Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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An effort to reduce or eliminate fatal crashes at a dangerous intersection east of Lake Wales will see the Florida Department of Transportation closing crossing traffic in favor of U-turns. The intersection includes Boy Scout road, which runs north of SR 60 and serves Lake Kissimmee State Park and the Lakes Rosalie and Kissimmee areas. South of SR 60, Walk-in-the-Water Road serves a growing number of residents, as well as serving as a connector to CR 630. Traffic on the two...
The Lake Wales City Commission will consider relinquishing authority on major zoning changes to a city planning staff person who will serve as the final decision-maker. That choice may determine who controls decisions related to a proposal for a nearly 100-acre industrial facility on the city's south side. The issue is particularly timely because of the pending rezoning from "light industrial" to "heavy industrial" of the site, which adjoins both Highland Park and Highland Par...
Four separate construction projects are causing lengthy detours for area drivers, according to Bill Skelton, Project Management Liaison for Polk County. Travel delays, some lengthy, can be expected while traffic is detoured to bypass these closures. The newest announced closure is along Lake Wales-Alturas Road North, just west Crews Road, in rural, unincorporated Lake Wales. That road is closing at the railroad crossing on Thursday, February 23 for two to five days to allow...
Polk County commissioners are looking for volunteers who would like to serve on the county's Lake Access Advisory Committee. The Lake Access Advisory Committee studies how to increase public access to Polk County's lakes and reports findings and recommendations back to the County Commission. The Lake Access Advisory Committee includes 10 members appointed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. Each Commissioner appoints two members to the Committee, with staggered...
After tearing through a schedule that was expected to present challenges, the Lake wales Highlanders take on their district foes, the Liberty High School Chargers, tonight in Kissimmee. At 0-7 on the season the Osceola County team is not expected to present a a serious obstacle. Now ranked in the top slot among in 3-S District 8 teams, and 5th statewide in the re-shuffled state classification system, the Highlanders have been led through their remarkable season by senior...
Saturday, August 13 marked the 18th anniversary of the most destructive hurricane to strike Lake Wales in recent memory, and thankfully the tropics remain quiet so far. Only a weak disturbance drifting westward near Texas is being remarked upon by the National Hurricane Center. The Friday the 13th storm of 2004 was the first of three direct strikes here in only six weeks, an event unprecedented in recorded history. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne came evenly spaced, three weeks...
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...
As the 2022 hurricane season begins, a map of Polk County Public Shelters shows that of the 47 shelters listed, only one is located in southeast Polk County, an area stretching east of US 27 and south of Waverly Road from Lake Kissimmee Sate Park to the Highlands County line, and including a population of more than 80,000. Spook Hill Elementary School is the only public shelter for the vast area, which has also previously hosted waves of refugees fleeing storms threatening...
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...
Converting downtown streets into a shady pedestrian oasis through the Lake Wales Connected plan got a financial boost as the City of Lake Wales has received a Federal grant. Congressman Darren Soto (Dem, Kissimmee) arranged an $800,000 infusion for downtown street rehabilitation in the bi-partisan Infrastructure package approved by the US Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden. Those funds will aid in fulfilling the Lake Wales Connected plan, augmenting Community...
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! 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...
