Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Lake Hatchineha Road was closed for approximately five hours early Wednesday after a fatal crash on Lake Hatchineha Road. Polk County Fire Rescue and sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the crash at 12:26 a.m. The preliminary investigation by the PCSO's Traffic Homicide investigators determined that Douglas Fairel, Jr. of Haines City was driving a 2021 Cadillac Escalade westbound on Lake Hatchineha Road when his vehicle crossed over the center line and collided head-on with...
According to officials of the Polk County Road and Drainage Division, Canal Road in Lake Wales will be closed beginning today, Thursday September 19 from Porter Road to Black Road. The closure is one of several that has impacted motorists across Polk County in recent weeks and months. The stretch of road is being reconstructed through a process called "full-depth reclamation" that restores the roadbed to a like-new condition, after which it will be finished with a new asphalt...
Area boaters, fishers, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders in the area's natural resources are being invited to attend a public meeting that will influence future management of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced a public meeting to discuss aquatic habitat management in the chain on Wednesday, Sept.18. The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Office, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane,...
A new road closure will require long detours for yet more motorists in eastern Polk County, while other projects extend well beyond their announced completions. Drainage upgrades will close Timberlane Road just south of the intersection with Canal Road northeast of Lake Wales beginning Thursday, August 8. The work is scheduled to take two weeks. The cross drains beneath the roadway leading to Lake Pierce are being replaced ahead of a county project to resurface Timberlane...
A weeklong sewer extension project in Lake Hamilton will require the closure of a stretch of Lake Hatchineha Road for several days. According to Bill Skelton of the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division, the closure will affect a portion of the road just east of Scenic Highway. The project was previously scheduled to begin on September 26, but has now been rescheduled to start Tuesday morning, October 10, with an expedited reopening no later than Friday afternoon October 13....
On a split vote, Polk County Commissioners refused to overturn the narrow approval of a sprawling development on a rural two-lane road in eastern Polk County about ten miles northeast of Lake Wales. The Creek Ranch development required the approval of a binding site plan for the 1,289 acres of rural land to accommodate 1,876 homes plus commercial uses off Hatchineha Road. The site is mostly surrounded by conservation lands and lies north of Lake Pierce and east of Dundee. The...
A huge development proposal in unincorporated Polk County not far from Lake Wales is drawing fervent opposition from neighbors and residents, who are showing up in Bartow to argue their case against the project. The Creek Ranch development requires the approval of a binding site plan for the 1,289 acres of rural land to accommodate 1,876 homes and commercial uses off Hatchineha Road. The site is mostly surrounded by conservation lands and lies north of Lake Pierce and east of...
For the best local fishing action head to Lake Walk-in-the-Water, where bank fishermen are catching limits of bluegill and shell crackers from the Indian Lake canals. Lake levels coming finally up and bass are more active both early and late. Throw a Whopper Plopper in bluegill around any isolated cover. On Lake Kissimmee fishers are still catching shell crackers in the lily pads near Gobbler Ridge, around Lemon Point, and Bird Island, mostly on red worms. Lots of recent rain...
For the best local fishing action head to Lake Walk-in-the-Water, where bluegill and shell crackers may be found in lily pads around the lake. Look for the pads shaking, and drop a red worm on the bottom. There are a few bass roaming the shallows at day break and in the evening. Throw a "horny toad" in the junebug color to any isolated cover on the south end. Due to the extremely low water level, Lake Hatchineha is unsafe for boating and fishing, and it is advised to avoid...
Despite the onset of near-daily rains, the upper Kissimmee chain, including Lake Hatchineha, remains very low. Boaters are urged to use extreme caution to avoid running into concealed shoals, sandbars, or other obstacles that would normally be safely passed over. On Lake Hatchineha, b e especially careful. With the full moon this week, expect to catch shellcrackers in the lily pads across from the port. Bass are schooling at the mouths of canals. On Lake Walk-in-Water, check...
The passing of the season's first tropical system left precious little rain in area gauges, so water levels in area lakes are continuing to suffer, with some still headed lower. Fishing remains in a transitional time until the summer monsoon rains start in earnest.. The upper Kissimmee chain, including Lake Hatchineha, is VERY low. A few bluegill are being caught there by marker ten, and a few bass are being caught on frogs on outside edges early. On Lake Walk-in-Water, the...
Although the summer rains are starting, they have still been spotty and fishing is in a transitional time with low water levels in some area lakes. On Lake Walk-in-Water, bluegill and a few shellcracker mixed in are being caught in pads and grass. A few bass can be caught on outside points in the grass and reeds. Start off casting a worm. If that doesn't produce, switch over to a creature style bait. On Lake Kissimmee, bass are roaming the outside edge, so throw a popping...
The beginning of the wet summer season is upon us, and that means lots of changes in fishing patters. The dry spring has left some lakes very low, which also means that boaters should exercise caution around potential shoals. On Lake Walk-in-Water, try drifting with a Whack-em jig off shore for specks. Anglers are catching 10-15 per trip with some really good ones mixed in. Bass are offshore and out in front of the big pier at Indian Lake on the east side of lake. Drag a...
On Lake Walk-in-Water, anglers are still catching bluegill on crickets in the pads and grass. Bass are up shallow morning before the heat and wind picks up, and evening if the breeze lies down. Try throwing top-water lures. On Lake Hatchineha, Chandler point is still a good place to catch a limit of bluegill, both worms and crickets are affective. Bass are schooling on shell early. Work with a chrome and blue rattletrap as well as a Carolina rig. On Lake Kissimmee, try 27...
On Lake Walk-in-Water, bluegill action is heating up for those who are using crickets in the lily pads. Throw a Gambler Big EZ or Houdini lure first thing in the morning for bass. Some are running up to 5 pounds. The action on Lake Hatchineha is primarily bluegills and shellcrackers. They are being caught inside the grass lines across from the port. Bass are also starting to pick up in the morning. Try throwing a popping frog along the pad lines. Get out the flipping rod and...
On Lake Walk-in-Water, anglers are catching limits of bluegill on crickets in among the lily pads. Bass are pulling back out to the outside edge of vegetation. Throw a watermelon red speed worm around to find them. On Lake Hatchineha, catfish are being caught in the canals when the water is released. Bass are roaming inside the grass lines, so try covering the water with a popping frog early, then try moving out as the day goes on. On Lake Kissimmee, shell cracker still being...
On Lake Walk-in-Water, anglers are catching their limit of shell crackers and bluegill in the lily pads on red worms and crickets. Bass are roaming inside, feeding after the spawn near the top of the water first thing in the morning. Slow down and use a worm on the outside of the grass line. On Lake Hatchineha, shell crackers are in the pads on the east side of the lake. Fish with a worm or cricket. The water is running in the canals, so anglers are catching bass at the...
Not too many anglers were out last week due to the high winds we have experienced, but now that calmer weather has arrived, the fish and fishers are active again. On Lake Walk-in-Water, bluegill and shellcracker are still biting in the lily pads on crickets. With the full moon coming this weekend you can expect one more good wave of bass up in shallow water. On Lake Hatchineha, it's a good idea to try the east side of the lake for shell crackers in the pads. Bass can be found...
With warming weather and recent rains, fishing patterns keep changing. Keep checking back for the latest updates. On big Lake Walk-in-the-Water, bluegill and shell cracker are still being caught on red worms and crickets in the lily pads and grass. Bass are schooling on shad in the grass first thing in the morning. Try throwing a white horny toad lure around the grass margins. On Lake Hatchineha, a few local anglers are still catching specks at day light in Gator Cove using...
Fishing is red hot at the moment, so don't miss this opportunity to get a hold of a bucket-mouth or a stringer of shellcrackers! On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, anglers are catching a ton of shellcrackers in the main lake and in the canals, using worms in the pads and grass. Bass are moving to outside edges and can be caught on a frog around the reeds and grass. On Lake Hatchineha, shellcrackers can be found in the lily pads on the east side of the lake with bluegill mixed in. The...
As the weather changes, so does the fishing, so stay informed about what's biting, and where you can find them! On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, there's action with blue gill and shell cracker, which are being caught in the pads. Some speckled perch are still being caught in the grass first thing in the morning. Bass up to 8.5 pounds are being caught in the reeds on a popping frog and Senko. On Lake Hatchineha, specks are still being caught in Gator Cove around scattered hydrilla on...
With the full moon in March the shell crackers are starting to show up in the lily pads. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, anglers are still catching specks on minnows around offshore brush. The bass are still bedding in shallow cover, so try throwing a white super fluke. On Lake Hatchineha head out first thing in the morning on Candlers Point and cast into grass using minnows for a limit. Bass are starting to move out into deeper water, so throwing a Chatterbait on shell. On big...
The weather forecast this week is for continued warm weather and a chance of showers and thunderstorms until Saturday, when it's predicted to get dangerously gusty on area lakes. Please use caution as you boat about. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, folks are starting to catch bluegill and shell cracker in the grass and pads on red worms and wigglers. Bass are starting to move to more isolated cover, so try using a redbug trick worm working it slow. For Lake Hatchineha, if you are...
Editor's Note: We would like to share photos of you with your big catch! If you have tips or photos you care to share, please email them directly to [email protected]. Low water on area lakes due to the very dry winter have resulted in some hazards for area fishermen, especially on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. On Lake Hatchineha, rumor says shell crackers are starting to show up, so try using red worms in the pads. Speck fisherman are catching fish around scattered hyd...
Editor's Note: We would like to share photos of you with your big catch! f you have tips or photos you care to share, please email them directly to [email protected]. Warmer weather is raising water temperatures on area lakes just as bass are starting to spawn, so many fish are mobile right now. Fishing on Lake Walk-in-the-Water seems to be producing specks at night under lights, using minnows drifting. Bass fishing picked up a little last week with the moon, so try...
