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Lake Istokpoga - Lake Map
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Nearly 28,000 acres, Lake Istokpoga is one of the best fishing lakes and the fifth largest lake in the state of Florida. Anglers travel from all over the state and nation to fish Istokpoga. Birds of many species fly its massive boundaries and alligators of all sizes roam its marshy flatlands. The average depth of Lake Istokpoga is four to six feet, and it is fed by two creeks, Arbuckle and Josephine. The sunsets on Lake Istokpoga are unsurpassed.
Lake Istokpoga has been designated a Fish Management Area by an agreement between Highlands County Board Of County Commissioners and the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
There are several fish camps and fishing guides on lake Istokpoga, providing recreational and serious anglers alike, many hours of enjoyment. There are four public boat ramps and a dedicated park on the lake.
Are Jet Skis Permitted?
Yes, but we have alligators
Can you swim in the lake?
Their is no beach but some people do seim out on the lake off their boats although we have alligators
What is the water quality?
Tea stained
Average water level variance:
6 to 8 ft in the summer and 8 to 12ft in the winter
Are Boat Docks permitted?
Yes
Are Power Boats permitted?
Yes
Depth of Lake:
10 ft.
Nearby cities:
Lake Placid, 7.5 miles Lorida 9.5 miles
Nearest airport:
Sebring 30 miles Orlando, ft myers, sarasota, tampa, West palm beach, miami all about 2 hours
Lake Istokpoga Fishing Information
A popular site for both tournament and non-competitive anglers, this 27,480-acre eutrophic body of water, located southeast of Sebring, is now under the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission's (GFC) TEAM (Team Effort Accomplishing Management) banner.
GFC Biologist Tom Champeau, Istokpoga's TEAM project leader, rates bass fishing as superior, crappie output as better than average and bream (bluegill/shellcracker) activity just a tad below the .500 mark.
Located five miles northeast of Lake Placid, Highlands County, this 27,692-acre lake has quality fishing for black crappie (specks) and one of the highest largemouth bass catch rates in the state. The best speck fishing occurs during winter months drifting over open water, particularly in the northeast and southwest corners. Predominant aquatic vegetation includes spadderdock (bonnets), bulrush (buggy whips), cattail, and pondweed (pepper grass). Kissimmee grass on the south end is particularly productive when there is flow into the Istokpoga Canal. This canal, located off County Highway 621, provides excellent largemouth bass fishing from the bank when the gates are open. Arbuckle and Josephine Creek mouths are also good areas when there is flow. The island areas and associated grass can hold bass any time of year and the deepest portion of the lake (10 ft) is in the southwest corner. Public boat ramps are located on the north, northeast, and southwest shorelines off of U.S. Route 98, Lake Boulevard off Cow House Road, and Highland Lake Drive off of County Route 621, respectively. There are also six fish camps/resorts on the lake with various accommodations. Anglers can wade fish off of the Cow House Road boat ramp.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS ON LAKE ISTOKPOGA. A slot limit protects quality largemouth bass by requiring that all bass between 15 and 24 inches in length must be immediately released back into the lake. The daily bag limit is three fish per day. Only one of the three fish may be greater than 24 inches. This means you may keep three bass less than 15 inches, or two bass less than 15 inches and one bass greater than 24 inches.
Cypress Isle RV Park & Marina
863-465-5241, 2 Cypress Isle Lane, Lake Placid, FL 33852
Henderson's Fish Camp 941/465-2101, 35 Henderson Rd, Lake Placid, FL 33852-5466
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