Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

My wife and I are taking a trip to Florida here in mid March. I was thinking about possibly going bass fishing on lake Okeechobee with my kayak. Looking for advice on other possible places to bass fish while I'm there. We are staying in Ft Meyer of that helps any.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Aaron, PM Eyecrosser, he's wintering down there a little northeast of Ft Myers. I believe he's fishing at Lake June in Winter.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

I'm pretty sure that Lake Okeechobee is your "go-to spot", from Ft. Meyers. There's a little "Mayberry" style town, called: Labelle, about 1/2 way to the lake, from the mouth of the Caloosahatchee, where I THINK you can put a boat in the river; but, I wouldn't swear to it. (There WAS a kind of a small "park", of sorts, just to the west of the Caloosahatchee bridge, back in ¿1990ish?; where you could probably get your kayak in the water.) I'm quite sure that most people wouldn't wanna paddle all the way to Okeechobee, from THERE. (I know I wouldn't.) [It'd turn into "an overnight trip" for ME, for sure.]
I knew the guy who owned the dry-cleaning and laundromat in town, but; this was 30 years ago and we've not stayed "in touch". (His son used to fish Lake Okeechobee.) {I've been across it, just passing through, but, never did "wet a hook" there.} [Was on a BIG NET boat, at that point in time.]
Reckon it's a kind of a "roll of the dice" for you... I know people HAVE caught some real-live SLOBS outta there, in years gone by.
There's quite a few bodies of water, along Rt.27/17... I can't make any real recommendation... ¡¡¡Buy "Deep Woods OFF"!!!... That's really about the best advice I can give.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Yeah Able, that's where Eye is, off Rt27, up by Lake Placid, in the Sebring area.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

The thing that stands out most clearly in THIS "gummy mind", was the NEED for insect repellent!!

Smokypig Loc: Cheyenne, wyoming

The bass may well be schooling in mid march. Be sure and bring a surface, jerk bait just in case.

Jungle Ranch Fish Camp Loc: Punta Gorda, FL

Closer to fort Meyers for best kayaking is freshwater side of shell creek. Washington loop road. Punta Gorda. There’s a small park with a kayak launch. Take a gps , check it out online.

fast_randy Loc: Blackfoot, Idaho

I was just reading that Okeechobee is the largest fresh water lake in the states, next to Lake Michigan. And you can go clear across the State in a boat through a couple of locks like they have in the Panama Canal.

fast_randy Loc: Blackfoot, Idaho

Clarification: Largest lake all in one state. Next to Lake Michigan.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Lake Michigan actually borders 3 States according to my Rand McNally, over here. ... But, IS, entirely within the U.S.A., whereas all the others (of the "Great Lakes") do contain SOME % of Canadian water.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

(Didn't mean to get "contentious" about all that, fast_randy.)

PeacockBass

Close to Ft. Myers is the town of Immokalee. There you will find a smaller lake call Lake Trafford. It was once called the most prolific bass lake in the world. It sufferer a "BLOOM' about 8 years ago. In a matter of a few hours ALL the fish died due to lack of oxygen. The state of Florida came in and removed millions of cubic yards of what we called "ooze' from the bottom of the lake. After that the lake was restocked and now is producing a lot of very nice sized bass. There is a beautiful boat launch there and a full service Marina right beside the launch. I would strongly advise a trip to Lake Trafford.

Captain

Of course on both lakes be aware of the predators aka GATORS that enjoy a hooked bass also. I don’t worry about them but keep an eye on them when they cruise toward me

Coachtrich

Hi Aaron, if you have time on the way down or the way back, I would suggest stopping in a little town in North Florida called Port St. Joe. It is in Gulf County. Port St. Joe has a bay that feeds from the Gulf of Mexico. You could launch your Kajak in the bay and catch some nice reds, flounder, speckled trout and many other species. About 5 minutes from the bay is a fresh water creek called Depot Creek. It is black water and full of crappie, bluegill, shellcracker, catfish and Bass. It feeds into a big lake called Lake Wimico. I grew up in Port St. Joe and my Dad, sister and her family still live there. I live in San Diego now but every time I go back home my Dad and I go fishing there. You will love the little town and people there.

Captain

That’s about a 90/120 minute drive to go catch bass. When in FL don't bypass what’s n your own backyard close to FT M. Snook are the Saltwater Bass only fight harder. There is also good snapper fishing in the backwater and I would take friends kayak fishing with lite gear for big Jacks. Not an eater but second to none in a fight pound got pound. Also, tarpon may be here very early this year as the gulf is much warmer this season. That being said, nothing to be doing alone in a kayak but more fun than should be allowed. It’s a sleigh ride on the water.