| I consider Florida to be the Mecca of | | | | consider fishing with livebait. The specific |
| Largemouth Bass fishing in the United States. | | | | livebait of choice in this lake is the wild |
| There are many places to fish in Florida. In | | | | Florida Shiner. They are available at most |
| this article I will describe one place that | | | | marinas/bait shops in the area. If you are |
| is well known and one little known place that | | | | going to target huge Largemouth Bass you will |
| offers great fishing opportunities as well. I | | | | need to use large bait. An eight to ten inch |
| want to stress that there are many different | | | | long shiner allowed to swim freely under a |
| lakes to fish in Florida. When I talk about | | | | float, or free lined, is an awesome |
| Lake Okeechobee for instance understand that | | | | presentation. Understand that with large bait |
| there are hundreds of lakes that fit the same | | | | you need to use a very large hook. Make sure |
| description throughout South Florida. | | | | your hook is well sharpened as it must |
| | | | penetrate the tough mouth of a very large |
| Lake Okeechobee is perhaps the most famous | | | | fish. You need to use a stout heavy action |
| Largemouth Bass lake in the United States; It | | | | rod that has enough backbone to set that hook |
| has earned that reputation by continuously | | | | deep inside the mouth of your quarry. |
| producing large numbers of very large bass. | | | | |
| It is a very large lake, over 50,000 square | | | | If you prefer the more sporting method of |
| miles! It is also a very shallow Lake. A | | | | using artificial baits then you need to gear |
| large portion of this lake is less than 6 | | | | your arsenal to fishing in heavy weeds. |
| feet deep. These in fact are the areas that | | | | Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and other topwater |
| often hold the largest bass. I would venture | | | | offering are much more important to have in |
| to guess than over half of the ten pound or | | | | your box than crankbaits and spoons. You need |
| larger bass I have caught have come from | | | | to be able to retrieve your lure through the |
| water that was 306 foot deep. | | | | heavy cover where the bass lie. Again make |
| | | | sure your hooks are sharp. Vary your retrieve |
| Fishing Lake Okeechobee can be a challenge | | | | until you find the proper presentations. You |
| but very rewarding. You will of course want | | | | will find some days where a fast retrieve is |
| to find the shallow weedy areas of the lake. | | | | required to catch very active fish. On other |
| If your only concern is boating a huge | | | | days you need a much slower presentation. |
| Largemouth Bass then you might want to | | | | |