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Lake Information for Rodman Reservoir
A premier largemouth bass fishery located in north Northeast Florida, covers 9,500 acres and is about 15 miles long. It is located south of Palatka off of Hwy 19. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. A four-gate spillway (Kirkpatrick Dam) controls the water levels of the reservoir. The reservoir from its headwaters at Eureka Dam to Paynes Landing consists of flooded woodlands. The transition section from Paynes Landing to Orange Springs consists of flooded standing timber and areas of floating vegetation. The pool section from Orange Springs to Kirkpatrick Dam, including the river channel and the Cross Florida Barge Canal, consists of floating and submersed vegetation, dead standing timber and submersed and partially submersed trees and stumps. The Barge Canal and river channel have water depths up to 30 feet deep. Submersed vegetation (hydrilla, coontail and eel grass) is common in the pool section of the reservoir. Drawdowns are conducted every three to four years on the reservoir for aquatic plant control and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement.
Largemouth bass anglers should have success fishing the river channel with live shiners, deep-diving crank baits and Carolina-rigged worms. Deep bends are good places to start and are holding largemouth bass from Orange Springs to Eureka. Early morning and evening top-water action should be good along the flats adjacent to the river channel from Orange Springs to Kirkpatrick Dam. Bluegill and redear sunfish action has slowed in the vegetation mats along the Kenwood area; however, redbreast sunfish action will be fair upstream of Orange Springs in deep holes. Grass shrimp and live worms are your best baits.
Businesses Located Nearby
Boat Rental
- Dock Holiday Boat Rentals
- 3108 Us-17 - Orange Park, FL
- (904) 215-5363
- Bay Ray Boat Rentals Incorporated
- 1 Dolphin Dr - St Augustine, FL
- (904) 826-0010
- Moon Lighting Boat Rentals Incorporated
- 1771 Hontoon Rd - de Land, FL
- (386) 734-6776
Vacation Rental
- Home Away From Home Vacation Rentals
- 2710 Grand Island Shores Rd - Eustis, FL
- (352) 357-4569
- New Beachside House Vacation Rentals
- 3750 Roscommon Dr - Ormond Beach, FL
- (206) 300-5705
- Casa Monica Hotel
- 95 Cordova St - St Augustine, FL
- (904) 827-1888