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Fellsmere Reservoir – Headwaters Lake

Headwaters Lake

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Fellsmere Reservoir ★★★★★ 5 28 reviews
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Fellsmere Reservoir FISHING

Headwaters Lake FISHING

Fellsmere Lake FISHING

Pricing?To get current pricing. Click on the INSTANT BOOK button on the pictures below. Then adjust the number of people going, choose the date, and time slot, and it will display the total price

About Headwaters Fishing Charters

Headwaters Fishing Charters

About Fellsmere

Fellsmere grade recreation area, also known as Fellsmere Reservior, Lake Eden, Headwaters Lake, and Lake Headwaters, is a 10 000 acre humanmade world class lake in Indian River county bordering Farm 13, Stick Marsh, Blue Cypress Lake, and Lake Garica. FWC and SJRWMD conducted extensive habitat work before flooding and making this a bass fishery. The structural habitat and numerous underwater features are designed to provide a once-in-a-lifetime bass fishing experience with many sport fishing opportunities.

Once the reservoir flooded, FWC stocked nearly 1,000,000 sport fish, along with crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. It took years to open the fishery; management actions and fish population sampling have shown the bass population has flourished in this habitat rich environment. Continue to read more to understand the structure, fishing patterns, boat ramp, maps, and why anglers think it’s world class!  Read More

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Trip Core Details

  • Region: Florida, Palm Bay
  • Duration: 4, 6, 8, & 12 hrs
  • Cancellation: 12 hrs in advance
  • Weather-Related: Full refund
  • Instant Online Confirmation
  • Includes All State Taxes
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What's Included:

  • All Fishing Equipment
  • Professional Captain
  • Boat & Fuel
  • Cooler & Ice
  • Bottled water
  • Photos

Targeted Species:

largemouth bassCrappieBluegill
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What's NOT Included:

  • Florida Freshwater Fishing License for those ages 16+
  • Live bait if desired is also additional and is purchased the morning of the trip. (optional)
  • Food or Specialty beverages

Amenities:

  • Fishing Chairs
  • GPS & Fishfinder
  • Life Jackets
  • Catch and Release Allowed
  • Keep Fish Allowed within Laws

About this Tour:

  • Boat Specs: 20+ ft
  • Boat Capacity: 4 People
  • All Fishing Equipment
  • Boat & Fuel
  • Photos

Fishing Techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Livebait
  • Fly Fishing
  • Artificial Lures

Fishing Equipment:

  • Spinning Rods
  • Baitcasting Rods
  • Left & Right Handed
  • Fly Rods (request only)
  • Braid & Mono Line
Vero Beach Fishing Charters

headwaters lake Fishing Guides

Meet the TEAM of local Fellsmere Reservoir fishing guides, we know the best spots, baits, and techniques to give you the greatest fishing guides.

Fellsmere Reservoir Fl Reviews

Fellsmere Lake Fl Reviews

Headwaters

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
Enjoyed fishing with Paul today. Bud & I fished 6 hrs with Paul today at headwaters. 27 fish on a day after a cold front with blue bird skies and a cold north wind. Not ideal conditions. An excellent day. Very knowledgeable about fishing conditions, lake history and the bite. Good equipment, safe boat handling skills and a steward of others, a respect for a very valuable resource - the lake itself. Hire Paul for your next trip.
- Bill Howell

Another great trip with Captain Paul

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
Just finished my third trip with Captain Paul at Headwaters Lake and Captain Paul did not disappoint. Even during some poor weather we still boated 90 quality fish. Captain Paul knows where to find them! While catching fish is the most important thing, Captain Paul also provides a quality boat and fishing gear along with a personality that makes the fishing even better. If you’re looking to use a guide at Headwaters Lake, you can’t go wrong with Captain Paul!
- Bryan Oelkers

Best Fishing Experience

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
I never have used a fishing guide service before, being a former guide at wilderness lodge in Montana and Idaho, I’m very glad I choose Capt Paul Dampier he is not only a guide, but after fishing with him a friend and he did a unbelievable job putting me on fish “alot of fish” and caught my PB , He’s honest down to earth and no BS fish story telling fisherman. Much respect <
- Don

Capt. Paul Dampier ROCKS!!

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
4 hours. Caught 22 bass. Amazing fun day with Capt Paul Dampier on Headwaters Lake. Capt Paul knows the spots.
- Melchior Heller

Bass Fishing Headwaters

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
This is our 2nd year fishing with Captain Bill. Would highly recommend! Me and my son had a blast! Looking forward to 2 more days this week. My son caught his personal best bass today!
- Craig Beachum

Awesome Day

Fellsmere Reservoir
★★★★★
Had a great day with Capt. Steve on a day with 25 mph winds. He made it a fun day catching lots of fish even with the tough conditions. I highly recommend Capt. Steve and will definitely book another trip with him!
- Wayne
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pALM bAY Florida

Fellsmere Reservoir Fishing

Why fish Fellsmere? In simple terms, most fishing lakes show real high and lows, and while Lake Egan has days when you are not setting your PB, more than average, it continues to be an incredible bass fishing factory. Many rumors report catches in the triple-digit quantities in a single day, which we have experienced and accomplished many times with customers.

But significant numbers keep anglers busy because this is a place where the odds of numbers will pay off. You can only catch so many fish before that big hits. There is ample opportunity to target only trophies, with specific techniques like flipping or simply using wild shiners.

Like most places, the winds can take a toll on water quality. The usual water supply quality is excellent, but don’t be surprised if it changes. Just make an adjustment, find cleaner water, and you will get the results you want.

Water levels depth vary by season and rainy season, but 6 feet is what they are looking to keep the average depth around. Now, that’s the average; there are much shallower spots, so use caution, but there are some areas as deep as 30 feet.

Best Techniques for Big Bass

There are thousands of acres of underwater vegetation, submerged trees, and expansive amounts of quality hydrilla. The thousands of acres of emergents and the visual look of cattails and spatterdock pads leads you to not knowing where to cat next. Please start with bass fishing’s basic rules, find something that looks healthy, and cast to it. Catch one, that’s luck, catch two, that’s a pattern. Keep track of what the bass are holding to and look for more of that area and structure.

For years, the bass angler has heard bass fishing anglers saying how hard Lake Okeechobee was to the pattern because of its size and that it all looks so good; where do you start? Well, folks, this place is no different. From the time you put your boat in the water, it is very fishy, which is perhaps the only downside to fishing Headwaters Lake.

Fish your strength, if, like pounding shorelines, there are plenty here. Do you like targeting submerged trees? Well, there is an endless amount. Maybe underwater vegetation is your thing, ripen rattle traps or slow rolling a swimbait through the grass, well good news, you’re going to need about a month to fish it all. Stick to your strength when fishing this location, whether that’s fishing fast or slow, and you will find the fish!

What to throw?

Because the fishery is so new, many of the 1 million largemouth bass have never seen a lure, so most fishermen are using artificial lures. It is hard to go wrong in Lake Edan as the bass don’t seem to mind a diverse menu. Plastics, spinnerbaits, plugs, swimbaits, and jerk baits are an excellent way to fish because of the vast vegetation sticking with weedless lures until you locate the fish.

Suppose you are a cranker, headwaters lake as something for you as well. There are numerous deep ponds and lakes where deep diving crankbaits will land your trophy bass. Your ability and the vegetation only limits to using topwater. Lures that cover water are good choices when the fish are active; a speed worm or fluke will allow you to do that effectively and not get frustrated. When the fish are less active, try casting a Senko or a good old reliable worm.

If the wind is blowing, try adding a small 1/16 once weight to your lure to provide more control, feel, and casting distance—favorite color among most Central Florida lakes in Green Pumpkin, which always does well. In the real clear water, a lighter watermelon works well, as a choice, we like dark colors, Junebug and black.

If topwater is your thing, try a Gamble big easy or Zoom Horny toad plastics as it will come through all the cover very well. And like all lakes in Florida, using live bait with Wild Shiners work very well.

Summary

We believe everyone involved would like to see Egan Lake catch and release only; the Fish and Wildlife conservation commission FWC decided not to make it that way for some insane reason. So it is currently under the normal statewide State of Florida limit laws. Why it doesn’t make any sense to promote a freshwater fishing trophy catch program if we’re not going to protect the fishing capital of the world!

You’ll like Fellsmere Reservior, Lake Eden, Headwaters Lake area if you give it a chance!!!

MORE INFORMATION ON HEADWATERS LAKE FISHING

12 Reasons Why Headwaters is Unquie

  1. Flooding began in 2015, has been fished till 2020 by the mass public.
  2. Access to 10,000 acres total, 7,000 is considered fishable, the rest is Marsh
  3. Native Florida fish populations in ditches keep original stain dominant
  4. A million bass stocked, 500,000 in 2015 and 500,000 in 2016
  5. Florida hatchery confirm DNA test of 100% Florida strain bass
  6. Statewide bag and length limits apply, not Catch and Release only
  7. Stocked with Largemouth Bass, Redear sunfish, Bluegill and Crappie
  8. FWC state regulations on Panfish and Catfish
  9. The expected water level is 19.5 feet above sea level
  10. Average depth 6′, deepest water 30′ plus
  11. Just under 7 miles North to South, and 3 miles wide
  12. Indian burial mounds, 3 exist on the lake & protected

Recreational Outdoor Activities

Of course, fishing also provides seasonal hunting, hiking, bicycling areas along levees, wildlife viewing, canoeing, kayaking, and boating. The access canals are narrow with blind corners; boating speeds shall not exceed 25 mph and enforced by FWC. These speed limits are within designated portions of channels marked “idle speed,” no wake.

Wildlife viewing

Let’s all respect wildlife and use caution while visiting the Fellsmere reservoir and the surrounding area. These are dedicated wilderness areas with wild animals. For the safety of the animals, please do not feed them or antagonize any wild animals. It contains a foraging and nesting habitat for snail kites and other birds on the property’s eastern corner. It’s not uncommon to see great blue herons, white ibis, snowy egrets, limpkins, and night herons in these wetlands. Other species include wood storks, ospreys, and bald eagles are common as well.

Kayaking Opportunities

Canoeing, Kayaking, and Paddle craft users come in countless shapes, sizes, and colors. Whether it is a paddle version or powered version, they are a popular freshwater fishing attraction in this area and have their launch ramp. Thinking of visiting Headwaters lake Fellsmere Fl, don’t hesitate, it’s an outstanding experience. Vegetation is very visible, but there are many canals to avoid dense areas.

It’s relatively open; when fishing Fellsmere Reservoir is a massive place. Please pay attention to the weather and wind before and during your trip, especially if you plan for a long day and venturing long ways from the launch point. Without having obstructions, the wind can pick up and put quite the chop on the lake. If you find boat traffic awful, recommend during the week if at all possible. Otherwise, enjoy yourselves, it’s a fantastic place!

Non-motorized access by the St Johns River water management district is available to the L75 levee and a non-motorized watercraft launch at the Fellsmere reservoir area.

Fellsmere Reservior Boat Ramp

A partnership between the St Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FWC has installed the Fellsmere Reservoir boat ramp providing anglers access. Which is in Indian River County, will open to the public from daylight to dusk.

You will find a pair of beautiful boat ramps with floating and complete ADA access—a complete paved ramp parking area with basic restrooms. There is no tackle shop, store, ice, or gas; please get all that before you arrive. The taxpayers contributed over 1 million dollars to enhance this project.

Current hEADWATERS Fishing ReportS

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Fellsmere Reservoir Directions

Headwaters Lake is directly east of Sebastian Florida and just South of Melbourne on the Treasure Coast. Where you can find the local Bass Pro Shops named after the local fishery “Stick Marsh Outpost.” Located on the border between Brevard and Indian River counties, which is separated by the C-54 canal. As you driving down Stick marsh road, this is the canal on your north side; it runs west to a spillway at the Stick Marsh boat ramp area.

Either traveling from the north or south, I-95 is your best option. Because of the interstate access, the reservoir is a pleasant drive for anyone from any direction.

North

I am coming from the north, exit Malabar road on I-95 in Palm Bay. Exit east, turn south on Babcock Street, go for approximately 11 miles. Look for a small concrete bridge; it’s labeled the C54 canal; turn right after the bridge onto Fellsmere Grade Road.

South

If traveling from the south, exit Fellsmere Rd off I-95. Head west on SR512 into the town of Fellsmere. Turn right on N Broadway Street, go 1/4 mile, then take a left on South Carolina Ave. Go 1/4 mile again and take a right onto SR507.

Look for a small concrete bridge; it’s labeled the C54 canal; turn left before the bridge onto Fells Grade Road.

Continue west on Fells Grade Road, following the C54 canal on your right for approximately 7 miles. The road has improved over the years; it is a graded dirt road. Like all dirt roads, it can be dusty during the summer, bumpy anytime, and have lots of puddles during the rainy season. The speed limit is posted 35mph, but you will find the people that creep and others that almost fly. It’s 5 miles give or take, to Headwaters lake boat ramp and park lot, which will be on your left; if you continue to the end, this is the Stick Marsh Farm 13 park lot and overflow lot for the Fellsmere lake ramp.

Being new, we have seen the park lot complete busing at the seems, there is typically plenty of parking, but the fishing continues to bring more people. An overflow area for times of high use has been established, which helps. Do not park along the main road; you will be towed. Wintertime brings tourists from the north, duck season for locals, and crappie anglers. This is the prime season, so plan on the parking lot being full.

A few covered picnic areas make for a nice family picnic if you pass through. It also has public grills and restrooms, which are fancy outhouse style bathrooms.

Note: Additional parking is available 2 miles west at the Stick Marsh boat ramp.

Fellsmere Reservoir Map

Note: Below find a Fellsmere water management area map by St Johns River Water management
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