Here is information on
some of the major lakes in Marion County Florida. There are over 600 lakes in
Marion County. Contact
us for more information on these or other lakes.
Lake
Bryant
Lake Kerr
Lake Weir
Rainbow River
Ocklawaha River
Lake Eaton
Lake Jumper
Mill Dam Lake
Sellers Lake
Other Forest Lakes
Lake Bryant
Covers 767 acres in the Ocala National Forest but is not managed by the U. S.
Forest Service. Public access is available at the Lake Bryant Fish Camp on 183rd
Ave. off S.R.40 (fee ramp). The water is tea-colored with a narrow border of
grasses and lily pads around most of the shoreline. Seasonal fishing for bass,
bluegill and shellcracker is good. Speckled perch fishing varies considerably.
Live bait and artificial lures fished near vegetated areas are good for bass and
bream. Live grass shrimp is a good choice for bluegill and small bass.
Lake Kerr
2,830 acres near Salt Springs in the northern section of the Ocala National
Forest. As with Lake Bryant, the lake is not managed by the U. S. Forest
Service. Access is via a GFC boat ramp off Forest Road 88 just south of the
intersection of C.R.316 and FR88. Kerr is an unusual Florida lake in that water
depth reaches more than 20 feet at normal water level. Most bass are less than
14 inches in length, but this lake has a reputation for producing a few
trophy-size fish. Bullhead minnows (stonerollers) are commonly used as live bait
instead of shiners for bass in the spring and fall. Live grass shrimp and worms
are good baits for shellcracker and bluegill. Warmouth fishing is best during
late spring and early summer in shallow water very close to vegetated banks.
Three brush fish attractors are marked with buoys.
Lake Weir
This 5,685-acre lake near Belleview and Weirsdale has public access available
through a GFC ramp off C.R. 25 and county ramp off Sunset Harbor Road. Another
deep lake for central Florida, Lake Weir is over 20 feet deep at normal water
level. A narrow band of grass grows along much of the shore and beds of pondweed
occur to depths of 1012 feet. Common techniques are good for bass, and many
anglers prefer to troll live shiners in deep waters near the shore. Other bass
anglers use live bait in the deepest waters in the middle of the lake.
Shellcracker fishing is excellent during March and April for the angler willing
to locate small concentrated schools holding fish up to one pound. Brush fish
attractors have been placed at 10 sites in 10 to 20 feet of water. A depth
finder is very useful to locate structures, pondweed beds and fish in open
waters.
Rainbow River
A 5.8-mile tributary of the Withlacoochee River near Dunnellon. Public access is
available at the S.R. 41 bridge in Dunnellon and K.P. Hole (a county park east
of S.R. 41). The river is closed to fishing from the spring headwaters to a
point one mile downstream of the spring. The water is very clear and fish easily
can be seen, even in deep springs. Bass, bluegill, and shellcracker populations
are good. Trophy bass and large shellcracker are not uncommon. Clear water
fishing techniques are necessary for good results, i.e., fish during low light
conditions, use light line, and avoid being visible to the fish.
Oklawaha River
Near the confluence of the Oklawaha and Silver rivers, the Marion County portion
of the river becomes a winding, tree-canopied stream that continues to Lake
Ocklawaha (Rodman Reservoir). Access is available at a private fee ramp at
Nelson's Fish Camp at S.R. 42, Moss Bluff public ramps upstream and downstream
of the Lock and Dam, at C.R. 464, Ray Wayside Park at S.R. 40, Gore's Landing
east of S.R. 315, Eureka ramps on C.R. 316 east and west of bridge, Rodman Ramp
downstream of Rodman Dam and S.R. 19 Ramp north of Salt Springs. Bass fishing is
good along all areas of the river, but is best during February, March, and
April. Redbreast and spotted sunfish are good in unchannelized areas.
Lake Eaton
308 acres in the Ocala National Forest off C.R. 314A. There are three fishing
piers provided by the U. S. Forest Service; one pier is handicapped-accessible.
A small boat ramp will accommodate most vessels up to bass boat category. Eaton
is deeply tannin-stained, shallow and supports vast stands of lily pads.
Bluegill, warmouth, and black crappie are common sport fish. Bass fishing is
fair for small fish with an occasional keeper taken. Many bank anglers fish just
downstream of the C.R. 314 bridge for warmouth, bluegill and spotted sunfish.
Lake Jumper
A 282-acre, shallow, tannin-stained lake in the Ocala National Forest, about
three miles north of S.R.40 on C.R.314. A private fee ramp is the only boat
access. Small boats are advised. The lake is not known as a good bass lake, but
occasional lunkers are produced.
Mill Dam Lake
A 210-acre lake in the Ocala National Forest, seven miles east of Silver
Springs on S.R. 40. An improved boat ramp with paved parking and picnic area are
provided by the U. S. Forest Service (fee charged). Good catches of bass,
bluegill and speckled perch make it a popular lake for anglers. Normal water
depths are greater than average for Ocala National Forest. Vegetation is
confined to a shallow ledge around much of the shore. During drought, water
levels recede past this vegetation and leave an open-water lake.
Sellers Lake
A 378-acre lake south of S.R. 40 just west of S.R. 19. An unmaintained boat ramp
provides small boat access during normal water level conditions. The water is
very clear with limited vegetation. Most bass are small and slow-growing, but an
occasional trophy is caught. The clear water may hamper fishing success since
angler and fish can see each other. Live bait fished with light line at dusk or
dawn is best for bass. Some anglers prefer to troll live bait near grassy edges
for bass. Crickets, worms, and grass shrimp on a small hook and four- to
six-pound monofilament are good for bluegill, warmouth, and shellcracker.
Casting to the fish, rather than dropping the bait straight down to fish will
produce better results.
There are approximately 600 natural lakes
in Marion County, many are in the Ocala National Forest.
