LAKE OKEECHOBEE GIANTS — Wild Shiners, Big Bass & Crappie | Outdoor TV Classics | Virgil Ward

This classic episode of Championship Fishing with Virgil Ward takes us to legendary Lake Okeechobee, long known as the Big Bass Capital of the Nation. Fishing out of Roland Martin’s Marina in Clewiston, Florida, Virgil and the crew face stiff winds that push them into the protected rim canal, where crappie, bluegill, and shellcrackers provide steady action. As the weather settles, they head back out onto the big water — and that’s when Lake Okeechobee reminds everyone why it holds a legendary reputation. From live wild shiners and explosive bass strikes to thoughtful conversations about catch-and-release conservation, this episode captures a slower, more honest era of fishing television. It’s about patience, experience, and respecting the resource — lessons that still matter today. If you remember when fishing shows felt real, unscripted, and earned, this episode will feel like coming home. Outdoor TV Classics presents historic fishing and hunting television programs produced between the 1960s and 1990s. These programs are published with permission from the original producers, hosts, or rights holders. Outdoor TV Classics is dedicated to preserving and sharing classic outdoor television for historical and educational purposes. HASHTAGS #OutdoorTVClassics #VirgilWard #LakeOkeechobee #BigBassFishing #CrappieFishing #VintageFishing #ClassicFishingShows #FloridaFishing #WildShiners #OldFishingTV #ChampionshipFishing #bassfishinghistory