Hook, Line and
SinkerThe Captain
Mike Shellen Fishing Report- February 11, 2010
Artificial baits anglers
are catching good numbers of small bass with an occasional large
bass being caught as well. There are many different baits that are
working at this time, in fact at times it seems as if they will
eat about any lure you’re throwing. Other times fishing becomes
more true to form, and becomes downright tough.
One of the hotter lures
around the lake has been a skinny dipper, there are many
different colors of this lure and a couple of sizes too. A skinny
dipper can be fished in very thick cover, so heavy line or braid
is recommended, a 6/0 hook is recommended and can be fished
weighted or unweighted , depending on what water depth you are
trying to fish. The bait can be fished on top or under the
surface, so it is versatile as well, the action is unique and
subtle and can be worked many different ways. The bottom line is,
a skinny dipper has been catching fish for anglers and that makes
it a bait that you should be fishing. Other artificial baits that
are working include a weightless fluke in watermelon red flake
color, a trick worm in any number of colors as well as a white
spinner bait with silver blades. There have been some decent
morning bites on a rear prop spinner top water bait like a
crazy shad or a Sam Griffin lil zip.
Shiner fishing has been
consistently good with bass in the 7 pound or larger range coming
with regularity. Catch rates vary from day to day as the water
temperature and conditions change. Good trips are yielding 35 to
45 bass per trip, poorer fishing conditions are yielding 15 to 20
bass per trip. The cold weather delayed the spawn somewhat,
meaning that there will be a steady influx of bass into the
shallow water to spawn for the next few months.
In January the water
temperatures on Lake Okeechobee were as low as 42 degrees, lower
than anyone we have talked to can remember. Literally shocking the
fish into a near dormant state until the water warmed once again.
As the water warmed the fish went on a chew, biting with a
vengeance, making every angler around Okeechobee very happy. Bass
fishing on Lake Okeechobee has become better with each passing
month, the low water periods we had for several years allowed bass
to spawn and grow unmolested and we are just starting to see the
results of great spawns. The next few years should provide some of
the best bass fishing that has been seen in quite some time on
Lake Okeechobee.
Speck fishing
remains steady in the Kissimmee River, with nighttime anglers
leading the way when it comes to numbers of keeper size specks.
There has been a good bite of specks in the shallow grass that
rims the lake, with the north shore area being a consistent
provided of quality size specks. Soon there will be waves of
specks moving into the shallow grass and hydrilla areas to spawn,
which will provide jig fishing anglers many hours of fun.
