
Kidde Fire Extinguisher for Boats, Single-Use 5BC
Safety • Boating
Combats Marine Fires: Stop basic fires common to boats: flammable liquids and gases (Class B) & electrical equipment (Class C)
Available on Amazon.com

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Water level today
37.75 ft
-2.25 ft below full pool
Full pool: 40 ft
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Normal
Updated: 4 hr ago • Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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Conditions that may affect safety or access. Always verify with official sources before heading out.
Lake-specific pages: Weather · Lake level.
Lake Istokpoga is Florida's fifth-largest lake at about 27,700 acres in Highlands County near Lake Placid and Sebring. It is a shallow Kissimmee Basin lake regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District with the South Florida Water Management District for flood control and water supply. Primary inflows are Arbuckle Creek and Josephine Creek; outflow leaves through the Istokpoga Canal (C-41) toward the Kissimmee River and ultimately Lake Okeechobee.
Despite its size, Istokpoga averages only about 4 feet deep and reaches about 10 feet in the southwest corner, with roughly 42 miles of shoreline. Spatterdock, bulrush, cattail, Kissimmee grass, and two interior islands (Big and Bumble Bee) create extensive littoral structure across a broad, wind-exposed basin.
The lake is renowned for high catch rates of largemouth bass and strong black crappie (speck) fishing, with fisheries managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Multiple public ramps and fish camps ring the lake, drawing tournament and recreational anglers from across Florida.
USACE operates Istokpoga under a seasonal regulation schedule commonly held near 37.5 to 39.5 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29). Because the lake is so shallow, small stage changes expose or flood large marsh areas and affect boat access, so monitoring current lake levels is especially important for safe navigation and fishing.
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Istokpoga is a 27,692-acre reservoir on the Arbuckle Creek and Josephine Creek managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It plays an important role in flood control, hydropower generation, navigation, and water supply.
Find key access points and services around Lake Istokpoga.
Within 50 miles
Lake Istokpoga is currently 2.25 feet below full pool and has remained relatively stable over the past seven days.