This area is usually flooding by Florida Department of Environmental Protection The tags are orange spaghetti-like tags attached adjacent to the dorsal fin. Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and various soft plastic lures are among the most effective artificial baits. had a length of 29.75 inches, coming up just short of the record fish weighing in at 17.27 pounds. Rodman Reservoir. You can catch bass at Rodman Reservoir at any time of the year, but the cooler months tend to be the best. To create the reservoir, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built what was originally known as the 7,200-foot-long Rodman Dam in 1968, halting the flow of the wild Ocklawaha River as part of the controversial Cross-Florida Barge Canal. Type into the textboxes or select from the dropdown lists at the top of the report to filter the results. We think a community site like ours has to give our readers information, education, and entertainment and do it in a healthy, clean, and enjoyable way. Although the days bite was slow due to seasonal conditions and we didn't land any 10 plus lb. Rodman Reservoir is currently in a drawdown, where the water level goes from an average of 18′ – 20′ down to approximately 11′. The water level drops from about 20 feet to 11 feet and exposes the remnants of cypress stands long ago toppled by tank-like machinery. Temporary opened will be boat ramps at Kenwood Landing, Orange Springs, and Hog Valley, where anglers can launch into the Barge Canal and Oklawaha river channel also on the St Johns River. Rodman Reservoir is legendary for the number of fish species, trophy bass, redbreast sunfish, and channel catfish which it continues to produce. Other trophy bass come from the area between Cypress Bayou and Kenwood Landing. You will find plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions there. Some say it’s time has come and gone, but that isn’t the case. Among the most popular are Eureka east and west off C.R. Pass Cavallo, alternately known as Cavallo Pass, is one of five natural water inlets which separate the Gulf of Mexico and Matagorda Bay, in the U.S. state of Texas. Rodman Reservoir/Oklawaha River Page 1 The Crown Jewel of Trophy Bass Fishing in Florida ! Lake Tarpon is a 2,500-acre lake near Tampa/St. As bass fishing matured in popularity with outdoor enthusiasts over the past several decades, no other location became and remained at a status that could only be labeled “legendary” more than the Rodman Reservoir. It is known for producing quality largemouth bass. Matagorda Island Lighthouse was originally built on this site. ... with places like Cypress Bayou virtually closed. I highly recommend David and I will be booking another trip with him soon. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. Rodman Reservoir will offer some great fishing trips for bass anglers this spring. Expect a catch and release only policy during the drawdown. Shiners can be fished below a float or fished on a free line around weed edges, drop-offs, stumps and other cover. Cypress Black Bayou reservoir! The dam and reservoir were the first of a set of two that the Army Corps of Engineers planned on building. Click on the plus (+) and minus (-) symbols to the left of each record to view detailed information. You also will be fishing around eel grass, hydrilla, lily pads. From a drowned cypress forest to the emergence of a lost spring. While it is known for catches of trophy bass and will certainly produce some monster fish this year, it is the number of two to five pounders that should get the anglers attention. Rodman Reservoir is legendary for the number of fish species, trophy bass, redbreast sunfish, and, Just wanted to thank Capt. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. ... Their Save Rodman Reservoir group was formed in 1996 'dedicated to preventing the destruction of Rodman Reservoir.'" Dr. Billy Evans has been launching at Cypress Bayou on the Ocklawaha River above Rodman Pool and running farther upriver. The possibility was first raised in 1567 by the founder of Spanish St. Augustine, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, to cross Florida through inland waterways. Featured Species: Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker), Bluegill (Bream) and Catfish . It hasn’t been too long since a 17.20 pound monster came from Rodman. It is located south of Palatka Fl off Hwy 19 and connected to St Johns River. Stormwater runoff made its way into the major creeks in Addicks and Barker watersheds, causing house flooding in neighborhoods near Langham, Bear, South Mayde, Horsepen and Mason creeks, as well as upper Buffalo Bayou. Three months after a major kill wiped out more than two million fish, the bass fishing on Rodman Reservoir is the best it's been in years, but the bonus may be short-lived. In the 19th century, momentum for the channel grew. Lake Tarpon is a 2,500-acre lake near Tampa/St. Until next time, good luck! We caught 11 large mouth with 3 over 5 pounds but more importantly we learned a lot and enjoyed the time spent with a very knowledgeable guide. Read a unique history about Paynes Landing below. If completed, the Cross Florida Barge Canal would have spanned Central Florida by connecting a series of lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. Contact us here at www.BassOnline.com to help provide you with a safe, reliable, and professional fishing trip. The flooded reservoir drowned over 7,500 acres of floodplain forest and 20 freshwater springs. Hopefully, this whole restoration project will never come to pass by these crazy left-wing activists. Higher-than-normal releases from the reservoirs can contribute to flooding on Buffalo Bayou. Georgia has many options available for good bass fishing spread all over the state. Location. From Orange Springs to the dam is what is considered Rodman Pool or Lake Oklawaha and is the submerged flood plain area. The paddle today was on a 7-mile portion of the lower Ocklawaha between Eureka at Hwy 316 and Paynes Landing. Nestled between Southwest Putnam and Northeast Marion Counties in North Central Florida, this 9600 acre, 15 mile long impoundment and the river that feeds her can only be described as one of the most amazing trophy bass fisheries anywhere! Many predict that the new state record will one day come out of Rodman. There’s no other way to say it, Rodman Reservoir is a legend. Fatboy Swede: Rodman Reservoir is in Putnam County, Florida, and considered a premier largemouth bass fishery located in Northeast Florida, covers 9,500 acres, and is about 15 miles long. Rodman Reservoir, or Lake Ocklawaha, is an artificial reservoir located on the Ocklawaha River in Putnam County and Marion County in north central Florida. Since the 1990s, the reservoir has been drawn down every 3-4 years to expose the lake bottom, allowing organic material (muck) on the bottom of the lake to oxidize and dissipate. The Rodman Reservoir, also known as Lake Ocklawaha, is a fabricated lake located on the Ocklawaha River. If it’s a big fish you want, fish the biggest lures you can find. Largemouth bass anglers on Rodman Reservoir tend to target trophy largemouth bass using live golden shiners, either floated under a cork or free-lined, with most big bass coming from the "stump fields" along the river channel. Rodman Reservoir (also known as Lake Oklawaha) is one of the few large, man-made impoundments in Florida. Until next time, good luck! 1 Mile from the World Famous Ocklawaha River and Rodman Reservoir. Rodman Reservoir. Florida Rodman Reservoir largemouth bass anglers have success trophy bass fishing the Ocklawaha river channel with deep crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms. Caught several nice fish including a PB 10 pound 4 oz Trophy fish that I plan on surpassing in a future trip with Ken! The town hosts the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation,  Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Depot Park and more. It is located south of Palatka Fl off Hwy 19 and connected to St Johns River. In Rodman Reservoir, the bass are still in the cuts along the barge canal where the old creeks and riverbed cross the canal. The Orange Springs ramp is also a popular bank-fishing site. The reservoir will be 7 feet below the average water level for over three months, starting from November to March, and is prime time for trophy bass fishing. Fish can be caught using a variety of baits around river channel bends, from Kenwood to Cypress Bayou, as well as areas in the main pool. Daily fishing site provides the angling community a place to learn how to fish, where to fish, when to fish, and even who you might fish with. Lake Tarpon. Largemouth bass anglers on Rodman Reservoir tend to target trophy largemouth bass using live golden shiners, either floated under a cork or free-lined, with most big bass coming from the "stump fields" along the river channel. During the drawdown, bass anglers should be aware of the temporary catch and release regulation change. Located in Putnam and Marion Counties in Florida, the 16 mile long lake only covers 9,500 acres, but it’s a giant when it comes to producing monster bass. A total resource for all of your Florida Fishing needs. The fish population in this Ocklawaha backcountry would be no more, and we would lose at times the best big bass lake in Florida and the US. Petersburg in Pinellas County. A four-gate spillway (Kirkpatrick Dam) controls the water levels of the reservoir. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. Florida Fishing Information from Capt. Now that’s a giant big bass. So majestic! However, after a short learning period, we began to 'catch on' and started hooking some really nice fish. Where’s the best spot? Popular boat ramps include the Orange Springs Boat Ramp, the Rodman Kayak Launch, the Kirkpatrick Dam boat ramp on the northern end, and the Eureka East and West ramps on the south end. Lake Griffin is the source of the Ocklawaha, the final lake of the Harris Chain. Just recently, a bass caught in Rodman Reservoir gave the Official State record in Florida a scare. On behalf of myself,Pierre from Ontario, Canada and Stan from North Carolina 'Thank You' Capt. Rodman Reservoir is currently in a drawdown, where the water level goes from an average of 18′ – 20′ down to approximately 11′. 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