In late spring, panfish and yearling largemouth bass are plentiful and will continue to be abundant through the summer. Jimmy Roland of Clewiston broke the world flyrod record for bass at Lake Okeechobee in the 1950s with a fish larger than 16 pounds. The unofficial bass record on conventional tackle at the Big O is 17 pounds, set in 1972. When panfish are the target, anglers should try a size 8 popping bug. A size 4 or 6 would be best for bass fishing.
Effective colors are yellow, white and chartreuse.
Sometimes bluegills move from shoreline shallows to dropoffs in four to six feet of water. Typical of the lures used are the Peck s Dragonfly or Bumblebee and Hula Popper. Many home-tied flies work effectively. A long boat ride at daylight on Lake Okeechobee is an experience to be remembered. The air is cool, the water is like glass, the show of birds and plant life is a colorful panorama normally seen only in National Geographic magazine photos.