Lake Okeechobee Fishing Forecast: Prime Crappie and Bass Action Ahead

As of January 3, 2025, Lake Okeechobee is offering some of the best fishing conditions you can ask for. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Water Conditions
The water level on Lake Okeechobee has remained higher than normal, which is ideal for fishing. However, be aware that the climate outlook suggests a drier period ahead, with increased chances of below-normal rainfall[2].

### Sunrise and Sunset
Today, sunrise is at around 7:10 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 5:30 PM. These times are perfect for planning your fishing trips, especially since the crappie bite is strong during both daytime and nighttime.

### Fish Activity
Bass and crappie fishing is in full swing, with this being prime spawn time that will continue through early spring. The crappie bite is particularly hot, with nighttime minnow fishermen catching good numbers in the lake and the Kissimmee River. Daytime minnow bites are producing huge slabs and limits of delicious black crappie[1].

### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw a lot of action, especially for crappie. Anglers were catching large numbers of black crappie, often referred to as "specks," using minnows and various colored jigs like white, green, pink, and orange. For bass, lures such as swim jigs, swim baits, worms, and flipping/pitching creature-style lures like crawdads were effective[1].

### Best Lures and Bait
For bass, consider using swim jigs/swim baits, worms, spinner baits, shallow crank baits, spooks, and devil horses. Colors like black/blue, white, red shad, June bug, tilapia, and Okeechobee craw are working well. For crappie, minnows are the go-to bait, with jigs in white, green, pink, and orange also being highly effective[1].

### Hot Spots
Some of the best areas to fish include Observation Shoal, the Monkey Box, and the North Shore. Parts of Kings Bar, Hendry Creek, and areas around J & S are also producing good results. For shore fishing, Belle Glade, known as "bay bottom" by locals, is a great spot for black crappie, and Clewiston on the Southwest shore is excellent for both shore and boat fishing[1][4].

Make sure to prep your boat in the boat prepping lane and stay safe with plenty of hydration and sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Enjoy your time on Lake Okeechobee