Ocklawaha River, Rodman Lake, Lake George FL

[Numlaar]

Hey all,

I have been fishing since I could barely hold a fishing pole, (i'm 40 now), lived in FL all my life, and on or near the water... that being said, I "used" to be pretty good at bass fishing.. I would fish lake tarpon and on a bad day come home with 1-2 keepers...

I recently moved NE of ocala in a little mudhole called Hog Valley, and its about 1 minute from the Ocklawaha River, Rodman resevoir and 20 mins from Salt springs (which is a short boat run onto Lake george)...

I have gone fishing here now for the last 4 years... at least a few times a year (and since I moved here in January, about 10x this year so far)... and I have NEVER, not once, caught a single thing!!! (Maybe 1-2 hits total!)

I don't know WTF I could be doing wrong as compared to before... I typically use a texas rigged (weedless), culprit worm (keep about 15 colors on hand to try), tru turn hook and appropriate sized bullet weight for the water depth.... I also have a complete selection of rattletraps, rapala's, top waters, spinner baits, you name it, and have still come up empty...

My question is... does anyone here actually fish this area?

If so, do you have any pointers you can give me?

I am just baffled as to why I can't seem to ever catch anything around here!

(god I miss clearwater and the salt flats!)

thanks for your advice/replies

 

[fishon13]

Re: Ocklawaha River, Rodman Lake, Lake George FL

Sorry to hear your still living in FL, I was 6th gen born and raised in FL. The only thing I miss is the fishing, diving and convenance although I lived in south FL, I know theres a big diff in the areas. Almost every spring we would load the boat up and head to Ocala area (juniper springs) some of the best bed fishing ever. January through late march the females will at some point be on there beds and not feeding. Bring heavy tackle at least 40lbs test we would troll or push poll into thick reeds and spot the beds large white spots about 2' round, FL is perfect for this with all the sand under the silt and your area has the cleanist water in FL so spoting them is easy. Your worms will work well for this color really doesn't matter at this stage so use your least fav. Drop jig near the bed catch the small male off the bed , put them in the live well. The female will not eat but will protect her bed drop the worm on to the bed no need to move it she will come over and pick it up move it off the bed and drop it. The idea is to get her worked up so do this step until she sucks the worm all the way in set hard and fast enjoy the fight. After shes boated release the males and get your trophy mounted. After bedding season try some rapalas, save the worms for this time of year and flip into heavy coverage, lilly pads are great just like every thing else there trying to beat the heat. Check out juniper springs great 7 mile canoe trip crystal clear water and stays cool all year.