February 7 saw anglers report bass of 10-8, 8-13 and 8-0. We’ve had 1,017 approved submissions from Rodman.”Īccording to Troph圜atch records, Rodman has already produced several tanks this year. “In the 9-plus years of the Troph圜atch program, Rodman has been in the top-5 (in approvals). “In December, we had 58 approvals from Rodman,” Martin said. Complementing the habitat and food, Allen says Rodman benefits from active FDEP management. “It’s known for lots of fish and lots of big fish.”Īmplifying that point Allen Martin, FWC Regional Freshwater Fisheries Administrator for the North Central Region said Rodman Reservoir has long been the statewide leader in Troph圜atch approvals. “It’s one of the better bass fisheries in the state,” Tuten said. That’s on the upper end, for sure, but this reservoir’s abundant habitat (wood, pads, submersed vegetation) and rich forage base of shad, bluegill, crappie and lake chub suckers keeps the lunker factory running. Anglers receive prizes for verified Troph圜atch submissions, along with entries into annual drawings for additional awards.įWC Fisheries Biologist Travis Tuten recalls personally certifying a bass over 14 pounds. Giants live here: Lore and legend run rich on Rodman, but the purest metric for this reservoir’s potential is found in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Troph圜atch program, which recognizes three tiers of notable catches: 8-10 pounds (Lunker Club), 10-13 pounds (Trophy Club) and over 13 pounds (Hall of Fame Club).Įntry requires anglers to take a photo or video of their catch on a scale with the weight clearly legible prior to release and then submit the documentation via the program’s website:. firmly supports this stellar fishery’s preservation. Rather, it’s important to understand why B.A.S.S. This debate has been well-reported, so our purpose here isn’t to stir the pot or even to solve anything. Opposing that premise are the bass anglers who value Rodman’s sport-fishing bounty. So, on one side of the issue, those in favor of restoration contend that Rodman Reservoir is an unnecessary disruption of the Ocklawaha - a relic from an abandoned project whose absence would hasten environmental healing and allow other recreational opportunities to flourish. We have yet to see Rodman produce an Elite win, but last year, Patrick Walters spent four days there and finished fourth. Rodman was created with a navigational purpose, but sport-fishing quickly became the beloved byproduct. Forest Service, with FDEP handling dam operations. Army Corps of Engineers in 1968 as part of the former Cross Florida Barge Canal project (a planned shortcut from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic), Rodman is jointly owned by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. “That’s where the bass fishing community is at odds with the restoration community the groups that want the river restored to its natural state.”īefore we dive in, here’s a background snapshot: Created by the U.S. “Also, for those decades, there has been a strong push to remove the dam to restore the Ocklawaha to its natural flow and, essentially, eliminate the reservoir. “This is an iconic bass fishery and it has been for decades,” Gilliland said. As Gilliland points out, Rodman’s relevance extends well past the tournament scene and that’s why it’s important to understand the issue at hand. We’ll save the fishing reports for the actual tournament coverage, but several anglers reported practicing in Rodman and most plan to spend at least some of their tournament time there. With the 7,200-foot Kirkpatrick Dam controlling the Ocklawaha’s flow, anglers reach Rodman through a 7-mile canal leading from the St. We’re talking about Rodman Reservoir - the 15-mile-long, 9,500-acre timber-strewn Ocklawaha River impoundment located south of Palatka. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland points to a particular section of this week’s tournament waters where big-fish potential meets big controversy. Johns River’s 310 miles - at least, those open to tournament competitors. As past Bassmaster Elite events have shown, anglers find competitive fish throughout most of the St.
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