In this big country of ours, we have the ''Big Apple,'' the ''Big Easy'' and in Florida the ``Big O.''

Though not as famous as the others, the Big O -- Lake Okeechobee -- is impressive nonetheless. Covering some 730 square miles with an average depth of nine feet, the Big O is the second largest lake in the continental United States. Often called the bass fishing capital of the world, Lake Okeechobee draws thousands of anglers and boaters every year.

So when I was recently extended an invitation to go fishing on the ''Big O'', I immediately jumped at the opportunity.

My host was Mac Simpson, the congenial owner of Big ''O'' Boats of Okeechobee, Florida. Simpson started building boats as a hobby over 20 years ago and soon turned his passion into a full-time occupation, while borrowing the nickname of the lake. Big ''O'' Boats produces a 16-foot flats skiff and several airboat hulls, but by far the most popular model is the 20-foot Big ``O.''

This all-fiberglass boat is available in four versions, one of which is a combination bass/flats boat that should appeal to many South Florida sportsmen. It is equally at home on freshwater lakes and canals as it is plying the saltwater flats of the Florida Keys. Simpson says there are numerous variations of the Big ''O'' as each boat is custom-built from scratch to the customer's wishes.

All boats are saltwater compatible with stainless steel hardware and soldered waterproof connectors.

Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to launch the boat the bass stopped feeding and retreated to escape the noon heat. Instead, we toured the beautiful lake, which has rebounded after the severe drought of several years ago. Plant beds are reestablishing on the South and Western shores and stands of Bulrush have expanded while water clarity has improved.

Simpson believes this fall will see some of the best fishing in years at the lake.

The enormous deck space of the Big ''O'' offers three or four anglers plenty of room to fish or move about, even along the sides of the boat. Despite having a narrower beam than some other bass boats at 86-inches, the Big ''O'' is stable at rest and underway. With three adults on board and a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard hanging on the transom, my GPS showed a top speed of nearly 62 mph.

With one person aboard, the Big ''O'' will hit 70 mph and a 225-hp outboard will add another 3-5 mph, Simpson said. There are other bass boats that will run 80-90 mph but Simpson said that, with the deeper V of the Big ''O,'' it will outrun them if the water gets choppy.

The lake was smooth but we found some wakes to cross and the Big ''O'' took them in stride with no vibrations or spray. At wide-open throttle, the hull behaved well and handling was crisp but stable. The hole shot was quick even with the trim tabs up and the bow stayed down so that visibility was always good. The low sides make for easy release of your catch and keep the Big ''O'' from being blown about when trolling.

However, if the throttles are backed off quickly, water will wash up over the transom, not uncommon for a bass boat. The 1500 gpm bilge pump will quickly send the water back overboard.

The Big ''O'' is loaded with storage compartments and all are insulated and watertight. Foam flotation is attached to the underside of the deck and covered with fiberglass to prevent water absorption. The Big ''O'' will hold all of the bait that you will ever need with a 25-gallon livewell forward and a 20-gallon livewell aft. Behind the forward livewell is a huge catch-and-release tank large enough to hold a day's catch of the largest bass in the lake.

The carpeted rod lockers run the full length of the boat so that even nine-foot fly rods will fit. I would like to see some kind of organizer for the rods, though, instead of storing them loosely. Then again, this boat can be built any way the customer wants it.

Simpson says the premium grade carpet on the deck should last up to 10 years. He adds that it is relatively simple to strip out the old carpet, install a new one and make the boat look new again. The carpet feels soft underfoot and muffles sound. Still, Simpson says the Big ''O'' is available with a fiberglass nonskid deck.

Fit and finish is very good though there were a few rough edges around the carpet and the non-skid rubber mat at the bow and stern quarters. The Big ''O'' is a good looking boat, maybe not as flashy as a Gambler bass boat, but it is priced thousands less -- $28,000 versus around $39,000 for the Gambler.

Marshall Brodie writes about boats for Wheels & Waves. He can be reached by e-mail at heraldboating@aol.com.

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