Palatka area of the SJ river has to be 15 inches low or more (from me idling by the trestle gauge Monday).
Shallows muddy up easy n stay that way…
did catch a pair of 5# mudfish and another 4# pair but found an 11 inch bass after running 6 spots with 8 baits…
Pad action zip as far as bream… few to zero bugs to draw them in so bass get interested.
Next rain chance 4/24-25 as of today.
Saw mosquito hawks today which is a good sign.
Take care within 50 yards of banks!
2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
I tapped the skeg 3 times Tuesday loading at Trout Creek... water is low for sure. Left side is OK, avoid the right side :(.
Best fishing for me past month of so has been way south, well below Astor. Pain to drive down there, but fishing is better for sure.
Kissimmee Chain is the same way. Swift Mud for some reason dropped the water earlier this year.
It is very low south of Sanford. One shell bed that I have fished for 15 years is high and dry. This is about as low as I have seen it.
All lakes down here as well, just days away from wild fires.
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. “ – Mark Twain
At my parents place on the Harris Chain it’s low as well.
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The low water is tough or can be tough at ramps and navigating but could be great for the river eel grass to start growing back. It’s concerning for orange lake tho as there was the beginning of a drought and sink holes opening up in later summer of last year, hopefully that doesn’t happen!
APRIL 19.2025 post:
Am planning to go to Rodman (18 mi away) and wonder since the refilling after drawdown was to end 4/20…
how low will it be?
Couple clubs there 5/3 and 5/8… am in both.
2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
The drawdown did not happen, they are doing it later this year.Originally Posted by reelman
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2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
Drought break possibly May2-3-4 as of now…
been watering brown lawn since last week…
caught a 2.79# at Rodman yesterday…
plus a dink n mudfish… big whoop lol
2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
We bad this in 2014, 10 times worse. I love it! Once levels started normalizing was amazing in 15-16.
Next drought buster hope starts noon Saturday May3 thru the 4th…
heat evaporating river area every hour…lawn water bill $62 for April…
they include a sewage add on am told…
Anyway, fishing Rodman in a small club T…
2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
It's too bad the lakes on the St Johns have so much sludge/muck where the grass used to be. Else this drought may have helped revive some eel grass growth. I've admittedly not been out lately to see for myself, but I'd bet there's not a new (natural) strand sprouted anywhere.
If there is I’m sure the manatee’s took care of it!
As of May 4.2025:
Palatka had a 20 minute shower and a much briefer very light rain about dawn…
that is it for about the past month!
Heat is taking that back up fast…
weather forecasters aka liars are saying 3-4 days soon will have a high chance of rain!!!
2018 Z19/200 Optimax 2 stroker 24x3 Fury Ultrex 112
Lowrance HDS 12/9 Lives with AT 2
weather forecasters are a joke.
seems like I never learn.. stayed home Sun since it was 70% rain forecast, plus I was tired from an all day drive Saturday picking up a vehicle... did not rain one bit here in Jax, and they may have gotten a slight sprinking down around Palatka/Crescent area it seems.
I got 3/4 of an inch in st. aug. but that is not even a drop in the bucket.
Looked like rain for awhile this morning but not a drop. Dry is Welaka for sure. Fished Yale last week, getting low at Marsh park ramp also.
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