Thread: Day 5 and 6 of Fishing in the USA

Friday

Okeechobee. We got up a bit earlier as we had about a one and a quarter hour drive ahead of us. I was on a boat with Brian and Don ( THE HAWG CALLER, read Marks report as to the name ). As I have not used spinner baits before ( I have always been a wormer )

Brian hooked on a White Shiner and told me to throw at the Lilly pads, when you see them. At times I thought I was throwing on my front lawn after a thunder shower, you know when you get that occasional water glisten on your grass. My consternation of throwing a spinner bait on that much grass was soon dispensed with. Nothing that a good Deep South rod and 50lb braid couldn't get me out of. Brian hadn't fished Okechobee before so we were pretty blind as to where to go and what to look for, as all you can see is grass and reeds with the occasional patch of water. The first couple of hours was cast and reel. Brian was using a swim bait and Don a Grey El Grande frog.

Alex and Rene the 2 pro staffers and guides decided to move to another spot, so we followed. This was a bit better. We had more reeds, less grass and more open water, viola I had 3 fish about 1kg in about 1/2 an hour. Ha!! Spinner baits DO work. My confidence level had just gone up another few notches.

Brians boat developed engine trouble so I transferred to Alexs' boat with Jay. I fished 5 inch swim baits (also another first for me) and caught another 2. Confidence level on the rise, I still missed 2 big ones striking too early. Both times we had to replace the lure as it had been chomped in half.

At one stage Alex had taken us to the edge of the grass, and with our backs to the water, all you can see in a 180 degree arc is water. If I remember I think Jay said it was an area of about 75000 square miles. That is just unbelievably huge.

So back to the hotel, the last fishing day was done, but tomorrow the lure of the Bass Pro Shop.

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Okechobee Landscape

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Open Water of the Okechobee

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The Pro Staff with Jay L-R
Jay, Alex, Rene, Don and Brian


Saturday

Jay and Don picked us up at 8:30 and off to shop. I had heard great things about these shops. Yeah the shop was huge, but the bassing section small in comparison. I walked up and down the 3 or 4 aisles of bass baits, and never saw anything excitingly or new. I mentally doffed my hat to Brian ( Big B ) and Jay because in the short time they have been involved with WINDY BAY, the plastics
that are available to us locally is as good if not better than what I saw there. We have colours they haven't dreamed about yet - Take a bow Brian (BigB), your knowledge and astuteness made me feel proud that we had products that the kingdom of bassing did not.

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"The Bass Pro Shop" entrance - read the sign above entrance!!!!!

After a good lunch it was off to the airport for the long flight home. I left Fort Lauderdale with some sadness as this had been an “Old Ballies” dream come true. Words cannot express the heartfelt thanks to Brian and Jay for hosting us in a way that made us feel very much at home, and a host of fond memories to bring back home.

I hope that my writing and 'photos will give readers a glimpse of what we did and some of the areas we fished - I am looking forward to putting my new found skills to work, so see you on the water, and you will see my catches.

Sounds like you had a fanastic trip. Congrats with the lovely fooshies. Nice report back too.

Thanks for the report back Mike. It sounds like it was the trip of a lifetime

A well written and fascinating report, thanks Mike.

Thanks for the report back ol ballie - brings tears to my eyes and ear plugs to my ears

Excellent series of report backs Mike & Mark. Thanks guys.

Dang, only managed to read the reports now. Sommer, almost, ok ok I had a slight tear in the eye ...... whew what dreams are made of for sure - wow!