot of bites. On bright sunny days the fish will move into the thick cover once the sun gets higher in the sky, use a black/blue ugly otter or paca craw and pitch or flip it with a heavy weight to continue getting bites.

Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892







The water level on famed Lake Okeechobee is 14.23 feet, just slightly lower than last year at this same time. The water levels have not fluctuated greatly this summer, varying from 13.5 to 14.5 feet. With a stable water level the multitudes of fish in the lake have taken up residence in all areas of the lake. The bass for instance can be found on the outside grass lines where they can be easily targeted by anglers using spinner baits, top water frogs, worms, senko�s and many other styles and types of artificial offerings. For the more adventuresome angler there are schools of bass that have moved well back into the marsh areas, where there are shallow water pond areas and open runs that have depths of 2 to 4 feet. The marsh areas can present more of a challenge, the cover tends to be thicker and boat navigation can be problematic if you are not experienced at dealing with the thick stuff. Modest catch rates for bass this summer are 20 to 30 fish for a half day trip, although many 50 plus fish days have occurred too. Shiner fishing is good if you are targeting only giant bass, so far this summer artificial baits are outperforming live bait daily.

The ability to land bass in the marsh areas requires the use of heavier line. Heavy mono or braid is recommended and will aid you in wrestling a big bass from the thick slop that they are known to frequent. Pitching and flipping soft plastic baits is most effective in these areas. Many of the larger bass choose to reside in the heavy cover areas.

Big fish tend to be more solitary creatures than small bass, thus the bites you get may be less frequent, but the bass you catch will be larger. Black with Blue flake or black with red flakes are both good colors when using creature baits. There are many different colors and styles of flipping and pitching baits. A paca craw, ugly otter or a sweet beaver are just a few of many.

Normally during the hottest summer months we have struggled to catch good numbers of pan fish. This summer has been much different, last weekend we fished with the Bingham family from South Carolina for two days, between the 2 boats of anglers we caught over 250 fish. We caught a mixed bag of fish, with large blue gill, shell cracker, warmouth, specks and cat fish filling our live wells. We also caught a lot of small bass on our light weight bream buster poles, which always provide a lot of excitement. For bait we used crickets, but with the numbers of shell cracker we caught I am pretty sure a worm fished very near or on the bottom would have worked just as well. Nicki & Russ Wyckstra from Stuart also fished for pan fish with us last week. The first fish Nicki caught was a giant 12 inch long shell cracker, any pan fish that has grown to that size is the fish of a lifetime.

We enjoy seeing all of the bird life and other creatures that is present on and around the lake. We have been seeing a lot of Manatees in the areas where we are fishing, and have enjoyed observing them as they eat water lettuce and other vegetation. We have been sighting Eagles almost daily as well; the return of healthy habitat has triggered a resurgence of these proud birds around the lake.

Pros tip: Too consistently catch pan fish on Okeechobee at this time look for a solid edge of hydrilla. The fish love to get in and under this cover and usually can be found in big numbers. Use a cricket for bait under a small bobber and place your bait either tight against the edge of the cover, or look for a hole in the cover where you can dangle your bait down into the same level that the fish are holding in. Remember to keep only as many fish as you can use the future of our fisheries rely on small fish that have a chance to get large enough to be harvested on another day. Practice conservation.

Captain Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892




August 29, 2010

As a great summer on Lake Okeechobee comes to a close, we find ourselves looking forward to the cooler temperatures that fall and winter bring us. Along with the change in the weather, we anxiously anticipate the return of our friends and visitors from the North.

The overall conditions of Lake Okeechobee are nearly ideal as we enter this season. The amount of native vegetation is incredible, eel grass, pepper grass and hydrilla are all prevalent in the lake. These three kinds of cover are all favorable for great bass fishing, throw in spike rush and Kissimmee grass and the overall health of the lake is impressive. Add in just enough rain to keep the lake at a somewhat stable level and it all adds up to good fishing. This summer was one of the most productive for bass fishing in many years. The sheer numbers of bass impressed even locals anglers. Normally bass fishing can get quite tough during the hottest of the summer months, but this year we caught bass daily. Word of the great fishing is spreading among bass fishermen like wildfire, spurring anglers that have not fished Okeechobee since the drought of several years ago to come see for themselves.

The fall season traditionally presents Okeechobee fishermen with a taste of what the upcoming season will provide. Some time in November the first wave of large female bass will move into the shallow shoreline grass and feed like crazy prior to the spawn. This fall bite can be tremendous for both numbers of bass and large bass as well. The first wave of bass is only the start, each month in sync with the moons phases there will be another wave of bass moving into the shallows to spawn. It is one of the primary reasons Lake Okeechobee is recognized as a world class fishery.

For anglers that love to eat fish, we have great blue gill and speckled perch (crappie) fishery. The cooler waters of the fall and winter trigger the specks to bite, providing hungry anglers with all of the tasty filets they can consume. The blue gill is prolific as well and can be caught many different ways. Fly rods will draw strikes on top when the fish are on the banks. Fishing a grass shrimp or a cricket underneath a small bobber is my favorite way to fill the fish box with eating sized gills. Many anglers fish the deeper haunts of the river, using red worms or night crawlers on the bottom, and catch some of the largest blue gills and shell crackers that live in the lake.

Okeechobee has more to offer than great fishing, beautiful scenery, great sunsets and friendly people. Okeechobee is a small town that is centrally located to every airport in the area, offering great places to stay, from fish camps to Inns. Many great restaurants offer a plethora of tasty treats to feed your hunger. Welcome to Okeechobee, sit down, stay a while.


Cpt Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892



July 1, 2010

We are set up for a banner 4th of July weekend! The water level is perfect and the bass are biting. It has been an incredible spring and early summer on Okeechobee. Average catch rates vary daily for anglers using artificial baits with some anglers reporting catches of 75 to 90 bass! Our guide trips have been very enjoyable, even anglers that are not experienced with artificial baits have been able to catch good numbers of bass. Top water baits, swimming flukes, senkos, 12 to 16 inch worms and spinner baits have all worked for us at different times. We have gotten into schools of bass chasing bait several times and have been able to catch 20 to 30 fish in a short time. Bass to 9 pounds have been caught by anglers in recent tournaments, with 30 pound bags being required to take the money in some events. Shiner fishing is still the more productive way to go for anglers looking for that one fish of a liftime.

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892


May 22, 2010

It has been a great spring on Lake Okeechobee. The water is up and the fishing is superb. The average catch rate is 25 to 40 bass per trip. We are still catching big bass, most being caught on shiners. For sheer numbers of bass we are using artificial baits. There is a tremendous amount of bait and small bass in the lake, the bass are starting to school and reports of 100 fish catches have been reported. Lake Okeechobee is in great shape at this time with abundant native vegetation growing everywhere.

March 13, 2010

March is traditionally a great month on Lake Okeechobee.
The are still some Bass spawning, while others have already spawned and are looking to feed and regain the energy they expended while spawning. Shiner fishing is getting better as the weather continues to improve as we head into springtime. Artificial baits fishing has been very good, some days we have caught as many bass on artificial baits as we have on shiners. Top water baits, flukes, senkos, spinner baits, skinny dippers and a number of other baits have all proven successful for our clients. We are starting to see blue gill and shell cracker move shallow and the full moon period should provide a great catch of pan fish for those interested. Versatile is the word for Okeechobee right now, Bass Blue Gill or other species can all be taken in the shallow water while they are spawning.

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892



February 10, 2010

Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee is peaking, big bass are moving shallow to spawn and fishing will get better & better over the next few months. Shiners are catching the bigger bass , but artificial baits are also accounting for good numbers of fish. Our guided shiner fishing trips are averaging 20 to 30 bass per trip. We have had streaks of three to four days in a row when our customers have caught bass over 7 pounds each day. The lake is in good shape, with plenty of water, native vegetation is growing in many areas of the lake, creating desirable bass habitat.


December 16, 2009
Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee is still very good, we have had one of the better fall seasons in recent memory. Our guided bass fishing trips have been averaging 25 to 40 bass per outing. Big bass have been coming with regularity in our daily trips with live wild shiners. Okeechobee is in great shape at this time with plenty of water, which makes the whole lake fishable all the way back into the marsh. We are expecting a very good winter season for both big bass and numbers of bass. It has been several years since the lake has been fishable, and the bass fishing has been this good. This year looks as if it is going to be a great, and the next few years should even be better. Fishermen may stretch the truth but pictures do not lie. To Check our daily blog entries and pictures of the bass that our clients are catching each day, go to: www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.blogspot.com

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892


November 23, 2009
Bass fishing has really taken off on Lake Okeechobee, Shiner fishing has gotten better each week as more and more big female Bass move into the shallow water where they are more prone to being caught by a lucky, or skilled angler. We are catching 35 to 50 Bass per day with big Bass in the 7 pound range and over being caught by our clients daily. If you are skeptical check out or website and blog that is attached to it, pictures don't lie. We put pictures of our clients on the web almost daily. It is looking like it could be the best season in many years on Okeechobee. If you are an avid angler don't miss your chance to experience the beauty of Lake Okeechobee. The lake is ripe with healthy fish attracting vegetation like hydrilla, pepper grass, eel grass and numerous other native plants.

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassfishing.com
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.blogspot.com
863-357-0892





November 10, 2009

The Okeechobee fish factory is back in business! The Bass bite has been very good, whether you are pursuing your favorite game fish with artificial baits or shiner fishing with one of Okeechobee�s many talented fishing guides, the catching has been great.

Many different types of bait are drawing strikes, top water baits; skinny dippers and flukes are among the baits that can be worked rather quickly drawing reaction type bites. Casting a top water bait into the many holes in the grass have resulted in some startling strikes lately, although some of the pre-spawn bass will make a vicious pass at the bait without ever touching it, which can be exciting, but disappointing at the same time. If you are a patient methodical angler that likes to flip or pitch heavier cover, try a 10 inch worm or a soft plastic creature bait, they can be the hot ticket. There are many styles and types of flipping baits that can fill the bill; I prefer flipping a large Gambler tube, for the simple reason that I have caught a lot of big bass on a tube over the years. The paca craw, sweet beaver and the brush hog have all accounted for many big bass from Okeechobee as well.

The North end of the lake is producing big numbers of bass for those anglers that are on the lake daily. From Eagle Bay to the Monkey Box, anglers are finding groups of Bass that are willing to bite. On more than one occasion we have seen great numbers of baitfish, particularly small shad in the areas we were fishing. The shad had been steered or pushed by the wind and the current it created into a funnel type area. Fortunately the bass had found the bass too, and were eagerly feeding on the shad, as well as the shiners we were using for bait. We have one particular shiner fishing spot that we have been fishing daily for a month or so that produces bass nearly every time we fish it. Very rarely is the bite the same, some days we catch the very small year class size fish first and eventually may catch some of the bigger bass. The next day we will catch more quality size bass, with most of the bass being larger mature fish. We have been lucky enough to catch several bass over 7 pounds from this spot and two other bass over 8 pounds as well. It will be interesting to see how long this spot continues to produce for our clients. One particular section of this spot seems is an area that the bass are always on or around, from above it looks like open water, but just below the water�s surface there is hydrilla and eel grass and the fish are drawn to it.

The speck fishing bite is really just starting to materialize. As the water continues to cool the bite will get better. As this time most of the specks being caught are under the 10 inch size limit set for the lake. The Kissimmee River will be the first spot on the lake to take off and then later in then season there should be large numbers of speck move into the shallow Kissimmee grass lines where jig anglers will have a heyday catching them.

Blue gill and cichlids are being caught along the banks of the Kissimmee and local canals. Worms will catch the cichlids; these fish will continue to bite as long as the water stays warm. Blue gill will bite on crickets or red worms, Fish the crickets under a small bobber, and try the red worms right on the bottom to see which works best for that day.

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.blogspot.com
863-357-0892
email: SJMike7@aol.com





October 18, 2009

Bass fishing is getting better as the weeks pass, The water has cooled and we are catching bigger fish with each trip it seems. We are averaging 25 to 40 Bass per trip fishing wild shiners. The bass have steadily gotten larger as the water has cooled down, the lake is in great shape and we are looking forward to a terrific season of catching good numbers of bass as well as many big Okeechobee giants.
Artificial baits are still taking good numbers of bass, skinny dippers, flukes, senkos and top water baits are all putting fish in the boat for us.

Captain Mike Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892




October 3, 2009

Okeechobee Bass Fishing is still very good, there are so many small fish in the system right now that the future of Okeechobee looks incredibly bright! We are catching 35 to 50 Bass per day on artificial baits, mostly plastics. Flukes,trick worms, speed worms and senkos are taking fish daily. We are still catching Bass very early morning on top water baits and spinner baits, although the amount of time that particular bite last has been very brief as of late. We are coming into the time of year when we are looking for a wave of large pre-spawn bass to appear out of nowhere. With a full moon around the first of November it is a distinct possibility that we could see some spawning Bass.

September 21, 2009

Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee is still very good, this week we have caught between 40 and 50 bass each trip. We are catching some bass in the 5 to 6 pound range. There is still a good early morning topwater bite that usually ends around 8:30 to 9am. Once the topwater action ceases we are using soft plastics, swimbaits, flukes and speed worms. We are also catching fish flipping into the heavy cover, but there are a lot of fish in the scattered grass areas.

August 30, 2009

We have had one of the better summers bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee that I can remember. The lake was left alone to rise slowly as mother nature intended and with the daily rains the native vegetation has flourished, Hydrilla is present all around the lake and the fish are flocking to it. Eel grass has proliferated along the Western and Norther shores, in some areas growing as far as 100 feet out into the lake. It has been an exceptional summer for small year class size bass which are fish from the last spawn. With the huge number of 12 inch fish in the system and a great amount of 3 to 4 pound fish as well it should be a great season. Everyone knows that Okeechobee is famous for it's large bass, many bass in the 7 to 10 pound range are caught in lake Okeechobee every year. With the incredible spawn last year and the release of another 1/2 million bass by the GFC Okeechobee will remain the Bass fishing Capitol of the World. Whether you are fishing for sheer numbers of bass or just want to have a shot at catching a wall hanger the odds are getting better each month. The lake is going into the fall months in the best condition it has been in for quite a few years. The lake is beautuful, the water is clear the bass are abundant, for a true bass fisherman it's a dream come true.

To book a trip or if you need some info: call me.

Captain Michael Shellen
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
863-357-0892
email: SJMike7@aol.com


August 16, 2009
The lake level is very near 14 feet. Bass fishing is very good with an incredible mix of big and small bass being caught on each trip. I received a report from one of the other guides on the lake that he had caught a 10 lb 14 ounce bass while he was out practice fishing, there have also been reports of 7 and 8 pound fish being caught. We are catching 20 to 30 fish per trip on artificial baits using top water baits, spinner bait, flukes and other plastics. We are approaching early fall on Okeechobee, a time when the bass start going on a feeding binge to prepare for the upcoming spawn. We are just now starting to get back into shiner fishing after using only artificials all summer, we caught 15 fish today on a half day trip on shiners, we had 6 fish in the 5 pound class.


July 7, 2009

Okeechobee has had a tremendous resurgence over the summer! We have had a great summer catching bass on artificial baits, many of our customers have never used artificial baits like a plastic worm before but every one of them caught bass and expressed how great it was catching bass on a plastic worm. There are millions of very small bass in the lake right now, which bodes well for the nations number 1 bass fishery. Our guide trips have all been with artificial baits and our success rate has been much higher than those that are using live bait. The lake level is nearing 13 feet and the fishing is still terrific, come visit us at lake Okeechobee and enjoy the beauty of the nations largest inland lake and the worlds best bass fishing.


June 11, 2009

Bass fishing continues to be red hot on Okeechobee, today I fished with two inexperienced anglers from Ohio and we caught over 75 bass in six hours of fishing artificial baits. This is better than normal but we are averaging 40 to 50 per day lately. The water where we are fishing is aquarium clear and there are so many bass there you can literally see them swimming ahead of the boat. It has been quite some time since Okeechobee has been this hot for this long! Don't miss some of the best artficial bait fishing for bass you will ever find
anywhere, fishing Okeechobee now!


Bass fishing has been tremendous for the last month and continues to get even better as schooling bass are being found roaming shallow water schooling on small newly hatched shad. We have been lucky enough to catch these schoolies on several ocassions recently putting 25 to 30 bass in the boat in a relatively short time. Memorial day weekend I fished with 11 year old Lorenso Fuller, his father and his grandfather, we caught approximatley 35 bass on artificial baits and Lorensos caught an 8 pound bass on a plastic worm. Blue gill fishing is still spectacular we are catching them on Fly Rod with popping bugs and also on crickets using a bream buster pole.

May 8, 2009

Okeechobee is at it's fishing peak right now, we are catching 25 to 40 Bass per day on artificial baits. Every year at this time the same thing occurs, just as most of our visitors from the North head home the fishing gets really good! We have been catching Bass in the morning on many occasions and then loading up on big Blue Gill in the afternoon. We fished two full days for Blue Gill last week and caught between 250 to 300 large Blue Gills. The Blue Gill we are catching are 9 to 10 inches long and weigh close to a pound. They can be caught on a cricket or a Fly Rod. Fishing on Lake Okeechobee is as good as it gets right now!

April 24, 2009

We had what was probably the best shiner fishing trip of the year this week, we found what we thought were a bunch of school fish that we could catch on artificial or shiners. It turned out that the fish we found were a bunch of post spawn females that were on a feeding binge. We caught Bass for the first 2 1/2 hours of the morning on every shiner we cast out, it was incredible. The Bass averaged 3 to 4 pounds but there were many much larger, we had several 5 and 6 pound Bass, the big Bass for the morning was an 8 1/2 pound spawned out female that was very long and skinny, had she been carrying her roe still she would have weighed well over 10, we had a couple other big fish on that jumped off, but one Bass for sure that we all knew was bigger than the 8 1/2 pound fish we landed. It is a great time to be fishing Okeechobee.

April 14, 2009

Bass fishing is getting better each day as the water levels drop on Okeechobee, forcing the Bass toward the outside edges of the grass lines. Anglers are catching 25 to 40 fish per day on artificial baits with an occasional big fish showing up in the mix. We are starting to see some schooling action from the bass but so far it has been limited. Most of the bass have spawned and are looking to feed up to regain the energy they expended while spawning.

Blue Gill and Shell Cracker are spawning everywhere you look in the lake and in the local canals, good numbers of these hefty pan fish are being caught daily, crickets and grass shrimp are the go to baits at this time.

March 15, 2009

We finally got the warm weather we haver been asking for and the fishing this week was incredible! We are catching between 30 and 40 Bass per trip with big Bass in the mix every day. We had two fish over 8 pounds this week and 2 over 7 pounds. The number of 5 and 6 pound fish we are catching every day is incredible. The water has warmed into the low 70's and the Bass are on a major feed. Not all of the Bass have spawned yet so the new moon period should see another wave of fish move in to spawn.


March 9, 2009
Bass fishing is taking off exactly as it does every March! Artificial baits are working in nearly every area on the north end of the lake. Spinner baits, senkos, 10 inch worms, and skinny dippers are all producing some very nice Bass. It is possible to catch 10 to 15 fish per day on artificial baits at this time and the water is just starting to get warm! Shiner fishing has gotten better each day of the present warming trend and should continue to improve, our catch rate numbers have grown daily. We are catching 15 to 25 fish daily and the numbers should continue to grow as the fish complete spawning and move towards the outside edges of the grass It's big Bass time on Okeechobee!




February 28, 2009
What a way to end the month of February! We shiner fished all day and were catching some very nice Bass. We were nearly out of bait when a big Bass slowly pulled one of the baits down and pulled it along the surface for about 50 feet. My client reeled down and set the hook and the fish came off. I immediately hooked the last and largest shiner we had in the live well and threw it right where he had just missed the fish. The shiner went crazy swimming for about 30 seconds then sudddenly a giant Bass ate it leaving a big whirlppol where she took the bait. We let her run with the bait and when he reeled down and set the hook she went wild. After a battle for several minutes we boated a 9 pound 3 ounce sow that was so full of roe that she was weeping eggs out of her anal port. After we weighed her we photographed her and let her go to continue spawning. She is still there for some lucky angler to catch. The full moon is approaching March 10th and the spawning activitiy leading up to it should be eventful.

To see pictures of the big Bass go to www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
and click on fishing reports on the first page of the site.

Captain Michael Shellen
Shellen Guide Service
863-357-0892
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com


2-17-09
We have had great weather for the last couple weeks and the water temperatures have risen into the low 70's. The Bass in Okeechobee and the surrounding area are full of roe and looking for a place to spawn. Our catch rates have been steadily rising with 15 to 30 fish per trip and we are catching some big Bass as well. Yesterday we caught a fish close to 8 pounds and had one on that we thought was bigger. The full moon upcoming should be the prime time spawn for this year. There are a lot of fish that moved off the beds when the cold fronts hit us last month that will be in the shallow water making beds.

1-29-09

The brief cold spell has passed and Bass are moving up shallow to spawn all over South Florida. Okeechobee is hosting the FLW tournament and the pros are catching big Okeechobee Bass as I write this piece. Fishing has improved daily with 3 days in a row near 80 degrees. The water has heated up and so has the Bass fishing. If you are interested in catching big Bass now is the time, full moon is approaching and the fish are on a tear. We caught 25 bass to 5 pounds on our shiner trip this morning.

1-15-09

Bass fishing has been very good and seems to be getting better each week. So far this season our customers have caught 2 Bass over 9 pounds (9 pounds 4 ounces) (9 pounds 10 ounces) and 7 Bass over 8 pounds with many fish in the 6 to 7 pound range mixed in. Numbers have been good almost daily with some days as high as 30 fish. The big Bass are in the shallow water to spawn which puts them in range to be caught on a live wild shiner. The fish are very fat and full of roe and will continue to stay in the shallow water until they have completed spawning.






1-7-09

Bass fishing continues to be good. The weather forecast is for a cold front to move through our area for the next few days. If the water cools considerably the Bass that have moved shallow to spawn may move off of their beds. Some of the Bass in the lake have already spawned but we still have not seen the huge influx of Bass in the lake move inshore to spawn. Fishing with shiners is the most productive way to catch Bass right now for numbers and size. Artificial bait fishermen are struggling to catch big numbers consistently, although somewhere on the lake each day there are anglers that are having success. As is usually the case during this time period a live wild shiner is the ticket to catching Okeechobee Bass.


12-28-08

Today was the best fishing day for big Bass we have had since last years spawn. We fished with Tom Orr from Ontario today and used wild shiners. Lucky Tom caught 25 bass on the trip, there were three big Bass in the mix though that really made the day special, first Tom caught an 8 pound Bass, then an 8 pound 8 ounce Bass and then to top off the day he caught a 9 pound 10 ounce giant! The fish are full of roe and are looking to spawn! The next full moon phase should provide some great fishing!


12-25-08
May 26.2009

Okeechobee Bass fishing continues to be about as good as it can get we are catching 20 to 30 Bass per trip on artificial baits. I fished with 11 year old Lorensos Fuller Memorial weekend, it was his first endeavor at catching Bass on artificial baits. He is a very good and lucky young man, he caught an 8 pound Bass on a plastic worm. He caught 8 or 9 Bass himself on that trip as did hgis father and grandfather. We had a great day of fishing catching many bass. On anither trip this weekend we got into Bass schooling on shad and caught bass after bass as they were schooling all around the boat. It was a great time. Blue gill fishing is still very good, the next full moon is coming up in early June and we should see the great big fish move back toward their spawning areas. We have been catching blue gill on Fly Rod with poppers and also on crickets with a bream buster pole.


We are coming up on the January full moon, big Bass are starting
to show up more each day as they move into the shallows. We caught some big bass around the last full moon and we expect another wave of big fish will be caught during this full moon phase too. We are seeing a lot of movement out of the bass as they start to feel the spawning urge, judging from the number of fish that spawned last month we are yet to see a peak spawn. If the weather remains stable it could get good very quiuckly. It is entirely possible to fish an area in the morning and not even get bit and go back later in the day and load the boat with Bass, it happens every year,patience and perseverance will pay off.



11-30-08

Bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee has gotten better with each passing week, we are catching greater numbers of Bass on our shiners trips, but more importantly we are starting to catch big Bass consistently.Our customers have caught 7 and 8 pound Bass the last 2 days. The fish are incredsibly fat and healthy and are moving into the shallower water to prepare for the spawn.

11-17-08
Big Fish Moving Shallow!
This past weekend I fished with Barbara Baker and her 16 year old grandson Chad. Barbara took Chad on a guided fishing trip for his 16th birthday present. We had a great day! Barbara showed her young grandson how to catch big Bass. She caught a 7 pound Bass and a 8 pound Bass on back to back cast.

Shellen Guide Service

Captain  Michael Shellen
Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Flyfishing
www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
info@okeechobeebassfishing.com

Toll free 888-203-3474
863-357-0892

 
17 year old Jordan Schere caughtn these two                       Nancy Lupko with one over 8 Pounds
 giants on back to back cast on 12 pound test line!
One weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces
the other weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces