The name Lake Okeechobee was first documented by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Okeechobee…read moremeans "big water" in the Hitchiti Seminole Indian language. With a surface area of 730 square miles, it is the largest lake in the southeastern United States but relatively shallow at only 10 to 12 feet deep. The primary source of water for the lake is the Kissimmee River located just to the north of the lake. Before European settlers arrived, the lake was home to Native Americans including the Calusa and Seminole tribes. The late 19th century saw the arrival of European settlers who farmed and raised cattle which became an important industry in the region. The fertile land around Lake Okeechobee attracted many farmers for its agricultural potential. The Hurricane of 1928 caused the lake's dike to fail, resulting in catastrophic flooding and the loss of as many as 3,000 people who were in the area to pick crops. There are several mass burial sites of hurricane victims in the area. In the 1930's the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Herbert Hoover Dike to prevent future flooding disasters. The dike was completed in the 1960's and serves to protect the surrounding communities from lake overflow. The Okeechobee Waterway, a canal system connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, was completed in the mid-20th century. This waterway included the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal, providing a navigable route across the state of Florida. While the canal system facilitated the transportation of goods and contributed to the agricultural development of the region, it negatively impacted the health of Lake Okeechobee with agriculture runoff. Current efforts are focused on restoring the water quality and health of the lake while still meeting the agriculture needs of the surrounding farms. Lake Okeechobee is one of those Florida landmarks you have to experience at least once. Surrounding the lake is the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a mostly paved 109 mile trail that sits on top of the Herbert Hoover Dike. Along the trail are parks with amenities like picnic areas and restrooms. The trail is ideal for bikers, bird watchers, and anyone who wants a scenic views of the lake. Some of my favorite stops around the lake are the John Stretch Memorial Park, Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area, and the Lake Okeechobee North Pier. The lake is known for bass, crappie also known as speckled perch, and bluegill fishing and there are number of fishing camps and places that offer fishing and boating excursions on the lake. Charming small towns like Clewiston, Belle Glade, and Okeechobee also surround the lake and are places where you can see buildings and places of historical interest and grab a meal. One of my favorite Okeechobee festivals is the Speckled Perch festival which celebrates the fishing heritage of the area and where you can see an authentic cattle drive. Lake Okeechobee is a a great place to explore and experience the more natural side of Florida.

Great day for the family to experience some Florida wildlife! Airboat rides and bass fishing!read more

Had a blast artificial fishing with Justin Morgan on a 3 day trip. Caught my personal best bass on…read moremy birthday too.

Me and my family have lived in buckhead and have been fishing Lake Okeechobee for 30+ years. I Was…read morehoping it wouldn't come to this but after allowing several attempts to make this right and still nothing has been done I feel it only necessary to warn others before they feel taken advantage of as well. First and foremost Id like to say I have always been a diehard Fastbreak customer. I am there weekly, i fish weekly and have lived in Okeechobee all my life. I have purchased many jigs, rods, bait and their gas is all I put in my boat and truck, their ice is all I put on my fish. So this is not an attack on Fastbreak but rather a call for action and responsibility of a knowingly faulty product they promote. Everything I have said on this review has been said to the store in person as well as Glenn Harris and nothing has been done. I first purchased Unique crappie jigs by Glenn from Garrard's tackle shop as I was there for propane. I then found out Fastbreak carried them. I didn't have many issues with this jig at first...paint cracking and chipping and NOT just after multiple fish being caught but I liked the body and kept hearing good things so figured I would just buy more and as the paint came off I'd swap them out. At the end of November I had multiple hooks break or straighten to the point when bent back they would break which for me is understandable that you bend something enough it will break. Me and three of my neighbor went out in December and two of them were also using Glenn's crappie jigs and said they too had the same issue one with the paint and second with the hook not being of good quality and several that have broke. That same day one of my neighbors had one of the bodies partially unravel to where the tail came completely off the jig and into the water. We went in to Fastbreak that afternoon and told this to 2 employees at the counter and showed them the pictures of the unraveled jig. They both agreed that they have had some complaints about the quality of the hook and they had told Glenn about it as well. It just so happens the following day Glenn was at Fastbreak delivering jigs while I was getting gas and I spoke to him in the parking lot. Super nice guy, said he was aware of the problem,  that he had ordered new hooks and should have them that next week. I thought great, problem solved. Beginning of January I asked an employee at Fastbreak if they had gotten any of Glenn's jigs in with the new hooks yet and he said he didn't know what I was talking about but again said that they have made Glenn aware of the hook issue. I checked the few jigs that were there and surprise surprise they were all the same old cheap hooks. I really wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because all I keep reading is the success of these jigs and I really did like some of the color combos. That day I bought a couple more new colors at the advice of a fishing guide that was in there that same day. He said he guides out of Fastbreak and because that's their biggest selling jig he promotes it to help them out. I mentioned to him the issues I had had and he agreed he had a couple like that as well but said "5 times out of 10 he doesn't have any issues". My exact words to him were 9 times out of 10? thinking I didn't hear correctly and he laughed and said 5 times out of 10. Seriously? With this my radar really went up and I started to question how and why this store would be promoting these jigs. A store that I and my fellow buckhead community use almost daily. People come here from all over to crappie fish this lake and this is the best we can do, this is the quality these guides and the 2 most prevalent tackles shops in this town are selling and pushing on people? So at this point I have brought my concerns/ complaints several times to the store and from what the Fastbreak employees have said multiple other customers have done the same as well. I've brought my concerns to Glenn himself who said he was aware and changing the hook and then as of yesterday they're still the same and yet the store is still promoting them not only themselves but through the people that frequent the store and guide out of the store just to not lose money? This is where I take issue. I've always been a Fastbreak fan but until they can recognize the garbage they're selling and not be so worried about the money they're making and Until Glenn can make good on his promise of making a better quality product I will voice my opinion to anyone that will listen about the quality of this jig and how Fastbreak knowingly promotes such an inferior product. I really am disappointed that this store would allow this to continue as I've always thought more of them and the owners but even more so that Glenn would say he's changing the hooks BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS  and has yet to even do so makes us all that have voiced our opinions look stupid. I know this was a long review and I apologize but if I can keep one person from being ripped off like m

C. Scott Driver was an environmental champion for Lake Okeechobee. The fishing guide and lake…read moreactivist came to the public spotlight in 1985 when he demanded that the state clean up Lake Okeechobee. Conservationists fighting to save the lake took up the cause. Driver was a major influence on then governor Bob Graham who appointed a Lake Okeechobee task force that recommended plans to halt lake pollution and establish Florida's water clean-up law, the Surface Water Improvement and Management Act of 1987. Sadly Mr. Driver passed away from leukemia in 2021 but he is remembered as the heart and soul of the waters of Lake Okeechobee. His dedication to the largest freshwater lake in Florida is celebrated with this recreation area on the eastern shore of the Kissimmee River just north of the SR 78 bridge that was named in his honor. C. Scott Driver Park was created for the outdoor enthusiast. It has two stand-alone boat ramps with four singles lanes and 1 double lane. There are also four launch docks and a parking area for vehicles with trailers next to the restroom. While this recreation is enjoyed by boaters it is also a favorite of bird watchers. There are two places for birdwatching, one along the north bound Florida trail and the other on a trail along the Kissimmee River where you may spot great egret, ibis, snowy egret, cattle egret, little blue herons, and wood storks. C. Scott Driver Recreation Area is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors.

This was a great tour and we had a lot of fun. Very knowledgeable staff ! We recommend this placeread more

Awesome time! My family of 4 loved it. Captain Wayne did a great job explaining the ecosystem and…read moreanswering our questions. Highly recommend.

We went to the Glades to buy a used RV and truck and ended up staying for a month. It was all we…read morehoped it would be and we're sorry we could not enjoy all of the activities they usually offer because of Covid. My husband loved the pickle ball courts and the two restaurants on site were absolutely stellar, especially Crumbs where we had many breakfast and dinners. The one time we had pizza we were very satisfied as well. RV years were mostly from Ohio and Michigan and a few Canadians, but that contingent was largely absent due to Covid. All the campers we met were friendly and helpful and the site was impeccable. The front office was especially helpful for providing notary public services for our vehicle purchases. My husband was wild about the pickle ball courts and the great folks that he played with. It was an especially good value for a month and even more so for a year. The pool was lovely and we looked forward to the Wednesday bake sales and farmers market. We would love to go back and might even consider wintering there next year. My only observation as a new RVEr was that the population At Florida RV parks in general was very Caucasian. There were no or very few Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians at the location. It was definitely LGBT friendly. Servers at Crumbs Country restaurant did not wear masks but outside dining was available and very comfortable. The overall belief of the RVers was that Covid had already come through the park and everyone simply distanced or rode by on their golf carts. Almost no one wore a mask.

Reasonable and all in one places to camp or live. Great food entertainment and golf?…read more9 holes and what a great course, then jump on the boat and going fishing or cruising around. Just can't find any campground that is reasonably priced and has all the above amenities.

We rented a canoe and opted for the 5-mile trip, although we arrived later in the day and had to…read moresettle for the 1:30 trip. Despite the timing, it was incredibly peaceful as the sounds of traffic faded away, leaving only the symphony of nature - birds, animals, and plenty of sightings of alligators and turtles.

Awesome time, great prices. Very friendly staff. I would recommend this place to any new kayakers,…read morealmost no current and a nice breeze.