| I consider Florida to be the Mecca of Largemouth | | | | allowed to swim freely under a float, or free lined, |
| Bass fishing in the United States. There are many | | | | is an awesome presentation. Understand that with |
| places to fish in Florida. In this article I will describe | | | | large bait you need to use a very large hook. |
| one place that is well known and one little known | | | | Make sure your hook is well sharpened as it must |
| place that offers great fishing opportunities as | | | | penetrate the tough mouth of a very large fish. |
| well. I want to stress that there are many | | | | You need to use a stout heavy action rod that |
| different lakes to fish in Florida. When I talk about | | | | has enough backbone to set that hook deep |
| Lake Okeechobee for instance understand that | | | | inside the mouth of your quarry. |
| there are hundreds of lakes that fit the same | | | | If you prefer the more sporting method of using |
| description throughout South Florida. | | | | artificial baits then you need to gear your arsenal |
| Lake Okeechobee is perhaps the most famous | | | | to fishing in heavy weeds. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits |
| Largemouth Bass lake in the United States; It has | | | | and other topwater offering are much more |
| earned that reputation by continuously producing | | | | important to have in your box than crankbaits |
| large numbers of very large bass. It is a very | | | | and spoons. You need to be able to retrieve your |
| large lake, over 50,000 square miles! It is also a | | | | lure through the heavy cover where the bass lie. |
| very shallow Lake. A large portion of this lake is | | | | Again make sure your hooks are sharp. Vary |
| less than 6 feet deep. These in fact are the areas | | | | your retrieve until you find the proper |
| that often hold the largest bass. I would venture | | | | presentations. You will find some days where a |
| to guess than over half of the ten pound or | | | | fast retrieve is required to catch very active fish. |
| larger bass I have caught have come from water | | | | On other days you need a much slower |
| that was 306 foot deep. | | | | presentation. |
| Fishing Lake Okeechobee can be a challenge but | | | | The key thing you need to do is be able to read |
| very rewarding. You will of course want to find | | | | the water. In a large lake like Okeechobee much |
| the shallow weedy areas of the lake. If your only | | | | of the water does not hold many fish. You need |
| concern is boating a huge Largemouth Bass then | | | | to first take notice of your surrounding and look |
| you might want to consider fishing with livebait. | | | | for areas likely to hold fish. You can often do this |
| The specific livebait of choice in this lake is the | | | | by simply looking at the surface of the water for |
| wild Florida Shiner. They are available at most | | | | action. If you see schools of shiners and other |
| marinas/bait shops in the area. If you are going to | | | | smaller fish constantly breaking the surface of the |
| target huge Largemouth Bass you will need to | | | | water you can be sure Largemouth Bass are |
| use large bait. An eight to ten inch long shiner | | | | around as well. |