Artificial Lure reporting in with your boots-on-the-water Lake Okeechobee fishing update for Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Sunrise cracked at 6:43 AM and you’ll see that Florida sun dip at 5:30 PM. We had light northeast winds this morning, barely a ripple across the lake, and that trend will stick with us through the afternoon—expect a light chop at most, and air temps climbing into the mid-70s. According to the National Weather Service, we’re headed for another stretch of fine fishing weather.
Let’s talk about conditions. Right now, the water’s got a bit more color than usual—recent reports from the Rim Canal say it’s dirtier than most falls, but some locals say that’s actually keeping fish up and willing to bite close to the boat. The Department of Health cautioned about blue-green algae in isolated pockets, mostly on the shoreline—stay alert and avoid the scummy, neon-green stuff.
Yesterday’s tournaments proved the post-front pattern is still hanging around: bites are there, but you gotta work for ’em. Hudson out of Bassmaster’s open said the Spro McDart jerkbait and a jighead minnow were the key to putting together a solid limit on the southwest Rim Canal, with his big fish—a five-pounder—hitting early[The Fishing Wire]. Over on the east side, angler Gee focused on balls of bait near the J&S Canal, rotating a Yamamoto Hinge Minnow and a flutter spoon, catching his quality fish suspended just off the bottom.
Crappie fans, the early morning hours continue to be dynamite. Reports from the bridges and deeper cuts north of Indian Prairie say that tossing a small jig or minnow under a bobber before 9 AM is the ticket—you’ll bring up fish for the cooler if you’re quiet and patient. Just yesterday morning, anglers were seen hauling up loads of slabs near the Kissimmee River inlet.
Bass are moody, but there are still double-digit giants lurking—Laker Howell set the bar last week with an 11-and-a-half pound lunker on a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog worked slow on a bed[Major League Fishing]. Don’t rule out flipping and pitching creature baits in thick cover. For numbers, most are reporting 8-15 keeper bites a day, with the big bags anchored by one or two bruisers around 5-8 pounds.
Best lures lately go to:
- Jerkbaits in shad or ghost minnow colors for schooling fish off points and canal mouths[The Fishing Wire]
- Finesse swimbaits on light jigheads for vertical presentations—especially when using forward-facing sonar[Spreaker]
- Creature baits like the Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog, or a Berkley Chop Block soft glide bait, worked around reed heads and isolated mats[Sports Illustrated]
- Key colors: green pumpkin, junebug, watermelon red, and anything shad- or bluegill-patterned for swim jigs
- Don’t forget classic black-and-blue chatterbaits or vibrating jigs late in the day around outside grass lines
Minnows are still the best bet for crappie, especially under a float as that bite stays shallow with these warm days.
Hot spots right now:
- Rim Canal, southwest corner near Harney Pond: steady for bass, plus some chunky crappie if you work the bridge pilings
- J&S Canal east side: focused baitfish action, better quality bass suspending on isolated breaks and grass points
- North end near Kissimmee River mouth: best early morning crappie and scattered bass chasing shad
Tidal influence is minimal here on Okeechobee, but low light and dusk—just after 5 PM—are primetime for a kicker bite as the baitfish bunch up.
Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Okeechobee report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a cast, and until next time, this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.
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