Pre-spawn bass staging near eelgrass and outer marsh edges

Current fishing reports for Okeechobee are thin right now, with the most recent updates coming from late September. Based on those late summer reports and our typical November transition, we are seeing the first waves of pre-spawn bass starting to stage. The water level was sitting around 11.6 feet and slowly rising a few weeks ago, but you still need to be careful navigating the shallower marsh zones.

Right now, the focus is on the outer grass lines and marsh openings. Bass are positioning near eelgrass that borders the outer edges of emergent vegetation like Kissimmee grass and bulrush. Early in the morning, topwater is the way to go. Buzzbaits and prop baits worked along these outer edges will draw strikes from active fish. As the sun gets up, you will want to slow down and soak soft plastics on the bottom for fish that are starting to think about bedding. Live golden shiners remain the most reliable presentation overall.

If you are heading out this weekend, start early on the outside grass lines with a prop bait or buzzbait. When that bite fades, move toward the marsh openings and pitch soft plastics slowly to staging fish.