Bank fishing for both fresh and saltwater species is popular at this location.
The bypass spillway feeds freshwater from Lake Rousseau into the lower Withlacoochee River, which flows downstream through the towns of Inglis and Yankeetown before reaching the Gulf of America.
Approximately four miles east of U.S. 19 along County Road 40 is the entrance to the Inglis Bypass Recreation Area. The paved entrance road runs south through the town of Inglis’ Buddy Risher Park, then turns westward for 0.75 miles along the Bypass Canal Road before ending at the Bypass Spillway Recreation Area.
There are two picnic pavilions along the waterfront where you can escape the sun or relax and watch the birds and other wildlife in the area.
The Bypass Canal and Spillway were constructed as an afterthought by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. This happened after they bisected the original Withlacoochee River channel with the barge canal, thus impeding the freshwater flow that historically continued on to the gulf.
There are also mowed grass paths that run along the bypass canal eastward from the spillway and westward from the barge canal all the way to U.S. 19. These are used for hiking, biking and other recreational pursuits.
