Late Fall Fishing on the Big O - Okeechobee Report for November 2025

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Okeechobee fishing report for November 26, 2025. Hope you’re ready, because the bite out here’s been nothing short of classic late fall Florida action—let’s get you dialed in for a productive day on the Big O. Weather this morning started mild, right around 68 at sunrise. Highs will climb into the upper 70s, plenty warm with only a light breeze out of the east—expect mostly sunny skies with just a bit of haze by midday. Sunrise hit at 6:47 a.m., and you’ve got daylight till about 5:28 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to put in the work. For those checking the tide, down here on the inland Big O we don’t have true tidal swings, but area lakes and sloughs respond to wind-driven water movement. Still, solunar tables for South Florida put best major fish activity windows around 8 to 10 a.m. and again from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., so plan your main efforts around those times. Let’s talk bites—as always, fall means working a little harder but the rewards are worth it. The shad schools are active along the outside grass lines and that’s where the bass have piled in. Folks have been getting numbers: one report from just this morning saw 6 to 7 solid bass, most in the 2- to 3-pound range, with the best fish topping out at 5.79 pounds. Swimbaits are pulling real work—the 3:16 Lure Company Freestyle Shad Slow Sink and the 6-inch Real Deal in Kokanee have been the stars. Slower presentations near hydrilla beds and deeper reed edges have been best, so bring your patience and you’ll be rewarded. Moving baits have been heating up, too. Local guides are running square bill crankbaits, rattle traps, chatterbaits and bladed swim jigs over submerged grass. A steady retrieve with some pauses is key. On calmer spots, topwater frogs and popping baits are still drawing a few explosive bites at first light and right before sunset. If the bite slows, pitch soft plastics—dark-colored creature baits or stickworms Texas-rigged are steady producers, especially around the thicker mats and boat trails. Crappie anglers are quietly having success on deep ledges—try the 10- to 15-foot drops with small minnows or hair jigs, especially where brush or shell beds are present. Panfish are staging, and the bite should get even better as the weather cools. Now, if you’re looking for a couple true hot spots to fish today: - Hit the outside grasslines along the North Bay and Tin House Cove, especially where clear water meets Kissimmee grass. - Try the ledges and creek mouths near Harney Pond—there’s been strong concentrations of both bass and crappie, and it’s getting less pressure than the main lake grass. - For those after quality fish, don’t overlook the South Bay area early in the morning, especially throwing a swimbait or a dark worm where hydrilla meets open lake. Remember, fall post-fronts can make for tough mornings but persistence pays off out here. A reminder for y’all checking the tournament schedules—Major League Fishing brings the This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.