Now that rainy season is dwindling down,
and the lake level hovers just above 10',
how low can we expect to see it during the winter?

The remaining guides must be going nuts about now.
Does anyone have any solid info as to the plan?

~Matt

The outlook for the BIG O's water level looks bleak. We will probably see some serious water restrictions next year. They will probably hold as much water as they can get away with, but that still will not be enough to kept the water level up. I'm guessing we will break the record again next year but this time much earlier.

We can basically write Okeechobee off for next year.

It's true. I was up at lakeport this weekend and it is such a shame that okechobee is disappearing. Water levels were lower than I have ever seen. The lock to the lake was abandoned and looked like it hasn't been opened in months. We also caught zero fish. Not one in two days and we were using shiners as well. Sad sad day for fisherman and floridians.

Its not just the Big O that will be low (if not empty). Many if not most lakes and canal systems are very low through out Florida. I would think it will affect the spawn greatly as well. Not to mention O2 levels and actual fish kills. I also believe this is more critical than the public knows and goes way beyound fishing. Is it time to buy stock in bottled water? Critical ****iation! I remember reading an article a couple years ago about this guy predicting a national water shortage with drinking water almost non-existant except for the bottled spring water. I bet Zepherhills is just waiting. Dont laugh, it could happen and you will have a lot more to worry about than fishing.

I spoke to a local businessman this past week and he has an inside track to some of whats going on with the water levels. SFWM has predicted that if the lake level is not at 11.0 by Nov. 1 then we will see the lake at around 7.5 by April 1 2008.. Last week the level was still rising at 10.10 on Saturday. Yesterday it was 10.07. I know thats not much but it still dropped and no rain in sight. I was along Hwy 60 and no water there either so it doesnt look good. I have not been able to verify but B.A.S.S. has supposidly cancelled there Jan. 08 appearence to Okeechobee and moved it to Kissimmee. They have closed Taylor Creek Locks now and are only opening them at 6:00am and 2:00pm each day. Even the weekends. Doesnt make much since but thats whats happening there. I also hear that the locks at Mayacka and Clewiston may be closed in the near future. Not sure about that one. Heard that at a local bait shop.

The B.A.S.S. tourny has been moved to St.Johns.I also heard that some other big tournys will possibly be moved if the Lake conditions do not improve.I know there is alot of water in the Kissimmee chain,and Toho that has came up 6inches in the last month.You van run the Pig Trail on Kissimmee with know problem.But there is a ton of Hydrilla up there have never seen that much up there.