The Florida Fishing Experts
Specializing in Florida Bass Fishing on all of the Florida Freshwater Lakes.

The fish are on the move, as the shallow water is hot, creating summer patterns for this one of a kind lake.  The fishing throughout the summer can sometimes be tough on Lake Okeechobee, but also can be the best bass fishing. The Largemouth bass are schooling, so it’s all about the bait as the bait moves in shore you can find very fast and crazy feeding frenzy’s. The Largemouth Bass will herd bait like cowboys and when you find these fish you are in for a treat. Best way to can fish them is top water, crank baits, plastics and swim baits.

Over the last few weeks I sure enjoyed the different adventures with everybody this time of year can be a different adventure every day. When you see the bait jumping out of the water trying to get away from the number 1 game fish you see why sport fishing for Largemouth Bass on Lake Okeechobee is one of the most sought after fishery in the world.

I hope to see yea Capt. Mark Shepard

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer Capt Mark Shepard(marks@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS 

  The summer is here and the weather is warm, but the fish are smart, they’re starting to school on bait-fish. Fishing has been fun, just look at the pictures, big smiles & nice largemouth okeechobee bass. 

The early morning  is when the honor roll bass attend class, the fishing has been easy with lite tackle and mostly in the open water which makes for some great fishing. I sure had a lot of fun with everybody over the last few weeks here, so here are the some recent pictures of us on Lake Okeechobee fishing this month. Every day brings a new fishing adventure, with the movement of bait and wind it makes for a new exciting and different day everyday on the Big” O”.

Summer time fishing can be very exciting with a lot of different types of fishing to enjoy for the expert angler and novice alike.

I hope to see ya soon,

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Capt Mark Shepard–marks@bassonline.com

BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Contact: Coleen Curran 704.900.7275 or ccurran@solutionmatrixinc.com

CLEWISTON, FL (June 1, 2010) – Iraqi veterans Joshua Rockwell of Scranton, PA and David Calhoun of Wyalusing, PA caught more than 50 bass on their two-day fishing trip to Lake Okeechobee with Bass Master Pro Angler Mark Shepard.

Their trip was sponsored by SMI Cold Therapy of Butler, PA, a manufacturer of cold therapy products and services for post-operative patient care in hospitals and surgery centers, and by Bassonline.com, Florida’s largestfreshwater guide service and outfitter for bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers. Calhoun and Rockwell are the first of eight wounded vets to make the journey to Florida to experience some of the world’s best bass fishing.

Bass Master and FLW Pro Angler Mark Shepard, a Bassonline.com guide, has more than 25 years experience fishing in Florida and 10 years of guiding on Lake Okeechobee.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members.

Three more fishing trips on Lake Okeechobee are planned. The next trip is June 7-8 with WWP vets Gary Harris of Ft. White, FL and Jake Williams of Vista, CA.

Rockwell, a medically retired machine gunner, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 and was injured in October 2007. While on patrol with a Humvee team, his left foot was crushed in the line of duty.

Calhoun, 45, a medically retired battalion armor and training manager, joined the Army in 1985, saw five deployments and was injured in July 2003. His Humvee was on the outskirts of Baghdad, when an IED hit and flipped his vehicle. The explosion destroyed Calhoun’s kneecaps and trapped the driver, Lt. Jonathan Pruden. Despite his injuries, Calhoun carried Pruden to safety before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The Florida Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management will award a 5-year freshwater fishing license along with a promotional package of tackle samples, fishing publications and discount coupons to each of the WWP veterans as part of its recent promotion of Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World. For information, visit http://myfwc.com/license/Freshwater_5-year-license.htm

BassOnline.com is Florida’s largest freshwater guide service and outfitter, specializing in Florida bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers. For more information, visit Bass Fishing Blog or Florida Bass Fishing, Lake Okeechobee Fishing, Bass Fishing Florida, Florida Peacock Bass or Everglades Fishing.

SMI is a women-owned, veteran-operated manufacturer of the highest quality cold therapy products for the orthopedic community. Our post-operative products are designed for inpatient and outpatient procedures including total joint replacements and sports medicine. Our simple-to-use, long-lasting, 3.5-hour Gel Bag Compression Bandage Wrap System requires fewer nurse interventions and is changing the orthopedic standard of care. SMI’s facility-specific protocols create efficiencies that enhance patient care while achieving improved clinical outcomes and cost reductions. Headquartered in Butler, PA, SMI is proud to be made in America. For more information, visit www.solutionmatrix.com or call 724.431.6147.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

BUTLER, Pa., May 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — SMI, a manufacturer of cold therapy products and services for hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, has joined forces with the Wounded Warrior Project to send injured U.S. veterans bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members.

Eight wounded warriors will take part in four SMI-sponsored fishing trips: May 23-26; June 6-9; August 11-14 and October 12-14. Iraq war veterans, Sergeant First Class David Calhoun of Laceyville, PA, and Lance Corporal Joshua Rockwell, 22, of Scranton, PA, will be the first to participate.

Rockwell, a medically retired machine gunner, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 and was injured in October 2007. While on patrol with a Humvee team, his left foot was crushed in the line of duty.

Calhoun, 45, a medically retired battalion armor and training manager, joined the Army in 1985, saw five deployments and was injured in July 2003. His Humvee was on the outskirts of Baghdad when an IED hit and flipped his vehicle. The explosion destroyed Calhoun’s kneecaps and trapped the driver, Lt. Jonathan Pruden. Despite his injuries, Calhoun carried Pruden to safety before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The Florida Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management will award a 5-year freshwater fishing license along with a promotional package of tackle samples, fishing publications and discount coupons to each of the WWP veterans as part of its recent promotion of Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World. For information, visit http://myfwc.com/license/Freshwater_5-year-license.htm

SMI is a women-owned, veteran-operated manufacturer of the highest quality cold therapy products for the orthopedic community. Our post-operative products are designed for inpatient and outpatient procedures including total joint replacements and sports medicine. Our simple-to-use, long-lasting, 3.5-hour Gel Bag Compression Bandage Wrap System requires fewer nurse interventions and is changing the orthopedic standard of care. SMI’s facility-specific protocols create efficiencies that enhance patient care while achieving improved clinical outcomes and cost reductions. Headquartered in Butler, PA, SMI is proud to be made in America. For more information, visit www.solutionmatrix.com or call 724.431.6147.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS