Okeechobee - 'Twas not to be

Before I delve in the details of the events in Florida, I want to
thank some ROFB'ers who had a hand in making this trip happen.

Doc and his lovely and gracious bride Sue. Doc offered to take me
about on the lake and be my guide, in an effort to save me some $$$
when it turned out (last fall) that Moe wasn't available due to his
wintering north.. Additionally, Doc and Sue opened their house to me,
letting me stay with them, saving me the expense of motel bills.

Moe Conway - for the use of one the rods from his boat (stored with
Doc for the winter). Moe also sent Doc some updates on places to
try while I was down there.

Joe Haubenriech, Charles Summers and Bob Rickard - for the help they
provided in picking out some SW's to take along to Florida, and for
the extra hoops they jumped thru to get my order to me when it was
delayed in the snail mail system.

Steve Huber - who acted as a go-between - initially connecting Doc and
I via email.

I arrived in Orlando on Sunday the 8th, after an un-eventful flight.
Conditions at home (SE corner of MN) when I left was a temp of 2F, and
blowing snow, with about 15" already on the ground. In Orlando, it was
56F and hazy sunshine. I saw green grass at the airport, and the ponds
were open water - quite a contrast from the 20" mantle of ice our
lakes have at home.

M,T,W was spent in Orlando - working. I was attending a conference on
some software we use on my employer's mainframe computers. The
confrence ended on Weds at noon, and I was off for Doc's town of
Arcadia.

I left Orlando about 11.30, and arrived in Arcadia about 2.30. A quick
phone call for directions, and I was soon at Doc's door step.

After introducing ourselves, we jumped in to my rental car, in order
to secure some presents for those (wife and kids) left back in the
frozen tundra, and for a fishing license ($17 for 7 days
non-resident).

Upon return to Docs, we located a couple of rods for me to use, then
stepped outside to enjoy the last minutes of daylight. Doc brought out
his MCR baitcaster with a Curado mounted on it. What a sweet rod.
Just throwing a casting plug into the grass, I could feel every bump
and object the the plug came in contact with. Very pretty rod.

On Thursday morning, we left Arcadia for Okeechobee, in some
very dense fog. We arrived in Okeechobee about 10.00 and
soon had Doc's Tin Boat in the water. Since its only got a
8-9hp motor - it was a matter of staying in the back water bays and
sloughs. It was sunny and in the mid 70's.

Okeechobee is huge - I couldn't believe how huge, not until I
saw it. MN's Mille Lacs lake is big - but you could put several
Mille Lacs in to Okeechobee, although Mille Lacs is deeper.

At the first few spots we got nothing - and we continued to work
our way along the weed lines. Heard some 'gators bark (sort of
like a dog) - warning us that they knew we were near by. We never
saw them - just as well.

We found a small narrow "creek" like passage, went in to it, found
a short blockage of weeds, ploughed thru them, and made our way
further into it. (Not real creeks - actually just long narrow openings
in the vegetation - creek is the best word I can come up with to
describe the appearance they had).

I had tryed throwing a Gold Shad SW up against the weed lines, and Doc
was throwing a wacky rigged blue Senko and Texas rigged green lizard
off the weeds in the same manner. He got one hit on the Senko, but the
fish was only on for a short time - a couple seconds if that much.
This bite came in some open water.

In this "creek", we cast about, and I changed to the rod Doc had the
lizard on, vs retying the rod I had been using with the SW. After
several casts in to the open water of the creek (2.5-3' of water), I
had a pickup, but didn't feel it as such. The first I did notice was a
sensation of weight as I retrieved, and the rod beginning to bow into
a shallow U. I went with it, and the fish started to come in. I got it
up to about 3-4' of the boat - the fish was going back and forth - it
felt really good - then nothing - it was gone! Examined the lizard -
the hook had not penetrated the plastic.

Cast again, and within 3-4 minutes - fish on again - same type of
"bite" as previously. Tryed driving the hook home twice - then reeled
in - got the fish close - so close. Saw it break water - it could have
gone 3-4#, and then, once again, nothing. Same problem with
the lizard - the hook had not come thru the body - my attempt to
set the hook wasn't enough. Could have been the same fish
both times.

Cast back several more times, hoping the 3rd time would be the charm -
but nothing - as did Doc with his plastics. Worked our way out, talked
to other fisherman, nobody was getting much of anything - bass
fisherman or panfisherman.

Went out in to the channel of the Kissimee river - it was rough with
boat wakes - lots of traffic Tryed spinners and plastics again,
nothing. Moved on to the lake next to a small brushy island at the
mouth of the river, fished the windward and downwind sides, nothing.
Some heavy dark clouds were moving in at that point (looking like it
was going to storm), so we elected to head for cover. We were off the
lake about 2.00.

Friday we went back - leaving a little later in the morning - once
again in heavy fog. Our plan was to try fishing some of the rim
cannels, based on the fact that the Thursday bites we were in
open water of the "creek" channels, and not in the weed
edges. Got to the town of Okeechobee, and Doc pulled
in to the parking lot of a Walmart in order to use the john. I heard a
squeaking as he drove in, so I investigated while Doc was in the
store.

To quote Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 - Houston, we have a problem. BIG
TIME!

The left wheel bearings of the trailer were completely gone. The hub
was wobbling on what was left of the axle. Only the spindle nut and
washer were holding the hub on. You could move the hub up/down
a good half inch, and in/out at least a inch. What was left of the
inner bearing race was welded on to the axle and chewed to heck.
ARGH!!!

Doc came out - I showed him - what to do? What we ened up doing
was to empty the boat - gas tank, motor, trolling motor etc came
off/out to lighten the load on the trailer. Then we went to the store
to get a grease gun and grease - but grease guns weren't to be had,
they were sold out. We bought some lower unit grease - sprayed it on
the metal - then drove until we found a auto parts store - where Doc
got a grease gun and grease - we loaded up the hub with grease, and
began the long slow drive back to Doc's house in Arcadia - 75 miles
away.

We stopped every 15-20 miles - and shot in more grease, then
continued on. The hub was slightly warm to the touch the one time the
stop interval was pushed to 20 miles, but that was as close as we
came to further trouble. We made it! The wheel did not come off. I
would have liked to seen what it looked like from behind while going
down the road.

Back in Arcadia, we went to a TSC (Tractor Supply) store, and found
all the parts he would need to rebuild or replace the damaged axle,
and at a fairly reasonable price. That settled, we ate lunch, then
went shore fishing - at about 4.00 in the afternoon. Doc took me to a
small brackish water creek (a real one - Hathaway Creek) about 7 miles
from the Gulf. We tryed for bass on plastics - nothing. Carp in the
shallows gave us each a bite (on night crawlers). I did catch a 4-5"
green sunfish.

I promptly converted it to bait (legal there), but had no further
activity - from bass or catfish. Quit at sunset.

Saturday (14th) was spent in the car going back to Orlando and the
airplane rides home. I was back in the frozen tundra by 5pm

I can't complain - had a good trip. Learned stuff for the work side of
the trip, and had some great conversations with Doc as we comuted
to the lake, and while on the lake. He told me up front he thought he
could put me on fish - and he did - the catching was my responsibilty.

We didn't have alot to take pictures - sadly. I would have enjoyed
a pic of the 2nd fish - what I saw when it broke the water looked
really good. Would have been nice to have gotten a bite on my SW's -
as I am still looking for my first spinner bait bass - would like to
see my ugly mug on the SW braggin' board - maybe this summer?

Thanks Doc - for all your efforts and your hospitality! Looking
forward to the day when we can try it again.

Jim

Jim, glad to see that you got to enjoy some warm weather and do a
little fishing. All I can do at this point is watch it on TV and wait
for the ice to go out.