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Lake Okeechobee Fishing Report: Crappie, Bass Bites Hot Amid Dropping Water Levels
This is Artificial Lure here with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for Monday, May 26, 2025. Folks, Lake O is absolutely alive right now and the bite has been nothing short of fantastic. We’ve got some hot weather rolling in, with the morning starting in the low 70s, reaching mid-to-upper 80s by mid-afternoon. Sunrise came in just before 6:30 AM and sunset will be a bit after 8:00 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get after those fish.
The water level as of late March was around 12.8 feet, and it’s been dropping, so do be careful with navigation—there’s some skinny water out there and shallow marshes getting tougher to reach. Fish are pulling out towards the outer vegetation and working those edges, especially with the warm-up. Rim canal, the west wall from Clewiston toward Ritta Island, Buckhead Ridge, and Kings Bar on the north end are all producing well right now, so mark those as your go-to hotspots if you’re heading out[4].
The crappie (speck) bite has been on fire. Anglers are still pulling in 100 to 150 fish days, with plenty of slabs running 12 to 14 inches and pushing two pounds. Panfish in general are thick right now, and the bass bite is just as hot, with some anglers reporting personal bests and enough fish to fill a freezer[1][3][5]. Largemouth are schooling on the shad, working the rim canal and outside weed lines, and there’s still a bit of late spawn activity as lake temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees[4].
Best lures for the bass bite right now are swim jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits to mimic those shad the bass are chasing. Creature baits, senkos, flukes, and flipping jigs will get results when you’re working heavier cover. If you’re after a true trophy, you can’t beat a wild golden shiner for live bait—it’s the top choice for Lake O bass[4].
On the panfish side, small jigs and minnows under a float are working wonders for crappie. Target those outside grass lines early or go a bit deeper as the sun rises. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with live minnows for crappie and bluegill.
With water levels lower, the Clewiston west wall, Ritta Island, and Buckhead Ridge are standout areas right now. If you’re new to the lake or want to up your odds, a local guide is always a smart call—they know where the fish are staging and how to work around any navigation challenges.
Get out there and enjoy the best that Lake Okeechobee has to offer this time of year. Tight lines and see you on the water[1][4][5].
The water level as of late March was around 12.8 feet, and it’s been dropping, so do be careful with navigation—there’s some skinny water out there and shallow marshes getting tougher to reach. Fish are pulling out towards the outer vegetation and working those edges, especially with the warm-up. Rim canal, the west wall from Clewiston toward Ritta Island, Buckhead Ridge, and Kings Bar on the north end are all producing well right now, so mark those as your go-to hotspots if you’re heading out[4].
The crappie (speck) bite has been on fire. Anglers are still pulling in 100 to 150 fish days, with plenty of slabs running 12 to 14 inches and pushing two pounds. Panfish in general are thick right now, and the bass bite is just as hot, with some anglers reporting personal bests and enough fish to fill a freezer[1][3][5]. Largemouth are schooling on the shad, working the rim canal and outside weed lines, and there’s still a bit of late spawn activity as lake temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees[4].
Best lures for the bass bite right now are swim jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits to mimic those shad the bass are chasing. Creature baits, senkos, flukes, and flipping jigs will get results when you’re working heavier cover. If you’re after a true trophy, you can’t beat a wild golden shiner for live bait—it’s the top choice for Lake O bass[4].
On the panfish side, small jigs and minnows under a float are working wonders for crappie. Target those outside grass lines early or go a bit deeper as the sun rises. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with live minnows for crappie and bluegill.
With water levels lower, the Clewiston west wall, Ritta Island, and Buckhead Ridge are standout areas right now. If you’re new to the lake or want to up your odds, a local guide is always a smart call—they know where the fish are staging and how to work around any navigation challenges.
Get out there and enjoy the best that Lake Okeechobee has to offer this time of year. Tight lines and see you on the water[1][4][5].
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By Quiet. PleaseThis is Artificial Lure here with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for Monday, May 26, 2025. Folks, Lake O is absolutely alive right now and the bite has been nothing short of fantastic. We’ve got some hot weather rolling in, with the morning starting in the low 70s, reaching mid-to-upper 80s by mid-afternoon. Sunrise came in just before 6:30 AM and sunset will be a bit after 8:00 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get after those fish.
The water level as of late March was around 12.8 feet, and it’s been dropping, so do be careful with navigation—there’s some skinny water out there and shallow marshes getting tougher to reach. Fish are pulling out towards the outer vegetation and working those edges, especially with the warm-up. Rim canal, the west wall from Clewiston toward Ritta Island, Buckhead Ridge, and Kings Bar on the north end are all producing well right now, so mark those as your go-to hotspots if you’re heading out[4].
The crappie (speck) bite has been on fire. Anglers are still pulling in 100 to 150 fish days, with plenty of slabs running 12 to 14 inches and pushing two pounds. Panfish in general are thick right now, and the bass bite is just as hot, with some anglers reporting personal bests and enough fish to fill a freezer[1][3][5]. Largemouth are schooling on the shad, working the rim canal and outside weed lines, and there’s still a bit of late spawn activity as lake temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees[4].
Best lures for the bass bite right now are swim jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits to mimic those shad the bass are chasing. Creature baits, senkos, flukes, and flipping jigs will get results when you’re working heavier cover. If you’re after a true trophy, you can’t beat a wild golden shiner for live bait—it’s the top choice for Lake O bass[4].
On the panfish side, small jigs and minnows under a float are working wonders for crappie. Target those outside grass lines early or go a bit deeper as the sun rises. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with live minnows for crappie and bluegill.
With water levels lower, the Clewiston west wall, Ritta Island, and Buckhead Ridge are standout areas right now. If you’re new to the lake or want to up your odds, a local guide is always a smart call—they know where the fish are staging and how to work around any navigation challenges.
Get out there and enjoy the best that Lake Okeechobee has to offer this time of year. Tight lines and see you on the water[1][4][5].
The water level as of late March was around 12.8 feet, and it’s been dropping, so do be careful with navigation—there’s some skinny water out there and shallow marshes getting tougher to reach. Fish are pulling out towards the outer vegetation and working those edges, especially with the warm-up. Rim canal, the west wall from Clewiston toward Ritta Island, Buckhead Ridge, and Kings Bar on the north end are all producing well right now, so mark those as your go-to hotspots if you’re heading out[4].
The crappie (speck) bite has been on fire. Anglers are still pulling in 100 to 150 fish days, with plenty of slabs running 12 to 14 inches and pushing two pounds. Panfish in general are thick right now, and the bass bite is just as hot, with some anglers reporting personal bests and enough fish to fill a freezer[1][3][5]. Largemouth are schooling on the shad, working the rim canal and outside weed lines, and there’s still a bit of late spawn activity as lake temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees[4].
Best lures for the bass bite right now are swim jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits to mimic those shad the bass are chasing. Creature baits, senkos, flukes, and flipping jigs will get results when you’re working heavier cover. If you’re after a true trophy, you can’t beat a wild golden shiner for live bait—it’s the top choice for Lake O bass[4].
On the panfish side, small jigs and minnows under a float are working wonders for crappie. Target those outside grass lines early or go a bit deeper as the sun rises. As for bait, you can’t go wrong with live minnows for crappie and bluegill.
With water levels lower, the Clewiston west wall, Ritta Island, and Buckhead Ridge are standout areas right now. If you’re new to the lake or want to up your odds, a local guide is always a smart call—they know where the fish are staging and how to work around any navigation challenges.
Get out there and enjoy the best that Lake Okeechobee has to offer this time of year. Tight lines and see you on the water[1][4][5].