Okeechobee has the lowest elevation and will be the “shallowest” venue on the 2023 Elite schedule. (No tidal fisheries this year). What stands out most about Okeechobee mathematically, is that its circular shape maximizes surface area and minimizes shoreline miles. Low elevation and lack of protected shoreline make Big O susceptible to wind. The limited total shoreline contributes to the popularity of the well-known community holes – Okeechobee fishes much smaller than its surface area would suggest. Lack of depth makes the water temp more susceptible to changes in air temperature and solar heating, and Florida bass are notorious for being fair-weather fans. All of that would play out in this event.
On the final day, any light left in the lake bite had been extinguished. No 20lb bags were weighed. Rivet’s river bite remained more consistent and his 18-13 wound up as the best bag of the day.
To say that “nobody saw his crappie ‘scoping technique coming” is a massive understatement. Even he didn’t plan for it – he stumbled on the migrating bass while trying to catch crappie dinner one evening during pre-fish. He wound up finding a 1-of-1 pattern at Okeechobee, and it paid off with his first Elite Series victory.
