Fishing the Freshwater Springs of Rainbow River, Dunnellon, FL

There is something special about fishing the freshwater springs of Rainbow River in Dunnellon, FL. Experiencing the peacefulness on the river from a paddle board at dawn and watching all the wildlife. We saw wild hogs, otters, alligators, turkey, mallard ducks, wood ducks, blue herons, and caught numerous fish to include largemouth bass and bream on artifical lures. This is an amazing destination!
- Thurso Surf inflatable paddleboard
- Shimano fishing reel and rod
- Zman jerk shadz in redfish toad color

[@rogerhyde5990]

I have been Fortunate enough to have fished on this river since about 1978. There are some big fish there. We have had great success Trolling Deep Diver Baby Bass lures in the Deep Bend Curves of the Rainbow and the Withlachooce that it runs into.
Nice video I recognized all those great spots

[@spencernole93]

Thanks Roger. That river is one of my favorite places to visit. Especially early in the morning. Hopefully you get a chance to visit again soon. I'm headed back in two weeks. Can't wait!

[@3DThrills]

I've been living 5 miles away from the springhead for 13 years and want to try some fishing.
Is the Rainbow River only catch and release, or can you eat your Bass and panfish?

[@Busyascanbe]

Headed there for a four day weekend…with my kayak! A friend of mine has two houses and one lot…..right on the river! Been there before but looking forward to using my own yak! Awesome video!

[@spencernole93]

Good luck! It's amazing beautiful. Especially at dawn.

[@davidwarren9761]

And Florida just keeps getting better. With all the work they are doing down south maybe they can make the glades pristine again. My dad said when he was a kid in the 30's it would rain almost every day when he lived in the Arcadia Orphan's home. The Florida weather cycle was much more influenced then because a lot more of southern Florida was wetlands.

[@spencernole93]

I can only imagine how beautiful Florida was back then. Less people more open, undeveloped land, and clean water.

[@audrawhite864]

Gorgeous

[@spencernole93]

Yes it is!

[@bronson9333]

You just earned yourself a new sub

[@CJ-sq3di]

Hey man are there any launch sites you can launch at early besides blue run, I like to launch at six, where do you launch at?

[@spencernole93]

I normally launch from the State Park campground while camping. Otherwise, Blue Run is your only other option for early morning public launches.

[@squarecracker]

I want to buy one of those houses so bad.

[@spencernole93]

They are beautiful!

[@collinbellomy3780]

I used to live on that first property you were on

[@spencernole93]

Why did you move!?? That place is beautiful. Still live in the area?

[@collinbellomy3780]

@@spencernole93 it’s our summer home but my aunt is living there

[@datvanssecuritymanager349]

I live here and I wanted to know what baits you liked

[@spencernole93]

Zman jerk shadz work well for me.

[@robricketts8273]

@@spencernole93 what color Zman Jerk shadz was you using

[@spencernole93]

@@robricketts8273 Redfish Toad color.

[@robricketts8273]

@@spencernole93 I live 10 minutes away from the Rainbow river and I always get skunked there lol

[@spencernole93]

@@robricketts8273 gotta get out early in the morning before the crowds. They shut down by 10 a.m.

[@3DThrills]

Is Rainbow River only catch and release?
I don't see that in any regulations I can find but every single person I see on fishbrain released their catch.

[@spencernole93]

You can keep them if they are in season and within the limit. I'm typically all catch and release.

[@3DThrills]

Thanks. Don't you like to eat fresh fish?@@spencernole93

[@datvanssecuritymanager349]

I got my pb here 12.4 pounds

[@callmekrabs6779]

what bait were u using?

[@spencernole93]

Zman jerk shadz

[@brentbauer1924]

I fish Dunnellon a lot. Wacky rig and fish it slow

[@spencernole93]

I agree. Very effective!