Kenwood Recreation Area - Main Boat Ramp

On Rodman Reservoir

Rodman Reservoir, also called Lake Ocklawaha, is a reservoir on the Ocklawaha River in Putnam and Marion counties in north-central Florida, southwest of Palatka off U.S. Highway 19. The reservoir was created in 1968 as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. Forest was partly cleared and a 7,200-foot earthen dam was built across the river. A four-gate spillway, Kirkpatrick Dam, controls the water level. State agencies give its size as about 9,500 acres, 15 miles long and up to 2 miles wide near the dam. The river channel and the former Barge Canal reach depths of 30 feet. The reservoir is flooded woodland from Eureka Dam down to Payne's Landing, then standing timber and floating vegetation to Orange Springs. The pool from Orange Springs to the dam holds stumps and submersed plants. The Ocklawaha continues about 9 miles below the dam to the St. Johns River. More about Rodman Reservoir.

Boating rules on Rodman Reservoir

• Periodic winter drawdown (every 3-4 years) from about 18 ft to 11 ft above mean sea level for roughly three months; temporary ramps at Kenwood Landing and Orange Springs during the drawdown source
• Catch-and-release only for largemouth bass during the 2025-26 drawdown (Nov 3, 2025 - Mar 15, 2026) source
• Boaters asked to watch their wake near anglers along the Barge Canal and river channel during drawdowns source
• Staying within marked navigation channels strongly recommended because of submerged stumps and floating logs source

Community

Where people who use Rodman Reservoir talk about it.

• Rodman Reservoir - FWC fishing site and forecast Agency
• Rodman Reservoir Drawdown FAQ (Florida State Parks) Agency
• Save Rodman Reservoir INC Association
• Save Rodman Reservoir Facebook
• Rodman Reservoir Fishing. Facebook
• Rodman Reservoir - Fishing Reports - Bass Fishing Forums Forum
• Search Reddit: r/florida Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Rodman Reservoir, Florida Reddit

Nearby launches

• Hog Valley Public Boat Ramp · 2.5 mi · Rodman Reservoir
• Orange Springs Public Boat Ramp · 2.7 mi · Rodman Reservoir
• Rodman Recreation Area - Kirkpatrick Dam Canoe/Kayak Launch · 4.5 mi · Ocklawaha River
• Rodman Recreation Area - Campground Boat Ramp · 4.6 mi · Rodman Reservoir
• Rodman Recreation Area - Kirkpatrick Dam Boat Ramp · 4.7 mi · Ocklawaha River
• Horseshoe Lake Park Paddlecraft Beach and Rentals · 6.4 mi · Horseshoe Lake