5 Tips For Lake Okeechobee Crappie Fishing

Lake Okeechobee, or the 'Big O' is the second largest freshwater lake completely within the United States (right after Lake Michigan). It covers 730 square miles, and is the headwaters of the Everglades. It is a shallow natural lake formed by the receding ocean around 6000 years ago. It has an average depth of 9 feet, and the depth varies from 1 foot to 13 feet. It is a limestone basin. It has abundant cover, structure, and close to ideal year-round weather, making it a haven for crappie. In fact, it is estimated that Lake Okeechobee has the densest crappie population of any US lake, including Lake Weiss.

When I fish for crappie in Lake Okeechobee, I usually a double-rig (also known as a fish-finder rig). It evolved from commercial Longliner fishermen in their search for Bluefin Tuna. Scaled down, it is a very efficient rig for crappie. Simply rig two # 4 Aberdeen hooks on dropper loops, 12"-18" apart, over a 1/8 oz. bell sinker, or several split shots. You can fish this under a slip-bobber, or anywhere from the bottom up, tight-lining (or vertical fishing, as it is sometimes called).

You can also omit the sinker and hooks and use two 1/16 oz. marabou jigs under a slip-bobber. This is deadly for crappie in heavy cover. Just use a 9 to 12 foot crappie pole, and drop the rig straight down, into cover. It is not uncommon to hook two crappie at a time with one of these rigs. I usually tie a white or yellow jig on above a chartreuse jig. Another trick is to omit the bobber, and tie a small crank-bait on under the jig. It gives the appearance of a small minnow chasing an even smaller one, an irresistible situation for any predator fish.

There is one method I use that is particularly well suited for Lake Okeechobee. It is called 'Flippin'. It is very easy to do, and deadly in heavy cover. You need a 9 to 12 foot Crappie Pole. I prefer my trusty B & M Buck's Crappie Classic. Any light spinning, or spincast reel will do, as long as it is filled with 6 pound Trilene. I've found Zebco Trigger-Spins, and Johnson reels to be particularly suited to this type of fishing. Most light spinning reels are fine. I use my old Mitchell 300 for this all the time.

Now, just attach a 1/8 oz. marabou jig, or small Sassy Shad, or similar jig. Measure your line to the length of the rod by pulling the line out until it reaches your wrist, them engage the anti-reverse, or close the bail. To present the jig, just use a pendulum-type motion and 'swing' the jig close by your body, out to where the cover is. When the jig gets where you want, drop your rod tip, and allow the jig to slowly 'swim' back to you as it sinks. If you don't get a hit, repeat as necessary.