Big Bass and Slabs on Fire at Lake Okeechobee

Artificial Lure here with your May 9th, 2025 Lake Okeechobee fishing report. The Big O is living up to its reputation this week, and the stars are lining up for another top-notch day on the water.

First, let’s talk conditions. Sunrise was at 6:48 AM and sunset is set for 8:02 PM, so you’ve got a full day of fishing ahead. Weather is picture-perfect: clear skies, light breezes, and highs reaching the low 80s. The water level continues its slow drop and, as of Monday, is sitting around 11.17 feet—well below the usual for this time of year. That means fish are stacking up tighter around cover and predictable ambush points, really concentrating the action[1][2][5].

Bass fishing is on fire right now. Anglers are consistently catching healthy largemouth bass, with plenty in the 4 to 6-pound range. There’s also been a miniature lunker parade, with several bass topping 8 pounds and a few real trophies reported, including some in the 10 to 12-pound club. The FWC TrophyCatch program is seeing a solid number of big fish from the lake these past weeks[4][5].

Crappie fishing is just as hot. Folks are pulling in limits, with some days seeing catches of 100 to 150 fish. Average slabs are a solid 12 to 14 inches, and there’s no shortage of two-pounders being landed[3][4]. The crappie bite has especially favored the early mornings and late afternoon windows.

For those wondering what’s working, here’s the scoop. For bass, go with soft plastics—Senko-style worms in junebug and black and blue have been dynamite around Kissimmee grass and reeds. Topwater frogs are getting explosive strikes early and late in the day. If you like a moving bait, try a chatterbait or a lipless crankbait along the outside edges. For crappie, you can’t go wrong with live minnows under a slip cork, or toss white and chartreuse jigs around deeper holes and submerged brush.

Now, if you’re looking for hotspots, give the Harney Pond Canal and the Monkey Box a visit for bass. Tin House Cove and around Indian Prairie are producing solid crappie numbers. The low water has bunched fish up, so keep moving until you find that sweet spot.

In short, Lake Okeechobee is cooking this week. Whether you’re hunting buckets of crappie or chasing your next big bass, the bite is on and the lake is ready. Keep your bait moving, keep an eye on the weather, and most of all, enjoy the Big O show. Good luck and tight lines[1][2][3][4][5].