Lake Okeechobee
Comprises 730 square miles, Florida's largest lake. Acknowledged widely as one of Florida's top producing lakes, fishing is excellent for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, and catfish.
Hendry County's access points to Lake Okeechobee include: Angler's Marina, 910 Okeechobee Blvd., Clewiston; Roland Martin Marina, 920 East Delmonte, Clewiston; Jolly Roger Marina U.S. Hwy. 27, Clewiston; and public launching ramps and city docks, also on Okeechobee Boulevard.
Lake Okeechobee's fish population moves around from one season to another and most people will find it beneficial to hire a fishing guide with local knowledge of the lake for at least their first trip. The best times to try for large bass are during the late winter-early spring when the fish are on the beds in needlegrass and peppergrass flats. Use plastic worms or weedless spoons while casting or live lake shiners for natural bait. Bream fishing heats up with the warmer months of late spring and often the shorelines of the lake's canals are lined with bluegill beds. For sport, try fly fishing with a small top water popper or sinking spider.
The lake's catfish population thrives and supports a large commercial fishing industry, and while few anglers bother with cats, they are easy to catch if you fish on the bottom. Snook, tarpon, jack crevalle and other saltwater species often venture into Lake Okeechobee. Winter is the traditional speckled perch (black crappie) season but these fish can be taken at any time of the year with local knowledge of their whereabouts.
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