Where do you go if you want to catch big largemouth bass? One
of the very best areas is bordering Florida's Ocala National
Forest, where the Ocklawaha River and Rodman Reservoir are
located. Known to be one of America's premier bass locations, Glen
Lau and Flip Pallot explore this great body of water on "Quest
For Adventure."
The Ocklawaha River has long been considered one of Florida's
most beautiful rivers. A mature river and one of the principal
rivers of Florida, the Ocklawaha is the largest tributary to the
St. Johns River. What adds to its beauty is the ecosystem created
by the Rodman Dam. Eight miles from where the river joins the St.
Johns River, a dam was built in 1968 to form Rodman Reservoir.
As unique as the Ocklawaha River is, Rodman Reservoir
encompasses 9,000acres and 16 miles of the Ocklawaha River and
creates an even more spectacular environment. Consisting of three
distinct and beautiful ecosystems, the reservoir supports a wide
variety of plants and wildlife including threatened and endangered
species. Although not officially designated as such, the reservoir
is an important refuge for migratory birds. Numerous birds are
found at Rodman in a normal year; however, in periods of drought
in the southern part of the state, Rodman becomes a birdwatcher's
paradise.
Rodman is also considered a fisherman's paradise. It's among
the top lakes in the state for producing bass over 10 pounds. It's
also known for excellent crappie and other panfish.
Rodman Crisis
Rodman Reservoir's Future is Threatened
Florida lawmakers are being asked to decide whether to retain
Rodman Reservoir or to drain the reservoir and restore the
free-flowing Ocklawaha River and its flood plain forest.
History:
The construction of the controversial Cross Florida Barge Canal
Project --initiated in 1935 -- was not begun in earnest by the
Army Corps of Engineers until 1964. The Corps needed a pool with
sufficient water to float barges, so they built Rodman Dam (1968)
across the Ocklawaha, eight miles from where the river joins the
St. Johns. The waters of the Ocklawaha backed up and spread out
over the flood plain to encompass 16 miles of the Ocklawaha River.
Out of fear that cutting the canal across Marion County would
puncture and contaminate the freshwater aquifer and freshwater
supply, the Canal Project was officially deauthorized in 1991.
The barge canal project which resulted in the construction of
Rodman Reservoir may have been ill-conceived, but the resulting
reservoir is providing a unique environmental that supports a wide
variety of plants and wildlife including threatened and endangered
species such as the woodstork, southern bald eagle, least tern,
and the Florida sandhill crane. Birds considered of special
concern also depend on Rodman including limpkin, little blue
heron, osprey, snowy egret, tricolored heron, and white ibis.
It also supports some of the best freshwater fishing in the
state.
Glen Lau, host of Quest For Adventure and award winning
photographer and cinematographer has lived in Marion County since
1971 where the Ocklawaha River is located. He has produced several
dozen TV shows and documentaries about the surrounding areas. One
of the first places Lau visited when he came to Marion County was
Rodman Reservoir. In reflecting on that first time Lau said,
"For several years I have traveled throughout the wilderness
areas of North America and Central America in search of places to
film wildlife and fish; never have I seen a place with more wild
birds and other wildlife than Rodman Reservoir. Since 1971, I have
photographed every year at Rodman. While I am a fisherman by
nature, it is mainly the bird life and critters that live around
Rodman that keep bringing me back." Lau states that until
now, he felt that Rodman would never be destroyed -- that surely
people would realize what a great environmental disaster would
occur should the Rodman be drained.
"I find it ironic that a group called the Defenders of the
Environment want to destroy the finest environmental area in the
state of Florida. I personally knew Marjorie Carr and admired her
reputation over the years for speaking out for the environment.
While I can understand Marjorie and a small group of people being
caught up in the nostalgia of having the river back like it was
when they were younger, many things have changed. Now, because of
population explosion, the Ocklawaha River carries hundreds of
times more nutrients and pollution than when Marjorie was a young
lady."
Fortunately, we have Rodman Reservoir as a filtering ecosystem
that purifies the water and contributes a much higher quality of
water to the St. Johns River system. This is a fact!
"Under any other situation, Marjorie Carr and her friends
with the Defenders of the Environment would be fighting tooth and
nail against anyone trying to destroy an environmentally sensitive
area equal to Rodman Reservoir ...especially if they knew of the
endangered and protected birds that were going to be
displaced."
"Over the years, Rodman has been a refuge for millions of
birds and critters. And during the extreme droughts in south
Florida, Rodman has always handled the hundreds of thousands of
birds that were displaced by the drought."
"Florida and many other states in the southeast are
spending tens of millions of dollars to create the kind of refuge
and environmentally important area that you now find at Rodman
Reservoir. If Rodman is destroyed, it will go down in history as
one of the biggest environmental mistakes of our lifetime. And the
people behind that foul deed will be marked forever.
"Rodman Reservoir was conceived from an ill-fated canal
project. Now that the child is born (and it is a beautiful child)
and we know what we know now about this child, it is too late to
abort. Now many living things depend on this child for
survival."
If you want to help save Rodman Reservoir:
Florida Residents: Contact your state representative and
senator. A
handwritten letter in your own words is the most effective. If you
don't have time to write, call. Also contact the Senate Natural
Resources Committee and let them know your opinion on the status
of Rodman:
Senate Natural Resources Committee
Visit www.rodmanreservoir.com
for more information.
Residents and non-residents are encouraged to make a donation (not
tax deductible) to:
Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc
6891 NE 243 Place Road
Ft. McCoy, FL 32134
(352) 346-5011
Experience Rodman For Yourself
Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. can also be contacted for
any information you need to know about fishing the reservoir.
Finding on the map - look between I-75 and I-95, between Hwy 20
and CR 316.The reservoir can be accessed at several different
points:
The more popular ones include:
Rodman Dam Landing - from CR19 south of the canal bridge,
follow the signs west. Here you can view the dam, see Rodman Pool
and picnic. Bank and spillway fishing are popular. A handicapped
fishing pier is provided and restroom facilities are available.
There is plenty of improved parking. The double boat ramp provides
access to the Ocklawaha River below the dam.
Campsite Landing is next to good campsite facilities and has a
nice picnic area. There is a board walk that allows you to walk
over wetlands safely and view the wildlife. From CR19, south of
the canal bridge, follow the signs west.
Kenwood Landing provides a double ramp with plenty of improved
parking. Rustic camping under giant oak trees is a few hundred
yards from the ramp. This is a popular bass tournament launching
point. It is located on the north end of the reservoir south of
CR315.
Eureka Landing East is south of and under CR316 Ocklawaha
Bridge. Good parking but a very steep ramp. A remote location, so
lock your vehicle. Eureka Landing West is north of the Ocklawaha
River Bridge. Access is next to the "Canoe Outpost."
Parking is limited, but relatively safe. Port-a-let facilities are
available.
Cypress Bayou gives access to the aquatic meadows. From CR315
take NE 212 Rd for about 2 miles. Access to the reservoir is
through a canal from the boat ramp.
Orange Springs Landing has a good ramp and parking area, but no
facilities. Take NE 245 St. Rd from CR 315 in Orange Springs and
follow the signs for about a mile.
The two guides Glen Lau interviewed on the Down the Ocklawaha
program were:
| Nelson
Hulvey |
14561
N.E. 189th Lane |
Fort
McCoy, FL 32134 |
Phone:
(352) 546-5741 |
| |
|
|
|
| Dennis Rahn |
25250
N.E. 133rd Lane |
Salt
Springs, FL 32134 |
Phone:
(352) 685-2575 |
Rate: One or two people - $150 a day plus the bait; $25 for
additional person. They will provide equipment or you can bring
your own. Best to call a couple weeks in advance. Flexible on the
hours you want to fish.
They normally fish with shiners but will fish with artificial
lures/worms if you prefer.
