OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — With two gorgeous days of practice under their belt, the first 40 pros competing in Qualifying Day 1 of the Favorite Fishing Stage Two Presented by Bass Cat were less fortunate with the weather today.

The wind is blowing right now and is expected to gust upwards of 30 MPH throughout much of the day.

Sprinkle in some light rain and it has all of the makings for a rough day on the water.

Still, the wind won’t stop these pros from competing.

MLF officials have decided to allow anglers to trailer in instead of everyone putting in at the same ramp to avoid problems the wind may cause.

Going to be some tough sledding.

A-Jay

The 2lb limit is going be tough on some guys

Those FL strain will shut down

 

Might not take a whole lot to be near the top of this derby early on.

A-Jay

Weather will stabilize this weekend with highs in low 70’s. 
They should be able to make it up. 
 

There’ll be a few areas today that’s gonna get a little congested. 
 

 

 

Mike

Watching this one!

Only two “limits” weighed in, must have been a tough day. Go Ott

Okeechobee just seems strange to this Ol boy from Tennessee.  There are no hills around the lake!  How do they keep the water from running out?  ?

There’s a berm that encircles the whole thing, with what is called a rim canal that have locks to enter the big water. 

It’s like one huge soup bowl. 

 

 

Mike

Dumb question - Dudley just got a 5lb fish flippin a stick worm with a bullet weight texas rigged. Seems like when I think of flippin, I think creature bait.

 

Any reason he would be going with the stick worm and not a creature bait? Water clarity, etc? Trying to learn when I should throw one vs the other...

I’m sure he tried that a few times already and didn’t get bit. 
There’s no hard and fast rule about style, shape or color. 
 

 

 

Mike

These guys fishing is some sloppy conditions this afternoon.

Sunny Florida is not so sunny today.

A-Jay

47 minutes ago, ryanerb said:

Dumb question - Dudley just got a 5lb fish flippin a stick worm with a bullet weight texas rigged. Seems like when I think of flippin, I think creature bait.

 

Any reason he would be going with the stick worm and not a creature bait? Water clarity, etc? Trying to learn when I should throw one vs the other...

A stick worm comes through the junk better maybe?

1 minute ago, jbsoonerfan said:

A stick worm comes through the junk better maybe?

I’ll bet that’s part of it. Seems like a Texas rigged stick bait is popular in Florida. I’ve used it up here in the slop, and caught some decent largemouth. I use a creature bait way more though, but our weeds aren’t usually as thick though. 

Using a stick bait for punching because it goes through better is not the main reason. 
If you have a 1-2 oz weight on the end of your line it doesn’t matter much what you have, it’s gonna get through. 
 

It’s a change up to give a different look.

I’ll bet he downsized his weight and used it in the lighter covered areas instead of the heavy slop. 
Just the opposite of what you might think. 

 

 

 

Mike

I flip a t-rig senko. Like Mike said, probably a 1/2oz tungsten pegged in the lighter areas. 

 

Not neccessary a 1.5oz. Doesn't take much

I think the 'ol stick worm is just a FL favorite. He's throwing it with a weight most likely due to the wind. Pretty much every guy they showed was throwing a stick worm. Shaw, Mark Davis, Tharp. Dudley (and I bet every other angler) had one tied on.

Bet black and blue or Junebug too ?

33 minutes ago, RichF said:

I think the 'ol stick worm is just a FL favorite. He's throwing it with a weight most likely due to the wind. Pretty much every guy they showed was throwing a stick worm. Shaw, Mark Davis, Tharp. Dudley (and I bet every other angler) had one tied on.

I tied one on & I was just watching ~ 

A-Jay

2 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

I flip a t-rig senko. Like Mike said, probably a 1/2oz tungsten pegged in the lighter areas. 

 

Not neccessary a 1.5oz. Doesn't take much

Yeah, when I use one up here, it’s got a very small weight on it. I don’t need much weight to pitch one around here, even with creature baits I rarely go over 1/2oz ever, and most times it’s 3/16 or 1/4. 

Other than punching, The best luck I’ve had on the Lake the last month or so is with a 5” stick bait with a 1/16 unpegged or weightless. 

I haven’t had a chance to watch, but It wouldn’t surprise me if you guys said they’re pitching them around the edges of the mat’s first working their way in or in between tightly placed isolated clumps of reeds. 

That was the pattern the last time a front came through. 
 

 

 

Mike

Who doesn’t Texas rig a stick worm????

I was looking at some pics of the pros out on the water today.  Didn't look like too much fun out there.

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Who doesn’t Texas rig a stick worm????

I haven’t met anyone. 
?

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Who doesn’t Texas rig a stick worm????

I can count on one hand how many times I've had one tied on in the last 5 years. 

Just now, RichF said:

I can count on one hand how many times I've had one tied on in the last 5 years. 

Something is wrong with your one hand! But seriously an old timer taught me Texas rigging a slug-O when I was in grade school. Straight tail worms don’t have to be on a shakey head to get bit!