Lake Okeechobee anglers, this is Artificial Lure bringing you the June 1, 2025, fishing report from Florida’s big water. We’re just past sunrise, which came at 6:28 a.m., with sunset slated for 8:13 p.m. The weather is hot and humid—typical for early summer—so be ready for steamy days and hydrated conditions on the lake. Winds will be light from the southeast today, with only a slight chop on open water, ideal for both boat and bank anglers.
Water levels continue their slow seasonal drop, sitting just below 12 feet above sea level, meaning many shallow marshes are tough to access, but the fishing is firing up along the outer edges of the grass and around the rim canal. According to Captain Mark Shepard, June means some of the year’s best action for numbers and size of largemouth bass. Clean water on the flats is key, especially where bluegill are bedding.
The bass bite remains strong—big Lake Okeechobee style. Several recent trips have pulled in 30- to 50-bass days, with fish ranging 2 to 5 pounds and the occasional trophy over 8 pounds. The TrophyCatch tracker from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission shows 466 bass over 8 pounds and 68 breaking the 10-pound mark already logged by anglers this season.
Bream, bluegill, and shellcracker are active and bedding, and the crappie bite is still hot, with guides like Captain Mike reporting 100- to 150-fish days and slabs up to two pounds in the mix. For live bait, you cannot beat wild golden shiners for trophy bass, while crickets and worms are filling coolers with bluegill and shellcracker. For the artificial angler, top picks are swim jigs, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits mimicking shad. Don’t sleep on Texas-rigged creature baits, Senkos, or flipping jigs in the heavier cover for big bass lurking in the grass mats.
For hot spots—target the west wall’s deeper holes near Clewiston to Ritta Island, the outside edges near Bird Island, and make sure to check the Buckhead Ridge and Kings Bar area up north for strong activity. The Shoal and Monkey Box, both on the western side, are also producing numbers, especially around the grassy points. For panfish, Fisheating Creek and Harney Pond are your best bets, especially where you find clean water and hard bottom.
With the water clearing, the shad spawn is bringing bass up shallow, so follow the bird activity to find feeding fish. Remember, access can be tricky with low water—if you’re new, spring for a guide to keep you safe and put you on the fish.
Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Okeechobee report. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest, and keep those lines tight. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.