Ocala National Forest - Shore/Bank Fishing

[Mopar1]

I will coming to Ocala National Forest for the first time. I have read places like Rodman, Wildcat, are all great places for Bass. I do not have a boat and can only fish from the bank as I am flying to Florida. Don't mind hiking to spots as well. Any help would be much appreciated. Coming in late March.

Thanks 

[N Florida Mike]

I have some good spots in there. I used to fish and camp there a lot. 
I would try to get ahold of a small boat if possible , if there’s a way.. Most of the time , I took my 12 foot Jon boat. There were a few times I went and camped without a boat and just drove around in the forest looking for ponds. ( If I remember correctly theres 500 water bodies in there.) And caught fish. It is a very large forest -  I think 385,000 acres. I can tell you some good small lakes I’ve fished but bank access is very limited at most of them. Pretty much limited to where you launch. The majority of the ponds are very clear so you must use light line and smaller baits. I always did well with culprit worms and flukes in there. Many of the ponds and lakes are also very acidic so have a limited fish population. But good numbers are possible in a lot of them. The size is also smaller than normal for Florida. I think my biggest bass in there( fishing for many years) was 5 pounds.

I would go to the visitor center in salt springs and buy the fishing book they sell that has many of the better lakes listed. That may give you some info on bank fishing opportunities.

I fished wildcat once and didn’t catch any but it was too windy .My favorite lake is close to Wildcat (Crooked lake ) - bank access is limited though, and it’s about a mile down a one track dirt road to get there.Theres a road to it off hwy 40 but I think it’s private access.

I don’t count Rodman as part of the forest but it’s close. To me , it’s very different. The dam near hwy 19 has some bank area, but can get crowded. Most people there fish for specks (crappie) or catfish. Consider hiring a guide for Rodman. Some of the biggest bass in Florida reside there...

Be safe in the forest. I always carry in there. There’s more homeless people in there now, and there have been murders out there... still a beautiful place with good fishing . I have never had any problems. I would go with you but live 80 miles or so away...

 

[Mopar1]

Thanks for the information Mike. You have me concerned about possible crime out there. I am coming from Canada therefore carrying is not an option. Different rules / laws up here in the North. I will stop at the visitor center as you mentioned. Best I stay around the populated areas and not get too far off the beaten path. Appreciate the response.

[N Florida Mike]

Let me know about when you are coming. There’s an outside chance I could come down.

I also live on a lake in the Jacksonville area. If you have a few hours let me know and we can go.

 

Didn’t mean to turn you away from the forest with the negativity. Like I said , I fished and camped for many years there and had no problem whatsoever. It’s good to be careful anywhere nowdays...

keep me posted!

[Pantera61]

Never forget the monkeys that live in Ocala.  The had to expand the park because the monkey population grew.  The monkeys can bite and they can carry Herpes B.

They are also researching the possibility of chimpanzees there as well.

[N Florida Mike]

On 2/22/2020 at 12:02 PM, Pantera61 said:

Never forget the monkeys that live in Ocala.  The had to expand the park because the monkey population grew.  The monkeys can bite and they can carry Herpes B.

They are also researching the possibility of chimpanzees there as well.

They were originally at silver springs for the Tarzan movies I guess. They are being spotted as far North now as St Johns county. People are being told not to shoot them for some reason.??‍♂️

[Richard Sears]

Well ive lived in the forest for going on thirty years now and ive always been an avid fisherman .And i tend to thank a very good good one and there are so many lakes that its realy hard to get a boat to unless you have a small canoe or a kayak that you can drag behind you or put wheels under like a trailor . and as for what Mike was saying about the size if you hold your mouth right and wiggle your worm just so and use a big enough bate you tend to catch big bass in nerly every lake : pond : river : water hole that you come across in the woods and one of the easyest ways to fish a lot of the smaller ponds this is if your not afraid of the snakes and gators witch as long as you watch your surroundings you shouldnt be is to wade out about chest deep and it keeps you cool as you just wade around the ponds and slay the big bass . but if you are one of the city slicker type come on any ways and there are alot of lakes with bout ramps out hear also that have plenty of big bass also  but for us local folks that gets us closer to nature and keeps us cooler and its a hole lot of fun to get acouple guys or girls togather and go wadding around catching big bass in small or larger lakes because i like to wade around the banks on the high side of Rodman dam and there are huge bass thete and they like to bite and you acn even tie a five gallon bucket to you pants belt loop and take you some wild shiners and the big  bass love them .well heres my way of fishing the Ocala forest for big bass .Come on out and join us and have a blessed and wonderful fishing trip how ever you wind up fishing our wonderful waterways .And take a child with you every time you can its the greatest time watching them enjoy our wonderful outdoors .Thank you for letting me tell my way of fishing our woods .

[bigbassin']

On 6/10/2022 at 6:19 AM, Richard Sears said:

i like to wade around the banks on the high side of Rodman dam

I’ve waded some absolutely sketchy locations gator wise but I have to say I think wading Rodman has me beat by a long shot…not sure I’d do that one.

Edit: with that being said I guess most the gators I’ve seen on Rodman have been on the upper side of the lake, not really around the dam area.

[Dwight Hottle]

2 hours ago, bigbassin' said:

I’ve waded some absolutely sketchy locations gator wise but I have to say I think wading Rodman has me beat by a long shot…not sure I’d do that one.

Edit: with that being said I guess most the gators I’ve seen on Rodman have been on the upper side of the lake, not really around the dam area.

 

Funny thing is I have fished Rodman about a dozen times & have never seen a gator unlike southern FL. 

[bigbassin']

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

Funny thing is I have fished Rodman about a dozen times & have never seen a gator unlike southern FL. 

I’ve only fished it 4-5 times, seen some good ones towards the Ocklawaha every time.

Could just be a seasonal deal as I’ve only fished it during April-May so it is getting into mating season at that time.

[Alex from GA]

I've fished the forest several times in the past 5 years and always caught fish.  I drag a kayak to some of the smaller ponds/lakes where not many people go to.  It's an adventure.   Only 1 time I had to poke a gator with my paddle to keep it away.