Falcon Vs Okeechobee Late Feb/early March Help! 2024
Bstovall21 reply :
I have the opportunity to fish one of these lakes in the Spring. I am looking for input on which lake I should choose and if I should go earlier in February or later in March on these waters. I'm looking at the last week in February or the first week in March. This may be my only chance to do this so I don't want to mess it up. Need some input! Thanks!
00 mod reply :
Welcome to the forums! If it were me, I would go to Falcon, and the earlier the better!
Jeff
1234567 reply :
I agree with Jeff.....Imo, Falcon would be your best chance at a real fish of a lifetime, who knows, maybe multiple fish of a lifetime!!!
Bstovall21 reply :
Thanks guys. I think that's the way I'm leaning right now. Now to find the right guide.
I just found the forum, thanks for the welcome. I've been fishing the waters of Alabama since I was kid (I'm now 37). I fish all of the Tennessee river lakes, the Coosa river lakes, Warrior river, etc. My home lake is the deep clear waters of Smith Lake. If I can ever be of any help to anyone on here, I'd be glad to offer it. Thanks again.
1234567 reply :
I can't not watch this enough!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1k435NYaPU
Bstovall21 reply :
Wow! This definitely just made my mind up. Falcon here I come. I appreciate the video.
Catt reply :
If you want to see Falcon at its finest google Paul Elias record 132.5# for 4 days!
Bstovall21 reply :
I'll check it out Catt. Thanks.
WRB reply :
I believe member Big O guides on Falcon, that is who I would contact first
Tom
Catt reply :
On 10/18/2013 at 6:09 AM, WRB said:I believe member Big O guides on Falcon, that is who I would contact first
Tom
Big Ole Steve Parks is the man 
Shane J reply :
Big O does not guide professionally, beyond putting his friends on fish, but nobody can out fish him on Falcon. Period. Pros ask HIM what to do on Falcon.
LMB ANGLER reply :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAKaMdxXkM
lake Okeechobee will produce bigger fish than lake falcon by a mile and a half, lake o will guarantee multiple fish in the double digits
00 mod reply :
On 10/19/2013 at 11:35 AM, LMB ANGLER said:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAKaMdxXkM
lake Okeechobee will produce bigger fish than lake falcon by a mile and a half, lake o will guarantee multiple fish in the double digits
What? No way the Lake O produces more 10lb + fish than Falcon.
Jeff
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 10/19/2013 at 11:35 AM, LMB ANGLER said:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAKaMdxXkM
lake Okeechobee will produce bigger fish than lake falcon by a mile and a half, lake o will guarantee multiple fish in the double digits
You are sadly mistaken sir.
Lake O is a fabulous fishery for numbers & quality fish 7-10lbs but it can not hold a candle to Falcon for fish 10lbs & over.
LMB ANGLER reply :
On 10/19/2013 at 9:25 PM, Dwight Hottle said:You are sadly mistaken sir.
Lake O is a fabulous fishery for numbers & quality fish 7-10lbs but it can not hold a candle to Falcon for fish 10lbs & over.
A buddy of mines went to a local tournament like a year ago and believe it or not, he got a 14, 13 and a 10 pound bass on the same day, and the best part about it is that he only use one simple technique (flippin and pitchin). there's not alot of places in this country like this lake, plus i believe lake o is under rated. i also believe that there's couple of 20 pounders swimming around since multiple people have caught 15 pounders.
WRB reply :
I don't have a dog in this fight, the debate between these lakes boils down to windows of oportunity to catch quality bass or a shot at DD. Okeechobee is well known for big bass with shiners or beds, if that is your goal, this is the lake for you. Roland Martin knows Okeechobee better than anyone, has a fishing lodge there, his PB was caught at El Salto!
Falcon's bass have been pounded the past few years, gets commercial fishing pressure with gill nets on the Mexican side, however still has a good population of big bass caught on lures over a 3 month window of time, wider window of opportunity of time than Okeechobee.
Then you could broaden your horizons and go further south to Baccurac or El Salto!
Tom
Raul reply :
For years I fished Tamaulipas´ lakes ( Falcon, Amistad, Guerrero, Sugar, Ramiro Caballero, San Lorenzo ) for big bass, I don´t know about the Big O, but I seriously doubt it will produce the ammount of 10+ lb bass those lakes produce preciselly during that time of the year, imagine this, catching an 8 lbr sure was a dissapointment. My vote is for Falcon, but since you are already there you can skip Falcon, cross the border and go straight to Sugar Lake ( right across MacAllen, TX ), that place is absolutely fantastic.
bighed reply :
I can't vouch for the "O" either and don't consider myself a Falcon expert but I can give a few fun facts from the four trips I've made there. Within two hours of getting on the lake for the first time my son had caught a 9-8 and an 8-4. Each of our trips to Falcon have produced fish over 9 pounds. 35 is the number of fish from 1-7 pounds we caught from one spot the size of a kitchen table in about 20 minutes. We had three days in a row of over 100 fish in the boat with a very high number in the 3-6 pound range. The fish in my avitar is my pb @ 9-8. Chad caught two bigger from the same spot that day that each broke his pb. This is the same spot that the last Elite tourney was won on, a public hole.
All this said, Falcon has gone through a funk the last 18 months or so. Not the funk like at most guys local lake, just less numbers and less numbers of big fish. I believe the lake is setting up for something of a comeback with a better water level headed into the wetter time of year. This place, when it's hot, will make you not want to fish your local lakes ever again.
WRB reply :
Every trophy bass lake has boom & bust periods, fish them at their peak! Sugar lake hmmmmmmm!
Out west we are in the down slide, we need rain, with the exception of the CA delta, it's still on for numbers of 7's & 8's, occasion DD, check Cooch's fishing blog.
Tom
Catt reply :
Didn't Big Ole Steve have 7 bass in 7 hrs over 70#
Raul reply :
On 10/20/2013 at 3:09 AM, WRB said:Every trophy bass lake has boom & bust periods, fish them at their peak! Sugar lake hmmmmmmm!
Out west we are in the down slide, we need rain, with the exception of the CA delta, it's still on for numbers of 7's & 8's, occasion DD, check Cooch's fishing blog.
Tom
Yup, Sugar Lake, where a 40 lb string of 5 bass won´t get you into the first 15 places in a tourney.
KyakR reply :
WOW! That video about Falcon was jaw-dropping. Am planning a cross country trip to visit my son in CA this spring.....have never seen Texas or Montana....I think my choice is easier now. Welcome, Bstovall21! Hope your wife pulls in a few! By the way, does anybody know why in the name of heaven these fish in Falcon get so huge?
Raul reply :
On 10/21/2013 at 8:16 PM, KyakR said:WOW! That video about Falcon was jaw-dropping. Am planning a cross country trip to visit my son in CA this spring.....have never seen Texas or Montana....I think my choice is easier now. Welcome, Bstovall21! Hope your wife pulls in a few! By the way, does anybody know why in the name of heaven these fish in Falcon get so huge?
Florida Bass genes and tilapia = BEEEG BASS !
Jrob78 reply :
A very long growing season helps too.
00 mod reply :
If you want less pressured bass with the same feeding, stocking and growing season, check out our sponsor, Lake Baccarac Lodge. Let me know if there is anything I can do to set anyone up with a trip as well!
Jeff
Brian Needham reply :
On 10/19/2013 at 11:08 PM, LMB ANGLER said:A buddy of mines went to a local tournament like a year ago and believe it or not, he got a 14, 13 and a 10 pound bass on the same day,
surely your buddy had his camera with him that day, right?
not doubting, but let's see 'em.....
alberto-1 reply :
The fishing is not what it used to be on Falcon. It is very low and just not the same as even a couple years ago. I think Okeechobee would be your best bet. Check out some of the Falcon fishing reports from years past and compare them to current. Tells kind of a sad story. You can find the reports here
joeyfishes reply :
Alberto beat me to it. I have heard some not so good reports in the last couple weeks.
WRB reply :
Falcon and Okeechobee lakes are not known for giant bass, bass over 15 lbs., both lake records are in the 15 lb class. What these lakes were known for is a good population of 10 to 12 lb bass. Okeechobee DD bass are caught during the spawn, very few after that time period. Falcon has or had a much longer time period for catching DD that extended year around, that may be the problem, over harvesteding. Boom and bust cycles are well known with big bass populations.
Shane J reply :
Falcon is one amazing fishery, especially that time of year. If your pitching/flipping game is up to par, you are in for a treat. Friend of mine says it IS fishing tough right now, though. I'll be there in a week. It's like returning to the Motherland.
Smokinal reply :
I fished falcon with a guide 5 days last sept. Water was 39 ft low and the lake did not hold up to its reputation for sure. Sure, I got my pb on that trip but it was only (geeze I hate to put it that way) 7-9. Honestly I was expecting one over 8 and a DD would have been a dream come true. I like to think that my buddy and I are decent bass fisherman and we fished hard for 5 days straight but with the water down so far it really had them in a funk. Last I looked they are around 27 ft low. I will be back at some point (when I save enough $ again) but I'm going to be more spontaneous and watch the reports and water level and jump when I can. We planned this trip a year out when the place was hot, bought plane tickets, downpayment on the guide, lodging etc...then water dropped and the place went to hell in a handbasket. When that place is up, I strongly feel there isn't a better lake in the country for the possibility of a lot of big bass or even a DD.
FALCONB reply :
Im a guide on both Falcon & Amistad. Ive fished tournaments on Okee but its been years ago... To begin with they are totally different type lakes. Clear water vs stained water, 400,000 acres vs 80,000, live bait vs no live bait, very shallow vs semi shallow, the "wind" can get you on both, and the list goes on... I know many that have "blanked" on both lakes and also many that have had their best day ever.... Right now on Falcon you can easily blank however you can also catch 40 to 50 a day on spinnerbaits. Size from 3lbs to 10. Falcon fish are in large schools but not on every point. Its a matter of the right spot. HERO or ZERO is the best way to look at it. You can easily have the most unbelievable day of your life. Its a gamble but so is Vegas or the lottery. I know many that have blanked on Okee even with LIVE BAIT. Its all a gamble.... As for guides, they (we) are guides, not gods. haha... Ive qualified for the Bassmaster Classic and have won 6 boats over the years but Ive also had many terrible tournaments and slow days on several good lakes around the country. You never know until the day is over so pick your lake and enjoy the trip regardless of the outcome. Success will eventually find you and the memories will last forever!
WRB reply :
Welcome FalconB and hope you feel comfortable enough to share some of your bass fishing knowledge and experiences. Being from the west coast we are used to extreme water level fluctuations and they have lasting impact on fisheries, mostly low spawn recruitment due to sparse shore cover.
The Texas boarder lakes have low water problems, due to drought conditions, Okeechobee not affected as much.
The original question was timing a pre spawn bite and my response was Falcon may have a longer time period or window of opportunity than Okeechobee and touched on the live bait factor.
Tom
ToledoMard928 reply :
Headed to Falcon in November!!!! My 11 year old son wanted a guided trip so I decided sacrafice and give him what he wanted....What a sacrafice on my part. I know November is not spring time but I will post the results when we return.
Smokinal reply :
^^^The jig bite could be incredible then though. What a shame that would be....
oufaninks reply :
I have just came off Falcon lake. Don't waste your gas money. Just like Lake Amistad, Flacon is dead as well. Don't waste your time to fish either. I have spent 6 years fishing these and they are at an all time low. Previously I thought it impossible to not catch fish, good fish, now you are lucky if you even catch a fish.
;
These lake are low, but not as low as they were last year. They are low because the water is used for irrigation, not because of drought. Both are only 20 some feet low versus up to 60 feet last year.
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