Good morning from Lake Okeechobee—this is Artificial Lure, your local source for all things fishing, bringing you today’s conditions and the latest action from Florida's Big Water, Friday, October 24th, 2025, right around sunrise.
Weather on The Big O today is classic windy fall, with northeast winds blowing 15 to 20 knots and gusts pushing up to 25—advice for anglers running small craft: exercise extra caution, as the lake’s choppy and rough in exposed spots, especially this afternoon. Expect lake waters to keep a moderate chop all day, though those northeast banks will offer some reprieve according to the National Weather Service. The sunrise came up at 7:27 AM this morning, and we’re set for sunset at 6:48 PM.
The new moon is overhead, and with near one percent visibility, low light and stealth presentations have the edge. Today’s major feeding windows run from 12:24 to 2:24 AM and 12:52 to 2:52 PM, with minor feeds 7:25 to 9:25 AM and 6:19 to 8:19 PM, as reported by Fishing Reminder. Those early minor and midday major bite times are your best bet for getting into feeding fish with this moon phase.
Bass have been active in the shallow grass, pad fields, and edges near the mouths of sloughs as the wind moves forage along the eastern and northern shorelines. Recent reports from local guides and bank anglers highlight consistent catches of healthy largemouth bass, plenty between two and four pounds, with a few trophies as fall patterns set in. The numbers of fish are holding strong, but in these choppy, breezy conditions, focus on working wind-blown points and pockets—those baitfish are getting pushed in hard.
Top producers in the tackle box right now: For topwater, the Frog Factory Baby Ribbit Frog in watermelon red or black-blue is dynamite early and late. Its weedless rig means you can throw it right into the thickest mats and not miss a blowup. When the wind settles or in the lee of the reeds, switch to moving baits like the Strike King Pro Model Series 5 crankbait in shad or chartreuse hues, diving to that 10-13 foot range where bigger bass are lurking just off the drops and hydrilla clumps. Live shiners are always a go-to bait if you want to up your odds, especially after the cold front activity earlier in the week.
Crappie action is tickin' up—keepers are coming from the Kissimmee River mouth and canals, with jigs in monkey milk or chartreuse tipped with minnows pulling most of the numbers. Best hours are early morning and last light, as the wind pushes bait into the shallows and around structure.
Catfishing’s been solid on cut bait along the Rim Canal and up around the mouth of Nubbin Slough, especially when the wind’s whipping. Set up in bends and outside current lines using stinkbait, chicken livers, or shrimp.
A couple of hot spots worth checking today: Eagle Bay right off the northwest for bass pushing bait into shallow grass lines—get there before the wind is up too strong. Big Lake Marina area for reliable multi-species action and some shelter from the blow, and Nubbin Slough for crappie and channel cats—you’re likely to see some bank anglers posting up there at first light.
Reminder for all you boaters, the Ortona Lock is fully operational again as of yesterday, so waterway traffic around the lake should be back to normal, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
That’s the latest from Lake Okeechobee—tight lines, keep an eye on the sky for those wind gusts, and don’t forget to stay safe and check your tackle for weedless presentations. Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe for your daily dose of Lake O updates and all things angling.
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