During their three-day trip, Whitmore also caught and released four additional bass heavier than 8 pounds that earned Troph圜atch awards, and his buddy caught two more. Whitmore and Williams were both fishing with guide Sean Rush when they documented their trophies. More recently, Dewight “Richie” Whitmore, from Ringgold, Ga., caught, documented and released a 14-pound, 1-ounce Florida largemouth bass at Rodman Reservoir on Martin Luther King Day. To demonstrate how outstanding a bass fishery Rodman Reservoir is, Bob Williams from New Jersey caught and released the first Hall of Fame bass in the popular Troph圜atch (see Troph圜 ) citizen-science conservation rewards program there in 2012. In exposed areas during the drawdowns, muck from decaying vegetation has a chance to consolidate and oxidize, helping to reduce the depth of the muck and providing firmer substrates that are more suitable for fish and wildlife. These year classes provide 'pulses' to the fishery at three-year intervals that provide the majority of the angler catch. However, FWC fisheries biologists have demonstrated a relationship between strong largemouth bass year-class production and reservoir drawdowns. Much of the fishery's success depends on quality habitat in the form of stumps and submersed aquatic vegetation (hydrilla, coontail and eel grass), and periodic drawdowns, such as the one currently underway, which are conducted every three years.ĭrawdowns on Rodman are conducted by the DEP, which manages the reservoir primarily to control invasive aquatic vegetation. The Barge Canal and river channel that are part of this system have areas as deep as 30 feet – a rarity in Florida. The reservoir extends from Eureka to the George Kirkpatrick Dam and is renowned for producing trophy largemouth bass. 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. Rodman Reservoir is located east of Gainesville and south of Palatka and covers 9,500 acres of prime fisheries habitat. Some anglers find success using artificial baits, such as deep-diving or lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics.īlack crappie anglers will have success trolling live minnows and/or jigs along the edges of the Barge Canal, as well as the river channel bends in the Kenwood area.īream anglers can expect to catch plenty of stocky warmouth between Orange Springs and Cypress Bayou using worms and grass shrimp for the best results. Other trophy bass come from the area between Cypress Bayou and Kenwood Landing. 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. All other fishing regulations remain in effect as normal (go to /Fishing and select “Freshwater Fishing” then “Regulations”). 1, 2015, through March 14, 2016, with the area affected all of Rodman Reservoir north of Highway 316. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an Executive Order to make largemouth bass catch-and-release only from Nov. Throughout the drawdown, anglers targeting largemouth bass can expect to experience excellent fishing but there is a temporary catch-and-release regulation in effect. Anglers may also contact the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails at 35 for up-to-date information on water levels and temporary boat ramps. To prevent boating accidents during the drawdown, boaters are asked to watch their wake and be courteous to anglers fishing along the Barge Canal and river channel.

Boaters should look out for floating logs. The ramp at Eureka will also remain open and the Orange Springs ramp provides a popular bank-fishing site (see /BoatRamps for locations). Hog Valley has a place where anglers can launch small boats if they are using a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Temporary boat ramps are at Kenwood Landing and Orange Springs, where anglers can launch into the Barge Canal and river channel. The reservoir will be 7 feet below normal water level for over three months from the middle of November 2015 to the beginning of March 2016 (see details below). The Rodman Reservoir drawdown that anglers have become accustomed to is underway and waters will stay down until the spring of 2016. Suggested Tweet: Rodman Reservoir undergoes restorative drawdown: #fishing Rodman Reservoir drawdown has begun

Rodman reservoir drawdown schedule 2015