Latest Lake Okeechobee Stories
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-four year-old rookie Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., was fishing in his first event as a professional this week and caught a 7-pound kicker bass with only seven minutes to spare to win the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Mercury on Sunday. That fish pushed Benton's day 4 weight to 13 pounds, 4 ounces and his total four-day weight to 75 pounds, 7 ounces and was enough to best 174 of the top bass anglers in the...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Okeechobee fishing conditions toughened on Saturday and a strong northeast wind drastically affected tournament weights on day three of the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Mercury. Although he could not match his previous catch of 23 pounds from each of the past two days, pro Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., still weighed enough to grab the lead heading into the final round of the four-day event that has...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the days leading up to the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Mercury, many pros lamented the tougher fishing conditions and most predicted that no one would break the 100-pound mark this year. Rick Cotten of Guntersville, Ala., ignored the dock talk and now leads a full field of 174 of the world's best bass-fishing pros in the four-day event that has competitors casting for a top cash award of up to $125,000. Link to...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first cast of his pro fishing career Thursday morning, Casey Martin of New Market, Ala., boated a 6-pounder. His co-angler did not even have enough time to get the net ready. That cast gave Martin the momentum he needed throughout the day, as he now leads the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Mercury. A full field of 174 of the world's best bass-fishing pros began the four-day tournament Thursday fishing for a top...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., had endured three days of tough weather and wind and managed to lead the first three days of competition at the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude. All he needed was one more solid day's weight to claim his first FLW Tour title. Tharp caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 2 ounces Sunday to win $125,000 with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 101-12. The...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Does home-lake advantage play a role when 320 of the world's best anglers gather to see who can find the heaviest four-day stringer of bass for a first-place cash prize of up to $125,000? Just look at the leaderboard of the season-opening Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude. EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., crossed the stage Thursday with a five-bass limit weighing 33 pounds, 9 ounces to lead day...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Jan. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For most people in the Unites States, February is when slightly warmer days begin to appear in place of fading winter. But for the best bass pros on the planet February means a hot bite, big bass and the beginning of another exciting FLW Tour season. The Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude will visit Clewiston, Fla., Feb. 9-12 for the first tournament of its 17th season. Hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martins...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Feb. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Walmart FLW Tour pro Brandon McMillan of Belle Glade, Fla., caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 7 ounces Sunday to win $125,000 at the Walmart FLW Tour presented by Evinrude on Lake Okeechobee with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 106-10. McMillan's total weight set a new FLW Tour record for heaviest total tournament weight caught. Link to photo of winner Brandon McMillan Coming from behind, the catch gave McMillan the win by a...
CLEWISTON, Fla., Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Key business leaders, elected officials and community members came together recently to witness the unveiling of a new tourism brand for the Okeechobee region. "Southern Shores of Lake Okeechobee: Gateway to the Everglades" is a united marketing and branding effort established to attract tourists to the southern shores of Lake Okeechobee to help revive its communities. Approximately 100 participants attended the branding event at the...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) receives praise for its proven success in cleaning water south of Lake Okeechobee by two top state environmental agencies in their annual restoration report. The 2010 South Florida Environmental Report, published by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, reveals the EAA achieved a 68 percent reduction in phosphorus loads in 2009 and an overall 54...
