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 ...

That could leave less backup water for South Florida More water from Lake Okeechobee may soon be directed to the West Coast, leaving less for South Florida if severe drought conditions return.

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor Thursday, February 9, 2012 Making news Bass tour kickS off season on Lake Okeechobee The mild winter has pro anglers hoping for big bass and record catches as the Forrest L. Wood Tour's season-opening event on Lake Okeechobee continues this weekend. The bite usually doesn't get into full swing until March but things could start a little earlier ...

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 ...

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 catch gave him the win by a massive 23-pound, 9-ounce margin over John Cox of Debary, Fla., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 78-3 and earned $35,000

The village of Royal Palm Beach approved changes Thursday to the speed limits on Okeechobee Boulevard, at Wildcat Way near Royal Palm Beach High School. The speed limits will taper from 50 mph to 45 to 40 instead of suddenly dropping from 50 mph to 35.

National Weather Service meteorologists issued a funnel cloud warning at 3:41 p.m. Friday for western Indian River County, northwestern St. Lucie County and northeastern Okeechobee County.

His four-day total weight of 101 pounds, 12 ounces on Lake Okeechobee earns him $125,500 Randall Tharp put in his time getting ready for the Walmart FLW Tour Open on Lake Okeechobee, but it was how he spent his time during the four-day tournament that propelled him to victory.

Team Castrol pro Mike Surman says to try different lures and different spots to catch big fish Could the bass fishing at Lake Okeechobee be any more spectacular?

Local Republicans this week will be able to spend face time with GOP presidential rivals former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum , who visits Okeechobee and Stuart today, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who will visit Stuart and Port St. Lucie on Saturday.