Lake Rousseau

Lake Rousseau is an impoundment of the scenic Withlacoochee River. This reservoir forms a giant lake full of cypress trees, hydrilla, hyacinth, and pennywort islands. Located just west of Dunnellon, it is an interesting and dynamic system inviting endless exploration. The dam (a popular fishing spot) is at the west end, opposite the quiet, winding Withlacoochee River. Several boat ramps provide access to the lake and river. For more boat ramp information, see the FWC Boat Ramp Finder. Navigation lanes connect the two ends, taking you through wide-open water and secluded curving channels. Use extreme caution when venturing into these areas, as submerged stumps provide a constant reminder that the lake is a flooded woodland. Plastic worms or weedless frogs can be fished through these patches of vegetation, and topwater baits in areas of open water should tempt hungry bass. When fishing deeper water, live shiners or crankbaits fished along the edges of hydrilla should also produce bites. Whatever your bait, bass fishing here is hot! There have been 35 combined TrophyCatch-approved submissions between January and mid-December of 2025 in both water bodies, including four Hall of Fame bass (13 lbs. or more) with an average weight of 14 lbs. Tournament anglers in Lake Rousseau had another productive year, with the average winning bag weight in 2024/25 increasing from last year to 18.92 lbs.