Withlacoochee River

Interested anglers should visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) recorded water level and rainfall webpage for up-to-date information on river levels.

Water levels in the river can fluctuate with seasonal conditions.  Anglers can stay up to date on river levels by visiting Southwest Florida Water Management District web page. The lower portion of the river (Dunnellon to SR 200) should be productive for bass as the quarter progresses. Anglers looking to score bigger bass in the river should use live shiners.  These lively baits can be trolled, free-lined, or fished under floats along aquatic vegetation.  Top waters and rattle traps fished around aquatic plants or around snags and other woody cover should produce fish as well.  Good panfish catches have been reported all along the river. In the river near Dunnellon, and up the Rainbow River anglers should try using worms, crickets, or small artificials fished close to the bank and around woody structures. Anglers have been having great success catching spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) south of the Hwy 44 bridge, and through the small channel heading into Lake Panasoffkee. Earthworms have been very producing baits through here. Catfish should bite any kind of stink bait. Look for them to be held up in slow flowing eddies and holes throughout the river.  The Rainbow River is a spring fed system that can provide thermal refuge when the Withlacoochee River is both hot and cold. On days following cold fronts, try fishing this crystal clear, scenic river.