We are taking the kids to Disney in October for a couple days but staying a week in our families condo in Ft Lauderdale. I was considering getting a guided bass trip locally as I never caught a peacock bass, but they all use live bait and their galleries were filled with dinks. I didn't realize that the big O was only 90 minutes away. I can rent a 18' "bass" boat for a day for only $250 there. I am an experienced boater here in Indiana (owned speed boats and pontoons for 2 decades), but never been on a boat in Fl. Should I rent a boat or would it be better to just get a guide? The guides really aren't that expensive considering the trophies that swim there. The lake looks HUGE on google maps and it might be a little intimidating for a rookie on the lake especially without a fish finder. If I took the guided route, I would only need to bring the lures I wanted to fish and not have to worry about losing and/or breaking thousands worth of gear. We will be there in mid October. Your advice is appreciated.

Yes, that is a big lake. 

Get a guide. 

The Lake can be intimidating, especially with no real plan on where to go, how to get there or what to do when you arrive. 

I'm on the Lake more than any other so believe me when I say that every weed and reed line, shell bottom, pad area, hydrilla mat etc. looks the same. 

You'd swear every 10 ft would hold fish...And in some areas they do, and some not. 

 

The thing about Okeechobee is that you can go to the same spot a month apart and it would be totally changed. 

Sure, you can ride around and junk fish all day and hope for the best if that's your thing. 

 

It takes years to learn that Lake and even then without understanding its nuances of where and when the fish move given the time of year, moon phase, water level, clarity, weather conditions leading up  to your trip etc. etc.

You'd be better served to hire a guide and watch and listen to every thing he says and does. 

 

Do search on here. 

I posted a while back a list of the ones I've personally fished with in tournaments over the years. 

 

The Big O is an amazing place.

 When they say that any one cast can be the fish of a lifetime, they were talking about Okeechobee. 

 

 

Good Luck

 

 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

The Lake can be intimidating, especially with no real plan on where to go, how to get there or what to do when you arrive. 

I'm on the Lake more than any other so believe me when I say that every weed and reed line, shell bottom, pad area, hydrilla mat etc. looks the same. 

You'd swear every 10 ft would hold fish...And in some areas they do, and some not. 

 

The thing about Okeechobee is that you can go to the same spot a month apart and it would be totally changed. 

Sure, you can ride around and junk fish all day and hope for the best if that's your thing. 

 

It takes years to learn that Lake and even then without understanding its nuances of where and when the fish move given the time of year, moon phase, water level, clarity, weather conditions leading up  to your trip etc. etc.

You'd be better served to hire a guide and watch and listen to every thing he says and does. 

 

Do search on here. 

I posted a while back a list of the ones I've personally fished with in tournaments over the years. 

 

The Big O is an amazing place.

 When they say that any one cast can be the fish of a lifetime, they were talking about Okeechobee. 

 

 

Good Luck

 

 

 

Mike

this........and yes get a guide.....worth their weight in gold.....

Guide it is. I found a guy that used to be on the national circuit. Hes only $500 a day and he has all the lures and gear and guides the Big O exclusively. His boat is freaking sweet as well. I appreciate you guys bringing me down to reality. Hopefully I will land a few nice ones. If you guys know of a better option such as a friend of yours or someone you have fished with please recommend. I like to look out for my own. Mike I will do that search as well.

On 8/5/2019 at 7:56 PM, Mikeltee said:

Guide it is. I found a guy that used to be on the national circuit. Hes only $500 a day and he has all the lures and gear and guides the Big O exclusively. His boat is freaking sweet as well. I appreciate you guys bringing me down to reality. Hopefully I will land a few nice ones. If you guys know of a better option such as a friend of yours or someone you have fished with please recommend. I like to look out for my own. Mike I will do that search as well.

so did you catch anything?  

I’m pretty sure he’s going in October Frank.

Correct me if I’m wrong Mike but I don’t think Okeechobee has peacock bass. 

 

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, SC53 said:

Correct me if I’m wrong Mike but I don’t think Okeechobee has peacock bass. 

A search for 'peacock bass in Lake Okeechobee' yielded numerous results of guide services that do just that...hunt Peacocks in Okeechobee. So I'd say that 'yes, there are Peacocks in Okeechobee'.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

A search for 'peacock bass in Lake Okeechobee' yielded numerous results of guide services that do just that...hunt Peacocks in Okeechobee. So I'd say that 'yes, there are Peacocks in Okeechobee'.

 

I have not heard of peacock bass in Lake O, but I’m fishing with a FWC biology division guy tomorrow. I’ll hit him up for an answer. Last I knew, the Okeechobee guides were traveling down to the Osborne chain (South Florida) for peacock bass. 

12 hours ago, SC53 said:

I’m pretty sure he’s going in October Frank.

Correct me if I’m wrong Mike but I don’t think Okeechobee has peacock bass. 

 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Fishing_FF said:

 

I have not heard of peacock bass in Lake O, but I’m fishing with a FWC biology division guy tomorrow. I’ll hit him up for an answer. Last I knew, the Okeechobee guides were traveling down to the Osborne chain (South Florida) for peacock bass. 

In the 20+ years I've fished the lake I have never heard of anyone catching a Peacock there. 

But there have been times a wayward Tarpon made its way past the locks so I guess anything is possible. 

But to specifically target Peacocks, No

 

Tom, Let us know what he says.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

A peacock would be nice however a PB largemout, or 20,  is the goal.

1 minute ago, Mikeltee said:

A peacock would be nice however a PB largemout, or 20,  is the goal.

 

Yeah Buddy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

From Disney your about 16 miles to Toho. Might call Mark or Cody at big Toho marina and set something up. Unless your sold  on Okeechobee.

Okeechobee is a bucket list bass fisherie. I'm sure Toho is great and all and I will make sure to make note of it for the next time I am there.

10 hours ago, Mike L said:

 

In the 20+ years I've fished the lake I have never heard of anyone catching a Peacock there. 

But there have been times a wayward Tarpon made its way past the locks so I guess anything is possible. 

But to specifically target Peacocks, No

 

Tom, Let us know what he says.

 

The answer is "No, and there was no hesitation with the answer if there are peacock bass in Lake O. 

 

There are some invasive species from South Florida that have made it into Lake O like the mayan cichlids, but the peacock bass haven't progressed much beyond the Osborne chain. I was told they are very cold sensitive, which slowed and eventually stopped their movement. I forget whether he mentioned it was a year or two ago, the Palm Beach area had a cold snap that killed a lot of peacock bass in the Osborne chain. There might be a rogue peacock bass or clownfish or even a tarpon like Mike said, but they are isolated fish, not established communities. 

Thought So..

Thanks Tom

 

 

 

 

Mike