I am working on my annual bassin trip to Florida and came across a recommendation on another site for Lake Istokpoga. Any suggestions on where to stay on the lake? I was looking at the 2nd week of April. Any thoughts on going that time of year? Patterns to use? Best areas of the lake to fish?

i just fished it yesterday from sun up to 3 and caught 6 fish. big fish was 3 pounds, and our 5 biggest went around 12 pounds. the wind was blowing pretty good out of the ne, so we did not get to go down south. we fished hendersons cove, josephine creek, arbuckle creek, and the heads in front of  lake istokpoga park. all fish were caught on flappin shads, pointers, and senkos. i love that lake, and i am going back next week to pre-fish because my club is having our classic on the 8th of december. i will let you know how i do next week. i am not sure where you can stay, but check in the town of lorida, there has to be accomodations there.

Istokpoga is limited in decent accomodations.  Sebring has decent hotels.  I would recommend a place on Crooked Lake with a private boat ramp and dock with power for charging batteries.  It is about 40 min from Istokpoga, 30 min from Kissimmee and an hour from Harris.

Lee

Thanks guys! I saw a place on line with cabins for rent at the lake. Might have been at the Marina. Are you familiar with it? How is the lake level? I have been reading about how low some of the lakes are and wondered about Istokpoga. The info I read said the depth averaged 4-6 feet with the deepest 10. How careful do you have to be getting around the lake? That's pretty shallow compared to what I'm used to. It's going to be a long cold winter up here. You guys really have it good down there!

Navigation: lots of shallows and shell banks

Lodging: Real fish camp stuff - mostly primative

Fishing: at times good - most often fair

Most productive: Henderson Cove, Grass Island, north shore in the grass, Big Island, and Bumble Bee Island. Soetimes in the SW cypress but that can get very weedy.

There is a rock bed east of Big Island that can be a hazard if water levels are down.