Lake Okeechobee's November Bass Bonanza: Your Complete Fishing Rundown for Friday, November 21

This is Artificial Lure reporting live from the banks of Lake Okeechobee, and folks, if you love November bassin’, today is a prime day to be on the water. Here’s your full Okeechobee fishing rundown for Friday, November 21. We’re kicking off with weather: the morning’s showing classic fall Florida—partly cloudy, gentle east winds at 5 to 10 knots, temperatures mild and topping out in the upper 70s. Waters across Big O have a light chop, with seas inside the lake staying right around two feet, so small-craft anglers are in luck, just keep an eye for midday gusts according to the National Weather Service. Sunrise set the scene at 6:44 AM, and don’t forget, you’ll want to wrap up before sunset at 5:31 PM. Major bite windows: first up, from 5:36 to 7:36 this morning, then again strong from 5:56 to 7:56 this evening, with a minor feeding right after lunch between 12:41 and 2:41. The sun and moon are in your favor: with a first quarter moon and clear conditions, there’s plenty of fish on the move, especially early and late according to Solunar Theory reports. On the fish front, the bite’s been healthy all week. Recent catches are loaded with Okeechobee staples: largemouth bass front and center—with several tournament bags over 25 pounds just in the last few days—alongside plenty of healthy specs (crappie) and a solid showing of bluegill. Bass have been cruising the edges of reed heads and scattered hydrilla, especially moving in and out with the windward banks. Now, for lures—let’s talk what’s been producing: - Flipping and pitching is getting it done. The Gambler Fat Ace in JB blue and classic black and blue, rigged Texas style, is a flat-out staple. Pitch that into holes in joint grass and cattails. - For heavy mats, punch through with a Gambler Burner Craw in backatya or blue shadow, weighted up to 1 or 1.5 ounces depending on mat thickness. - For moving water or covering big flats, a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer with a gold shiner or ghost baby gill trailer flat out triggers reaction strikes. - Don’t overlook frogs early: a Gambler Walking Frog thrown right in the middle of dead tussock mats got multiple kicker fish this week. - Jerkbaits and crankbaits in the rim ditch and river bends are picking up fish pushed off by falling water. Best baits for live-lining: wild shiners remain king, especially early. Reports from local guides show multiple bass in the 7 to 9-pound range coming on live shiners fished near reed points and outside hydrilla edges. The specs are schooling up in open water and off the Kissimmee River mouth, and jigs or small minnows are getting them in the box. Check mid-morning and late-afternoon for best action. A quick head’s up: the Department of Health for Palm Beach County just issued a blue-green algae caution for the lake, especially near the southeast rim. Practice care when handling fish and avoid contact with blooms—don’t let the pups swim and wash hands up. Hot spots for the day: Eagle