With things returning to normal, FOI plans on restarting regular email updates. Initially they will be two times a month. As normal activities return we may be able to return to weekly updates.
Here is a list of bass tournaments on Lake Istokpoga which have requested exemptions between now and the first weekend of 2022. This information is as provided by FWC from the tournament directors. (I should have a similar schedule for all of Highland County’s lakes available later this week.)
| Schedule | |||||||
| Lake Name | Tournament Date | Weigh-in Station | Release Instructions | Club name: | Tournament Name | Anglers | Weigh-in Time |
| Lake Istokpoga | Saturday, November 20, 2021 | Istokpoga Park | All fish must be released in open water, at least 100 yards beyond the end of the boardwalk. | REBEL BOY’S | ISTOKPOGA | 24 | 3:00 PM |
| Sunday, November 21, 2021 | Istokpoga Park | All fish must be released in open water, at least 100 yards beyond the end of the boardwalk. | REBEL BOY’S | ISTOKPOGA | 24 | 2:00 PM | |
| Saturday, November 27, 2021 | Istokpoga Park | All fish must be released in open water, at least 100 yards beyond the end of the boardwalk. | AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS | BASS PRO SHOPS FISHING TOUR | 30 | 3:00 PM | |
| Saturday, December 11, 2021 | Istokpoga Park | All fish must be released in open water, at least 100 yards beyond the end of the boardwalk. | AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS | BASS PRO SHOPS FISHING TOUR | 30 | 3:00 PM | |
| Sunday, December 12, 2021 | Windy Point Boat Ramp | Fish must be released in open water a minimum of 150 yards lakeward of the boat ramp. | South florida Elite Team Series | SOUTH FLORIDA ELITE TEAM SERIES | 60 | 3:15 PM | |
| Saturday, December 18, 2021 | Istokpoga Park | All fish must be released in open water, at least 100 yards beyond the end of the boardwalk. | The Big Show Bass Tournaments | THE BIG SHOW BASS TOURNAMENTS LLC | 160 | 2:00 PM | |
| AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS | BASS PRO SHOPS FISHING TOUR | 30 | 3:00 PM | ||||
Tournament directors have until the day before their tournament to schedule or make changes to their tournament exemption. The exemption allows the tournament participants an exemption from the length limits, but not the bag limit, while participating in the tournament. All fish must then be released; any dead fish are normally provided to a charity such as a homeless shelter.
Friends of Istokpoga Public Meeting: The next FOI public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, at the Lorida Community Center, starting at 7 PM. FWC will bring information on their current activities maintaining Lake Istokpoga. In addition, Don Norton will be there with copies of his latest book for a book-signing,
FWC Lake Management Orientation: FOI has arranged with FWC for an escorted look at FWC management operations on Lake Istokpoga. Several FWC biologists will escort FOI visitors to work sites on the lake, using an FWC airboat. This gives the public a close look at the problems, constraints, and results of FWC activities. Approximately six persons can go at one time. The dates are not yet set, but you can sign up to be included on one of these trips while at the FOI public meeting on Thursday. Post-meeting, others will have a chance to fill any available slots by signing up at the Friends of Lake Istokpoga Facebook page.
Improvements at Istokpoga Park and Windy Point: Improvements at both locations are in planning and have been funded. The pandemic brought preparations to a halt, but the effort is restarting. One issue has been permitting, which requires approvals by DEP and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Until permits are available there may be design changes required, so it’s premature to comment on final designs. The initial plans were worked out in meetings that included the county, FWC, FOI and bass tournament directors.
Other Items:
Lake Istokpoga current level: 39.52’, with three gates open 0.4’
Lake Management Activities: The Lake Istokpoga Facebook page has a special unit on the Habitat Management Plan. Restrictions imposed by the current pandemic made public presentations and coordination impossible, but the plan is in use by FWC and will be discussed at the FOI public meeting. The entire plan is available for download at lakeistokpoga.wordpress.com, as is a less voluminous summary. In addition, the first section (History) has been summarized in a special unit on the Lake Istokpoga Facebook page. Current information on lake management activities is available at MyFWC.com/lake. (Note: as this update was being prepared, FWC was upgrading and moving their lake management files. The links may be inoperative for a couple of days.)
Lake Photos: Photos of catches being made on Lake Istokpoga show up regularly on personal Facebook pages and other social media. Consider adding your lake photos to the Lake Istokpoga Facebook page to let more folks know about your successes.
Questions and Answers: If you have a question about lake activities, such as how the water regulation schedule works or a question about the identity of an animal, consider sending it to FOI for an answer by using the email address istokupdates@earthlink.net. We will try, within our resources, to do two things: (a) send a preliminary answer within 24 hours of our receipt; and (b) provide either an authoritative answer as quickly as that can be found or a reference to a source for the answer. We’ve established a few links with specialists who have offered to provide information if requested.
Future Meeting Schedule:
Next Highlands County Lake Istokpoga Management Committee (LIMC) meeting – to be announced. The LIMC has had one post-pandemic meeting, and another will be scheduled shortly as the county returns to normal operations. The LIMC is an advisory committee to the Board of County Commissioners, is open to the public, and is the route the public can uses to raise concerns about Lake Istokpoga.
Next Friends of Istokpoga membership meeting: Thursday, November 18, 7 PM, Lorida Community Center. Speakers will be a panel of FWC biologists to present information on current lake management activities.
The Friends of Istokpoga Board of Directors meets once each month, usually on the first Friday of the month. To suggest topics for board discussion, contact a board member or send your suggestion to istokupdates@earthlink.net. Use that same e-mail address for any suggestions for the weekly update.
Useful Links:
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- On Lake Istokpoga, anglers should be careful around unmarked sand bars near Arbuckle Creek and Josephine Creek. Information on Lake Istokpoga lake levels is available here or here.
- Information on current plant control operations is available here. Enter the name of the body of water for which the information is requested.
- Friends of Istokpoga Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofIstokpoga/
- Lake Istokpoga Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Istokpoga/
- FWC points of contact:
- Habitat Improvements, Carly Althoff, Carly.Althoff@MyFWC.com;
- Invasive Plant Management, Geoffrey Lokuta, Geoffrey.Lokuta@MyFWC.com;
- Freshwater Fisheries, Sara Menendez, Sara.Menendez@MyFWC.com;
- Highlands County Natural Resources Manager, Dawn Ritter, dritter@hcbcc.org
- Lake Istokpoga Management Committee: Contact Highlands County Natural Resources Manager, Dawn Ritter
- Lake Istokpoga Habitat Management Plan:
- Program information: lakeistokpoga.wordpress.com
FOI Associate Members:
FOI Associate Members are invaluable in helping with our mission. Following is a list of Associate Members, and we hope you’ll keep them in mind when conducting business in the local area.
| Alan Jay Automotive | Audubon of Florida |
| Central Security & Electronics, Inc. | Reds Rod Repair & Custom Rods |
| Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc. | J & H Supply |
| Janet Mennella McGinty Realtor | Jim & Cathie Bannister |
| Lake Istokpoga Marina & RV | Mossy Cove Fish Camp |
| Olin Hill & Associates Insurance | Palms Estates of Highlands County |
| Ray Perry D&M Vending Co. | Smokey’s Pennsylvania Stone |
| Spring Lake Improvement District | The Gator Shack |
This update is a product of the Friends of Istokpoga, with information from Highlands County, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other confirmed sources and compiled by Jim Reed, for Friends of Istokpoga Lake Association, Inc.
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