TOp baits: Lake Okeechobee
On September 6th and 7th, the famed waters of Lake Okeechobee played host to the State Championship of the Florida Bass Nation Kayak Series, and the big lake didn’t disappoint. With scattered bream beds, shifting schools of bass, and a mix of shallow and mid-depth structure in play, anglers had to adapt quickly to stay on top.
1st Place - Matt Vogt (186.50”)
Matt Vogt worked a classic Okeechobee pattern to perfection, keying in on bream beds in 2 to 3 feet of water. He flipped and cast a light Texas-rigged Bandido Bug and Bronco Bug to isolated pencil reeds, working slowly and methodically through key stretches. The subtle presentation around bedding areas produced steady bites across both days, anchoring his impressive 186.50” total and sealing the win.
2nd Place - Adam Chancey (162.75”)
Where Vogt went shallow, Adam Chancey found success on rock transitions. His primary weapon was a chartreuse 7’ diving crankbait tied on 12-pound line. By deflecting the lure off the bottom around riprap and isolated rock piles, he triggered reaction bites in spots where 3-foot rock quickly dropped off to 7 feet.
To clean up behind his crankbait, Chancey leaned on a Morning Dawn finesse worm on a 1/4 oz drop shot with 10-pound leader, picking off extra keepers from the same rock stretches once the reaction bite slowed. He also mixed in a 6-inch paddle tail swimbait on 16-pound fluorocarbon, which he fished around shallower areas where rock and grass came together just outside his main spots.
3rd Place - SEth Taylor (157.75”)
On Day 1, Seth targeted roaming fish in 3–8 feet of water, leaning on a Berkley Stunna 112 jerkbait and a Magnum Baits Regstick (Darkhorse Tackle color) and Senko wacky-rigged to catch his fish. But when those fish moved out of open water on Day 2, Taylor adjusted and shifted shallow, flipping reeds in 2–3 feet with a 1/8 oz Texas-rigged Regstick. The move paid off, securing him a third-place finish at 157.75”.
Seth Taylor
Written by:
09/18/2025