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Hot Bass Bite & Bluegill Bonanza - Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report 08/20/2025
Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
First things first—sunrise hit the lake at about 6:52 AM and sunset will close things out around 8:02 PM. Weather today’s classic summer Okeechobee: muggy, warm, and partly cloudy skies. Expect highs near 92, light southerly breezes, and that afternoon thunderstorm chance as we push deeper into the day, so keep an eye on the weather if you plan on staying late. Water levels are up after recent rains, and water temps are steady in the upper 80s.
Tidal activity in the lake itself is minimal since Okeechobee’s not a true tidal fishery, but keep in mind that canal mouths and Kissimmee River areas can see some current swings, especially after those noon storms move through.
Now, to the bite: Lake Okeechobee’s living up to its reputation this week. Word from locals and tournament regulars is the big bass bite is hot, especially along the west marshes and South Bay. Just yesterday, anglers fishing the Roland Martin Marine Center tournament landed bags tipping 28 pounds, pulling out several 7-plus pound largemouths. Heavy grass lines and points stacked with hydrilla are holding quality fish, especially early and late in the day. Several social media posts show double-digit numbers on quality largemouths for anyone finding the right grass edge and slowing down their presentation.
If you’re fishing for numbers, bluegill and shellcracker are still hanging around the bulrush patches, and crappie are showing up in deeper holes along the rim canal—small jigs or minnows will do the trick. Catfish action remains steady in the river mouths and canal junctions, best fished with cut bait or night crawlers.
Top-producing baits right now are classic Okeechobee style:
- Black-and-blue or junebug color flipping jigs, especially pitched into matted hydrilla.
- Soft plastic stick baits (Senko-style) in watermelon red or black, Texas-rigged, thrown up tight by the reeds.
- Hollow-body frogs worked over dense mats in the morning and evening are pulling explosive strikes.
- Crankbaits or spinnerbaits in brighter chartreuse when there’s wind or cloud cover—these help cover more water on outside grass lines.
Live shiners, as always, are hard to beat if you just want to catch a hawg—especially for the younger anglers or anyone new to the lake.
Be aware, there have been ongoing blue-green algae blooms reported in parts of the lake. While most of the popular fishing zones remain clear at present, always keep an eye on any posted advisories and avoid areas with thick green slicks for your safety—both for you and your catch, as reported by FOX 13 News.
A couple Okeechobee hot spots today:
- **Harney Pond Canal mouth:** Grass edges here are stacked with bait, and the largemouth are right behind them.
- **Monkey Box and North Shore reed lines:** Early morning has been dynamite for topwater, and late afternoon is great for flipping.
- Don’t sleep on the rim canal clean-water areas for panfish and the occasional big bass cruising by, especially if boat traffic pushes fish off the main lake.
Remember, as always, respect the resource, watch the weather, and bring plenty of water out there. Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe and stay hooked for more tips and updates!
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
First things first—sunrise hit the lake at about 6:52 AM and sunset will close things out around 8:02 PM. Weather today’s classic summer Okeechobee: muggy, warm, and partly cloudy skies. Expect highs near 92, light southerly breezes, and that afternoon thunderstorm chance as we push deeper into the day, so keep an eye on the weather if you plan on staying late. Water levels are up after recent rains, and water temps are steady in the upper 80s.
Tidal activity in the lake itself is minimal since Okeechobee’s not a true tidal fishery, but keep in mind that canal mouths and Kissimmee River areas can see some current swings, especially after those noon storms move through.
Now, to the bite: Lake Okeechobee’s living up to its reputation this week. Word from locals and tournament regulars is the big bass bite is hot, especially along the west marshes and South Bay. Just yesterday, anglers fishing the Roland Martin Marine Center tournament landed bags tipping 28 pounds, pulling out several 7-plus pound largemouths. Heavy grass lines and points stacked with hydrilla are holding quality fish, especially early and late in the day. Several social media posts show double-digit numbers on quality largemouths for anyone finding the right grass edge and slowing down their presentation.
If you’re fishing for numbers, bluegill and shellcracker are still hanging around the bulrush patches, and crappie are showing up in deeper holes along the rim canal—small jigs or minnows will do the trick. Catfish action remains steady in the river mouths and canal junctions, best fished with cut bait or night crawlers.
Top-producing baits right now are classic Okeechobee style:
- Black-and-blue or junebug color flipping jigs, especially pitched into matted hydrilla.
- Soft plastic stick baits (Senko-style) in watermelon red or black, Texas-rigged, thrown up tight by the reeds.
- Hollow-body frogs worked over dense mats in the morning and evening are pulling explosive strikes.
- Crankbaits or spinnerbaits in brighter chartreuse when there’s wind or cloud cover—these help cover more water on outside grass lines.
Live shiners, as always, are hard to beat if you just want to catch a hawg—especially for the younger anglers or anyone new to the lake.
Be aware, there have been ongoing blue-green algae blooms reported in parts of the lake. While most of the popular fishing zones remain clear at present, always keep an eye on any posted advisories and avoid areas with thick green slicks for your safety—both for you and your catch, as reported by FOX 13 News.
A couple Okeechobee hot spots today:
- **Harney Pond Canal mouth:** Grass edges here are stacked with bait, and the largemouth are right behind them.
- **Monkey Box and North Shore reed lines:** Early morning has been dynamite for topwater, and late afternoon is great for flipping.
- Don’t sleep on the rim canal clean-water areas for panfish and the occasional big bass cruising by, especially if boat traffic pushes fish off the main lake.
Remember, as always, respect the resource, watch the weather, and bring plenty of water out there. Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe and stay hooked for more tips and updates!
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
First things first—sunrise hit the lake at about 6:52 AM and sunset will close things out around 8:02 PM. Weather today’s classic summer Okeechobee: muggy, warm, and partly cloudy skies. Expect highs near 92, light southerly breezes, and that afternoon thunderstorm chance as we push deeper into the day, so keep an eye on the weather if you plan on staying late. Water levels are up after recent rains, and water temps are steady in the upper 80s.
Tidal activity in the lake itself is minimal since Okeechobee’s not a true tidal fishery, but keep in mind that canal mouths and Kissimmee River areas can see some current swings, especially after those noon storms move through.
Now, to the bite: Lake Okeechobee’s living up to its reputation this week. Word from locals and tournament regulars is the big bass bite is hot, especially along the west marshes and South Bay. Just yesterday, anglers fishing the Roland Martin Marine Center tournament landed bags tipping 28 pounds, pulling out several 7-plus pound largemouths. Heavy grass lines and points stacked with hydrilla are holding quality fish, especially early and late in the day. Several social media posts show double-digit numbers on quality largemouths for anyone finding the right grass edge and slowing down their presentation.
If you’re fishing for numbers, bluegill and shellcracker are still hanging around the bulrush patches, and crappie are showing up in deeper holes along the rim canal—small jigs or minnows will do the trick. Catfish action remains steady in the river mouths and canal junctions, best fished with cut bait or night crawlers.
Top-producing baits right now are classic Okeechobee style:
- Black-and-blue or junebug color flipping jigs, especially pitched into matted hydrilla.
- Soft plastic stick baits (Senko-style) in watermelon red or black, Texas-rigged, thrown up tight by the reeds.
- Hollow-body frogs worked over dense mats in the morning and evening are pulling explosive strikes.
- Crankbaits or spinnerbaits in brighter chartreuse when there’s wind or cloud cover—these help cover more water on outside grass lines.
Live shiners, as always, are hard to beat if you just want to catch a hawg—especially for the younger anglers or anyone new to the lake.
Be aware, there have been ongoing blue-green algae blooms reported in parts of the lake. While most of the popular fishing zones remain clear at present, always keep an eye on any posted advisories and avoid areas with thick green slicks for your safety—both for you and your catch, as reported by FOX 13 News.
A couple Okeechobee hot spots today:
- **Harney Pond Canal mouth:** Grass edges here are stacked with bait, and the largemouth are right behind them.
- **Monkey Box and North Shore reed lines:** Early morning has been dynamite for topwater, and late afternoon is great for flipping.
- Don’t sleep on the rim canal clean-water areas for panfish and the occasional big bass cruising by, especially if boat traffic pushes fish off the main lake.
Remember, as always, respect the resource, watch the weather, and bring plenty of water out there. Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe and stay hooked for more tips and updates!
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
First things first—sunrise hit the lake at about 6:52 AM and sunset will close things out around 8:02 PM. Weather today’s classic summer Okeechobee: muggy, warm, and partly cloudy skies. Expect highs near 92, light southerly breezes, and that afternoon thunderstorm chance as we push deeper into the day, so keep an eye on the weather if you plan on staying late. Water levels are up after recent rains, and water temps are steady in the upper 80s.
Tidal activity in the lake itself is minimal since Okeechobee’s not a true tidal fishery, but keep in mind that canal mouths and Kissimmee River areas can see some current swings, especially after those noon storms move through.
Now, to the bite: Lake Okeechobee’s living up to its reputation this week. Word from locals and tournament regulars is the big bass bite is hot, especially along the west marshes and South Bay. Just yesterday, anglers fishing the Roland Martin Marine Center tournament landed bags tipping 28 pounds, pulling out several 7-plus pound largemouths. Heavy grass lines and points stacked with hydrilla are holding quality fish, especially early and late in the day. Several social media posts show double-digit numbers on quality largemouths for anyone finding the right grass edge and slowing down their presentation.
If you’re fishing for numbers, bluegill and shellcracker are still hanging around the bulrush patches, and crappie are showing up in deeper holes along the rim canal—small jigs or minnows will do the trick. Catfish action remains steady in the river mouths and canal junctions, best fished with cut bait or night crawlers.
Top-producing baits right now are classic Okeechobee style:
- Black-and-blue or junebug color flipping jigs, especially pitched into matted hydrilla.
- Soft plastic stick baits (Senko-style) in watermelon red or black, Texas-rigged, thrown up tight by the reeds.
- Hollow-body frogs worked over dense mats in the morning and evening are pulling explosive strikes.
- Crankbaits or spinnerbaits in brighter chartreuse when there’s wind or cloud cover—these help cover more water on outside grass lines.
Live shiners, as always, are hard to beat if you just want to catch a hawg—especially for the younger anglers or anyone new to the lake.
Be aware, there have been ongoing blue-green algae blooms reported in parts of the lake. While most of the popular fishing zones remain clear at present, always keep an eye on any posted advisories and avoid areas with thick green slicks for your safety—both for you and your catch, as reported by FOX 13 News.
A couple Okeechobee hot spots today:
- **Harney Pond Canal mouth:** Grass edges here are stacked with bait, and the largemouth are right behind them.
- **Monkey Box and North Shore reed lines:** Early morning has been dynamite for topwater, and late afternoon is great for flipping.
- Don’t sleep on the rim canal clean-water areas for panfish and the occasional big bass cruising by, especially if boat traffic pushes fish off the main lake.
Remember, as always, respect the resource, watch the weather, and bring plenty of water out there. Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe and stay hooked for more tips and updates!
This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn