29 August 2025
Late Summer Bass Bite on Lake Okeechobee - Topwater, Flipping, and Trophy Hunting on the Big O
Lake Okeechobee Florida Daily Fishing Report
About
Lake Okeechobee anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your Friday morning report for August 29, 2025. You’re in for a classic late-summer bite on the Big O, with a few curveballs.
Sunrise rolled in at 6:56 AM and sunset’s coming up at 7:48 PM. The weather’s warm and muggy—lows near 75, highs peaking at 94, partly cloudy and a southerly breeze around 8 mph expected. Storms are possible after midday, so keep an eye on that horizon.
While Okeechobee doesn’t do much for tidal swings, winds and water level affect fish movement here. Lately, fluctuating lake levels teamed up with that typical August heat push bass tight into heavy cover and deeper weedlines.
Recent catches have been solid—you might’ve seen the buzz about a 44.7-pound tournament sack, with a few teams hauling in over 28 pounds apiece, highlighted by true Okeechobee giants according to folks at Roland Martin Marine Center. Most bass coming to boat have been chunky largemouths, ranging from 2 to 6 pounds, with some double-digit monsters leading the way in the early morning and late afternoon.
Baitfish are grouped up around grass mats and channels. Topwater action stays steady at dawn; after sunup, anglers get into the flipping game. Dark-colored soft plastics—especially black and blue, Junebug craws, and creature baits rigged Texas-style—are smoking fish in the thick hydrilla and cattails. If you’re working the outside edge or deeper holes, green pumpkin and watermelon patterns, plus a classic frog or horny toad, can be deadly. Jigs with trailer craws have produced some of the heavier bags this week. For live bait, big wild shiners still reign supreme, especially for those hunting trophies.
Recently, hot spots include:
- The Harney Pond Canal area: Thicker vegetation and good depth transitions, especially productive for flipping and pitching.
- Tin House Cove: Schools of baitfish have drawn in swarms of hungry bass.
Crappie action is mostly at dawn around rim canal structure, with live minnows on slip bobbers taking most of the slabs. Bluegill and shellcracker remain active for ultra-light anglers, mainly near the vegetation lines and boat docks.
Some caution out there, folks: Recent reports from Volusia County and tests in Okeechobee indicate low-level toxic algae in parts of the north and western basin. Don’t let your pets drink the water, and stick to clear, moving areas for peace of mind.
Even with the heat, tournament and local anglers are finding productive windows early and late. The mid-day bite’s tougher but not dead—especially if you’ve got patience to work heavy mats or slow roll a big swimbait. The general consensus from the guides is: Stick with the basics—flip heavy cover with big plastics, work chatterbaits along weedlines, and don’t be afraid to try a yellow or gold spinnerbait when the sun’s high.
To sum up:
- Best baits: Black and blue jigs, Junebug Senkos, swim jigs, and wild shiners. Frogs and horny toads early.
- Hot spots: Harney Pond and Tin House Cove.
- Main catch: Largemouth bass, steady crappie, active panfish.
Thanks for tuning in to this morning’s Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Sunrise rolled in at 6:56 AM and sunset’s coming up at 7:48 PM. The weather’s warm and muggy—lows near 75, highs peaking at 94, partly cloudy and a southerly breeze around 8 mph expected. Storms are possible after midday, so keep an eye on that horizon.
While Okeechobee doesn’t do much for tidal swings, winds and water level affect fish movement here. Lately, fluctuating lake levels teamed up with that typical August heat push bass tight into heavy cover and deeper weedlines.
Recent catches have been solid—you might’ve seen the buzz about a 44.7-pound tournament sack, with a few teams hauling in over 28 pounds apiece, highlighted by true Okeechobee giants according to folks at Roland Martin Marine Center. Most bass coming to boat have been chunky largemouths, ranging from 2 to 6 pounds, with some double-digit monsters leading the way in the early morning and late afternoon.
Baitfish are grouped up around grass mats and channels. Topwater action stays steady at dawn; after sunup, anglers get into the flipping game. Dark-colored soft plastics—especially black and blue, Junebug craws, and creature baits rigged Texas-style—are smoking fish in the thick hydrilla and cattails. If you’re working the outside edge or deeper holes, green pumpkin and watermelon patterns, plus a classic frog or horny toad, can be deadly. Jigs with trailer craws have produced some of the heavier bags this week. For live bait, big wild shiners still reign supreme, especially for those hunting trophies.
Recently, hot spots include:
- The Harney Pond Canal area: Thicker vegetation and good depth transitions, especially productive for flipping and pitching.
- Tin House Cove: Schools of baitfish have drawn in swarms of hungry bass.
Crappie action is mostly at dawn around rim canal structure, with live minnows on slip bobbers taking most of the slabs. Bluegill and shellcracker remain active for ultra-light anglers, mainly near the vegetation lines and boat docks.
Some caution out there, folks: Recent reports from Volusia County and tests in Okeechobee indicate low-level toxic algae in parts of the north and western basin. Don’t let your pets drink the water, and stick to clear, moving areas for peace of mind.
Even with the heat, tournament and local anglers are finding productive windows early and late. The mid-day bite’s tougher but not dead—especially if you’ve got patience to work heavy mats or slow roll a big swimbait. The general consensus from the guides is: Stick with the basics—flip heavy cover with big plastics, work chatterbaits along weedlines, and don’t be afraid to try a yellow or gold spinnerbait when the sun’s high.
To sum up:
- Best baits: Black and blue jigs, Junebug Senkos, swim jigs, and wild shiners. Frogs and horny toads early.
- Hot spots: Harney Pond and Tin House Cove.
- Main catch: Largemouth bass, steady crappie, active panfish.
Thanks for tuning in to this morning’s Lake Okeechobee fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn