3 Comments

  • patrick says:

    has anyone tried fishing in the river that the res. drains into? going north up 19 you pass a boat launch before you go over the river that feeds the res. i dont have a boat. only a kayak. so i was going to try that spot. tips?

    • Patrick;
      I am very familiar with the location you are inquiring about, known to the locals as “Johnsons Landing”. I fished this section of the River many years ago. About ten miles east of the dock is “Little Lake George”, the end of the Ocklawaha River. Just before reaching the Lake are several very sharp turns. These turns have a water depth of about 25 feet, and hold a good number of fish, including Striped Bass, Catfish, and Largemouths. A long way to paddle, but good fishing.

      For kayak fishing my recommendation would be to fish the Rodman Reservoir (Lake Ocklawaha). A lot less paddling, and more fish. The key to fishing anywhere on the OK River is the bait..wild shiners. As I’ve told many others, you either got wild shiners, or you need them.

      The Rodman Campground has a good ramp to access the Reservoir. It’s located on the right hand side of the road just before the Dam itself. I suggest you get an early start, the Bass bite best either early or late in the day.

      Three good spots to fish on the Lake are:
      1. Up close to the the Dam
      2. Directly across the Lake from the access canal at the park, the old river channel runs across the reservoir. Look for a dramatic drop in water depth from 10 to 18 feet.
      3. Under vegetation, your best bet for fishing later in the day.

      If you are planning on using live bait/shiners, Advantage Sports is probably the closest location to Rodman to find them. They are closed on Mondays, and I recommend you call them to make sure they have plenty in the tank before you head out. Their number is 352-685-2277.

      Again, good luck, and thank you for your service. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.

      Nick

  • John S Blom says:

    I was searching for info on the Oklawaha rv, when I found your page. My wife and I just bought a place at Eureka, and plan to spend as much time on the river as possible. We currently kayak fish, but will purchase a boat soon. What can I expect to catch on the river around Ft. McCoy/Eureka? Bass, crappies, catfish? Anything more exotic? I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the river flows North?

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