Ocheesee Pond: 2,225 Acres of Cypress and Tannic Water

Major and minor solunar windows shift daily with the moon’s transit. Fish the windows above, or check the Seasonal Playbook below for Ocheesee Pond’s current pattern.

Florida's wildlife agency gives no spring pattern for Ocheesee Pond, and no dated spring report is published that we can cite, so this section keeps to what its page supports. Ocheesee Pond is a 2,225-acre lake south of US 90 at Grand Ridge and Sneads in Jackson County, Florida. Its water is dark and tannic, and the state's wildlife agency says about 90 percent of the surface is covered by cypress trees. For bluegill, fish three to five feet of water or the deep holes in the main section with grass shrimp, crickets, wigglers, or 1/16 to 1/8 ounce beetle spins; redear sunfish are in the same places and take worms. The public ramp is a one-lane Jackson County landing off Shady Grove Road: State Road 69 south from Grand Ridge for a mile, then left on County Road 69A for 5.9 miles. Bass follow Florida's statewide rule of five a day, only one of them 16 inches or longer.

No dated summer report is published for Ocheesee Pond that we can cite, and the agency's written forecast does not cover the hot months. No fish camps are named on the state's page; its fisheries biologists at the regional office take questions at 850-265-3676. Stumps and snags are everywhere. The agency says they draw some of the biggest bluegill and are also a hazard for boaters who do not know the pond, so run slowly. For bluegill, fish three to five feet of water or the deep holes in the main section with grass shrimp, crickets, wigglers, or 1/16 to 1/8 ounce beetle spins; redear sunfish are in the same places and take worms. The public ramp is a one-lane Jackson County landing off Shady Grove Road: State Road 69 south from Grand Ridge for a mile, then left on County Road 69A for 5.9 miles. Bass follow Florida's statewide rule of five a day, only one of them 16 inches or longer.

The agency's forecast for Ocheesee Pond is written for the cooling months. Bass fishing should be fair through the fall, the agency says: fish early morning and late afternoon along weed lines and cypress trees with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, dark plastic worms or live shiners. The pond also holds some decent-sized black crappie, which the agency expects to pick up in late fall. Stumps and snags are everywhere. The agency says they draw some of the biggest bluegill and are also a hazard for boaters who do not know the pond, so run slowly. No dated fall report is published for the lake that we can cite, so this is standing advice and not this season's catch. Bass follow Florida's statewide rule of five a day, only one of them 16 inches or longer. Anglers have logged 4 bass of eight pounds or more from the lake in the state's TrophyCatch program.

Cold weather is what the agency's Ocheesee Pond forecast is about. Bass fishing should be fair through the fall, the agency says: fish early morning and late afternoon along weed lines and cypress trees with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, dark plastic worms or live shiners. For bluegill, fish three to five feet of water or the deep holes in the main section with grass shrimp, crickets, wigglers, or 1/16 to 1/8 ounce beetle spins; redear sunfish are in the same places and take worms. The pond also holds some decent-sized black crappie, which the agency expects to pick up in late fall. The public ramp is a one-lane Jackson County landing off Shady Grove Road: State Road 69 south from Grand Ridge for a mile, then left on County Road 69A for 5.9 miles. Anglers have logged 4 bass of eight pounds or more from the lake in the state's TrophyCatch program.

Ocheesee Pond Public Boat Ramp

Grand Ridge, FL

Parking

spots

Fee

Jackson County ramp off Shady Grove Road, one launch lane, no launch fee listed.