Crescent Lake

This 15,960-acre lake is an offshoot of the St. Johns River with excellent bass and crappie (speckled perch) fishing. Bass catches are best in the springtime near eelgrass beds, and in the fall near docks and structure. Crappie anglers do well drifting open water with minnows or jigs in winter and early spring. Knowledgeable"off-season" speck anglers do well working lily pads in the summer. Public access is available in Crescent City off U.S. Hwy 17 and at fish camps in the Crescent City area.

Lake George

See Volusia County

Lake Ocklawaha (Rodman Reservoir)

A 9,200-acre impoundment of the Ocklawaha River along the northern boundary of the Ocala National Forest. The reservoir can be divided into three segments based on habitat. The upstream reach is mostly riverine. In the middle reach, the river channel still runs a nearly natural course through flooded timber and shallow water, and the downstream reach consists of the main pool. Shortly after filling, Rodman produced excellent bass fishing, but as the reservoir has aged, bass fishing has declined. However, Rodman is still a favorite with many anglers and guides.

Boat ramps at Eureka off C.R.316, Orange Springs and Kenwood north of Ft. McCoy off C.R. 315 and west of S.R. 19 at the Rodman Recreational area provide public boating access. Thousands of stumps, logs, and thick beds of hydrilla pose navigational hazards. Boaters should use caution to avoid injury or damage to their vessels.

Artificial lures including plastic worms and surface lures are good producers for bass. Excellent bank fishing is offered in the tailrace below the dam. Striped bass congregate in the tailrace during late spring and early summer. Catfish also appear in schools below the dam during March, April and May. Live shiners are good for bass and catfish. Bluegill, shellcracker and speckled perch are good in the main pool. For anglers who prefer redbellies (redbreast sunfish) and stumpknockers, small spinner baits in the upper reach are best. Some anglers prefer to use natural baits such as worms, shelled mussels, crickets and grass shrimp fished a few inches beneath a cork. Fly fishing is also popular.

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