Aerial tour of Rodman with Crews and Co.

Posted on
It’s a sunny, warming day on Friday, Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. Rodman Reservoir connects to the St. Johns River via the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
It’s a sunny, warming day on Friday, Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. Rodman Reservoir connects to the St. Johns River via the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
Take an aerial ride-along of the legendary fishery, with a first stop at tournament leader, at the time, John Crews.
Take an aerial ride-along of the legendary fishery, with a first stop at tournament leader, at the time, John Crews.
It was 9 a.m. when this photo was taken, and Crews was already filling his livewell.
It was 9 a.m. when this photo was taken, and Crews was already filling his livewell.
Just after the previous photo was taken, Patrick Walters arrived near Crews.
Just after the previous photo was taken, Patrick Walters arrived near Crews.
Walters was making hard jerks of his rod tip, working a jerkbait over a flat bordering the channel.
Walters was making hard jerks of his rod tip, working a jerkbait over a flat bordering the channel.
A few minutes later, Crews moved out to a flat bordering the channel.
A few minutes later, Crews moved out to a flat bordering the channel.
We left Crews and Walters, seeking another angler, finding Scott Martin working along this shoreline.
We left Crews and Walters, seeking another angler, finding Scott Martin working along this shoreline.
The back end of Rodman is filled with pennywort, seen between Martin’s boat and the shoreline.
The back end of Rodman is filled with pennywort, seen between Martin’s boat and the shoreline.
This is the view above Martin’s area, looking to the back end of the reservoir, where vegetation is denser than the woody habitat found nearer the canal on the opposite end.
This is the view above Martin’s area, looking to the back end of the reservoir, where vegetation is denser than the woody habitat found nearer the canal on the opposite end.
This is the view towards the canal, with Walters and Crews far in the background.
This is the view towards the canal, with Walters and Crews far in the background.
Martin continues using a long rod to probe the vegetation, searching for prespawn or even early spawners.
Martin continues using a long rod to probe the vegetation, searching for prespawn or even early spawners.
Next, we find Matt Robertson, working a flat in the back end of the reservoir.
Next, we find Matt Robertson, working a flat in the back end of the reservoir.
This is the dense, mixed vegetation of pennywort, water hyacinth, lily pads and other growths.
This is the dense, mixed vegetation of pennywort, water hyacinth, lily pads and other growths.
At the entrance to the reservoir is the canal, where Drew Cook is working along a shoreline.
At the entrance to the reservoir is the canal, where Drew Cook is working along a shoreline.
Cook is all alone at the entrance to the canal, with the remaining anglers choosing to fish inside the reservoir.
Cook is all alone at the entrance to the canal, with the remaining anglers choosing to fish inside the reservoir.