Lake Istokpoga
Lorida, Florida

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.

 

 
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friendsofistokpoga.homestead.com
A nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to saving Lake Istokpoga from harm.

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.

Henderson's Fish Camp 941/465-2101, 35 Henderson Rd, Lake Placid, FL 33852-5466

Remos Guide Service, 863-655-0820, 3816 Cowhouse Rd, Lorida, FL 33857-9587

Trails End Fishing Resort, 863-655-0134, 4232 Trails End, Lorida, FL 33857-9591

Lake Istokpoga Guide Service, 863-655-2534, 6200 Cypress Ln, Sebring, FL 33876-6404

Mossy Cove Fish Camp, 863-655-0119, Lake Istokpoga, Lorida, FL 33857

LAKE ISTOKPOGA MARINA
88 KNOX LANE, LAKE PLACID, FL 33852, (863)699-9585

Florida Swamp Tour, 863-655-2534, 6200 Cypress Ln, Sebring, FL 33876-6404