RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

Ive only been to west palm once but it looks real nice, and mise well go ahead and book a couple more days with Hugh because there is no way your going to be able to only fish 1 day while your there,lol. Im fired up, just booked my plane tickets today for the end of May and also the 1st week of July. Do me a favor while your there, if you get some extra free time try some Snook fishing, they are cross betwen a largemouth and a Muskie that is on steroids. Yeh I only live about 10 minutes from Columbia, near the Galleria Mall, and even though I still love fishing the river for smallies and eye's it is no comparison to fishing in FL.
If you want to keep tabs on the bass fishing in FL. until your trip check out the fishing forum at www.floridasportsman.com
Make sure you take lots of pic's to show us when you get back. Pike

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

Yeah, I agree, Fl largemouth will probably spoil me for the susquahanna but I'm willing to take that risk :D:D. As far as fishing 1 day I'm still taking my gear down. Her grandfather has a large pond out back with tons of nice largemouth as well. Don't worry about the pix, I'll have tons to share with everyone as well as some good stories. I don't know if I'll be able to get out for snook even though I would love it, my wife has a schedule set to visit other relatives in the area and if I push my luck she may burn my plane ticket home.:D:D

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

Bear, Ive been in that same situation with the wife during every trip to FL.:D and dont be surprised if the pond has just as big of bass in it as the stick or the big "O" does. Pike

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

Yeah, from some of the pics he sent me it looks like I could still land a monster out back. LOL :D

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

I don't know, I'm like you guys and fish smallmouth streams in the ozarks. Catching a 8+ lb. largemouth would be fun, but I still don't think it compares to landing a 4 lb. smallie on ultralight tackle.

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

MO. dont get me wrong I love smallies and both bear and myself fish one of the best smallie rivers in the entire country ( according to Shaw Grigsby it is the best) One of the best area's of the river to fish is near the airport and I would much rather drive to the airport to get on a plane to FL. then to fish for smallies in front of it. In my opinion the FL. strain Largemouth fight just as hard and jumps just as much as smallmouth do and when you regulary catch smallies in the 5 lb. range and FL. largemouth in the 10lb range its twice the fun. :D Pike

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

Also the Tarpon and Snook fishing is even better than the bass fishing.:D Pike

RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

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RE: Lake Okeechobee (sp) ?
 

MO_bowhntr, I'll have to wait to make that call until I get back. But I do agree with you on how much fun it is to catch those large bronzebacks. Like Pike said, the susquahanna is renowned for the amount of smallies it holds and I fish it just about every chance I get all summer and well into the fall. My parents have a cabin along the river they stay in all summer which is only 30 feet from the bank so even if I go to visit I can still find time to get the line wet. I think it's all in what you like. Pound for pound I think smallies fight harder than largemouth but the size of the Fl largemouth might put them above even the hardest fighting smallie. I'll just have to wait and see.;):D