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Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) belongs among the most common and strategic crops in the Czech Republic. Growth and vitality status, yield potential and yield prediction of oilseed rape on plots of different sizes can be effectively examined using remote sensing. That is why the main aim of this study was to discuss a possibility of deriving spectral indices for an assessment which spectral index is more adequate to forecast oilseed winter rape development and consequent yield in the Czech Republic. Information about the winter oilseed rape growth and yield was collected in three years - 2004, 2008, 2012. A relationship between grown crops and selected vegetation indices was evaluated. The Landsat 7 satellite images were selected as a source for deriving spectral indices. The relationship between each spectral index and yield was analysed in 2012 only. Five images on different dates during the whole life of winter oilseed rape were found during this year. The images from the years 2004 and 2008 were cloudier. The spectral indices showing the best relationship with yield from 2012 were then analysed in the images from 2004 and 2008. The results showed that Enhanced Moisture Stress Index is the most acceptable index from the selected indices used in this study. From an agronomical point of view no available index was found to be suitable for the winter rape growth evaluation due to dependence on precipitation conditions. For monitoring of the yield components in winter oilseed rape in conditions of the Czech Republic, it seems necessary to develop a new vegetation index which will reliably describe the winter oilseed rape growth stages during the whole vegetation season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]