Below are some of the reasons Lake
Okeechobee is so well regarded by bass
fisherman
everywhere, but you need to experience the "Big
O" first hand - click here for more
information on our Lake Okeechobee bass
fishing guides.
Experience South Florida Bass fishing at its
best, whether your traveling from Sebring,
Okeechobee City, Tampa, Sarasota, Moore
Haven, Ft Myers, Naples, Clewiston, Miami,
Ft Lauderdale, W Palm Beach, Ft Pierce and
Vero Beach. Fish with our touring Bass
Masters Pros and learn pro-techniques to
help improve the success of your own bass
fishing tours. Great for beginners,
experienced anglers or just recreation!
Women, children, wheel chairs and
large/small company groups welcome.
The
Seminole Indian name Okeechobee
means "Big Water". An appropriate
name for the largest fresh water lake in the
United States, occurring entirely in one
state. The Florida Game and Freshwater Fish
Commission states, "there is no place that
can compare with Lake Okeechobee, not
only for lunker bass, history and wildlife,
but its size."
The lake is
approximately 37 miles long by 30 miles
wide, totaling over 730 square miles with an
average depth of only 10 feet. To fishermen
nationwide, it's renowned for the number of
bass it contains per acre. Lake Okeechobee
also produces more bass over 7 pounds than
any lake in Florida and the United States.
Lake
Okeechobee is located in central southern
Florida, north of the Everglades and south
of Orlando. It links the Atlantic and Gulf
sides of Florida via the Port Mayaca Lock on
the east side of the lake and the Moore
Haven Lock on the lake’s western side.
Drainage canals lower the lake and drain
adjacent lands for farming. Agricultural
activities around the Lake Okeechobee area
include cattle ranching, dairy farming, and
crop production of sugarcane, winter
vegetables, citrus, sod, sweet corn and
rice.
In 1926 and
1928, hurricane waters destroyed the dikes
on the lake’s southern edge, which resulted
in thousands of deaths. Canals and levees
were built and the Lake Okeechobee waterway
was developed for use as a reservoir. Today,
the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the
South Florida Water Management District
direct the waters via dikes, canals and
floodgates in order to protect against
flooding, to prevent navigation of saltwater
intrusion, and to provide water for
agricultural irrigation and drinking water
supplies to large urban areas in South
Florida. These water management activities
have greatly encumbered the water flow from
the Big O to the Everglades. Instead of
alternating wet and dry seasons, which
provided steady sheets of water, the
Everglades now receive times of drought or
powerful discharges of water.
This body of
water sports all types of waterway
structures to fish - from open water to
narrow canals surrounded by hundreds of
different vegetations and grasses.
We have put
together directions, including distance in
miles, where you can find your easiest route
to Lake Okeechobee, Florida, Everglades and
Miami Lakes. Click here for directions and
ramp locations.
We also have
a
full photo album and testimonials of the
fish caught by our customers. If you are
ready for the adventure of a lifetime,
click here to book your Lake Okeechobee Fl
bass fishing guide, or get detailed
fishing trip information.
Current
Conditions & Water Levels
SFWMD
Current Level - The current average
stage level for Lake Okeechobee
Historic
Lake Levels - Graph of levels for Lake
Okeechobee from 1932-2005
Stage
Hydrograph - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- A graphic view of the Lake Okeechobee
stage over time.
Lake
& Vicinity - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- A Complete Water Report for Lake
Okeechobee and surrounding areas.
Local
Contacts
Okeechobee
Service Center
Environmental Management & Restoration
NEW:
The
South Florida Environmental Report -
Formerly known as the Everglades
Consolidated Report, this newly expanded,
two volume report now includes information
on Lake Okeechobee, the
Kissimmee
River and Coastal Ecosystems along with
aquatic weeds. It also includes six annual
reports required under various regulatory
mandates: the Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Work
Plan Report; 2006 Minimum Flows and Levels
Priority List and Schedule; Five-Year
Capital Improvements Plan; Water Supply;
Florida Forever Work Plan, 2006 Annual
Update; and Mitigation Donation Annual
Report.
FLORIDA
FOREVER WORK PLAN:
2007 Draft Update
- a component of the 2007 SFER.
The
SFER WebBoard is now available for
posting comments on this draft.
Okeechobee
Watershed Management - Research,
planning and implementation efforts within
the Lake Okeechobee watershed.
Okechobee
FAQs
In-Lake
Projects
Lake
Okeechobee Documents
Aquatic Vegetation Status & Trends -
Submerged vegetation is the keystone
indicator of the lake's ecological health
and is one of 15 ecological performance
measures for the entire south Florida
ecosystem.
Water
Quality Monitoring - Captures
environmental monitoring in south Florida.
SFWMD
Water Management Plan (DWMP)
Links
to other state,
federal & local govt. & groups
for
the quantity and quality of bass the lake
produces on a regular bases. This reputation on
Lake Okeechobee has continued for many years as
producing the biggest and best largemouth bass
fishing in Central Florida.
the
charter YOU desire and deserve. 
