JUNE 1998
The month of June comes in with hot days,
afternoon showers and schooling bass. These bass that run in the
1 - 3 lb. range are just about everywhere on the lake. The trick
is to find the large schools of bait fish which these fish follow
and feed on during the course of the day. Topwater plugs such
as the floating Rapala (size #11) in any color combination is
a deadly lure at this time of the year. I have also found over
the years that the size #5 Rapala at times is the only size lure
the bass will hit. This type of fishing requires a good selection
of Rapalas as well as a spinning rod and reel with 12 lb. test
line. Fly-rod fishing with popping bugs (size 6 or 8) in any color
combination as well as deer hair bugs are very deadly on schooling
bass during this time of the year and throughout the summer and
early fall.
8 1/2 lb. Lake Okeechobee trophy bass caught on (June 26, 1998) by John Skimelis Jr. (Shrewsbury, NJ - e-mail: Bass7015@aol.com). John Jr., his dad and sister Karen caught and released about 45 bass up to 5 lbs. during the 3 days (June 24 - 26, 1998) they fished with wild shiners. On this trip "their third since June 1995 with Captain Ron" we dubbed John's sister Karen the "Mudfish Queen" after she hooked and caught at least 25 mudfish that ran in weight from 5 - 8 lbs. On their "first trip" (June 15 -17, 1995) John Jr. hooked and landed a 9 lb. Lake Okeechobee trophy bass. He also landed and released a 6 1/2 lb'er and 64 other bass from 2-5 lbs. John also caught a 5 1/2 lb. Snook (Snook and Tarpon are occasionally caught in Lake Okeechobee). All bass were caught using shiners and released except for the 9 lb. trophy bass that is being mounted. Captain Ron was their bass fishing guide.
Richard Toler (Ft. Lauderdale, FL - ph: 954-989-9572) caught 31 bass up to 6 1/4 lbs. on topwater plugs and wild shiners during the 1 day (June 26, 1998) they fished with Ron's Guide Service. Most of the bass were caught on topwater and worms. Any color seemed to work. The 6 1/4 lb'er was caught on a wild shiner. All the bass which were released were caught in the Monkey Box and North Shore areas of Lake Okeechobee.
Zane and Monica Howe and 3 year old son (Hulbert, OK - ph: 918-772-2871) caught 17 bass up to 4 lbs. using shiners during the 2 half days (June 24 & 25, 1998) they fished with Ron's Guide Service. All fish were which were released were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
Mike Gates (West Palm Beach, FL - e-mail: gatesfam@gate.net) caught about 30 bass up to 4 lbs. using shiners during the 2 half days (June 20 & 21, 1998) he fished with Ron's Guide Service. All fish were which were released were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
Randy Powers and son Brian (Wichita Falls, TX - e-mail: rpowers@wf.net) caught 17 bass up to 4 1/2 lbs. using shiners during the 1 day (June 19, 1998) they fished with Captain Ron - Ron's Guide Service. All fish were which were released were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
I and a guide who works for me (Capt. John) went out topwater fishing (June 17, 1998) for about 2 hours (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.). We caught 32 bass up to 3 lbs. on topwater. I used a floating Rapala (#11) gold, while Capt. John used a chrome/blue Tiny torpedo. Caught a few on my fly rod but the bass seemed to prefer the plugs this evening. We fished the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
I went out fly rod fishing (June 16, 1998) for a hour and the half (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.). Caught 18 bass up to 2 lbs. on a peck's white popping bug (size #8). Fished the Monkey Box area of Okeechobee.
I went out topwater fishing (June 15, 1998) for a hour and the half (7:00 - 8:30 p.m.). Caught 29 bass up to 3 lbs. on topwater. Floating Rapala (#11) gold color had the bass blasting it clear out of the water. Schooling bass all over the Monkey Box area of Okeechobee. Captain Ron, Ron's Guide Service.
Steve Wible (Mc Connellsbg., PA - e-mail: bestbid@epix.net) and Travis Buterbaugh (Norristown, PA ) caught 97 bass up to 3 lbs. during 1 day of fishing (June 13, 1998) with Captain Ron. They fished with wild shiners for a few hours during each 4 hour session of fishing. Wild shiner fishing however only produced 3 bass while topwater fishing produced 94 bass! We fished to dark trying to hit the 100 fish mark. Although we didn't hit the 100 fish mark we had a great time trying. The floating Rapala any color (size #11) caught 94 of the 97 bass landed. It seems a slow retrieve with short erratic twitches seemed to draw the best strikes. You will get at least 2 to 3 shots at hooking them if you don't pull the plug away from them when they blast it. Best hours for topwater action was from 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. All the bass which were released were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
James Durden and son Greg (Trenton, FL - ph: 352-493-4786) caught 121 bass up to 4 1/2 lbs. on topwater plugs and wild shiners during the 3 days (June 11 - 13, 1998) they fished with pro guide Captain Ron (Ron's Guide Service). Most of the bass were caught on a floating (size #11) rapala. Any color seemed to work. A slow retrieve with short erratic twitches seemed to draw the best strikes. Best hours for topwater action was from 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. All the bass which were released were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
Dan Bozik (Rock Island, IL - e-mail: dbozik@saunix.sau.edu) caught 9 bass up to 7 lbs. using shiners during 1 day (June 11, 1998) of fishing with Ron's Guide Service. Fish were taken on the outside of the Reek. All fish were released.
Mike Mitchell and son Lance (Laura, OH - ph: 937-698-1007) caught 17 bass up to 4 1/2 lbs. using shiners during the 2 half days (June 8 & 9, 1998) they fished with pro guide Captain Ron (Ron's Guide Service). All fish were caught in the Monkey Box area of Lake Okeechobee.
Honeymooners
Fishing Reports