Low Lake Levels Not Yet A Concern
DEEP LAKE FISHING
HAS GOTTEN BETTER
By DOUG CARMAN

SEBRING — Well, the lakes are low. Region-wide, they’re unusually low, even for the dry season.

Lake levels within the Lake Wales Ridge, which includes many of the lakes in Highlands County, have averaged 1.86 feet below what is referred to as the minimum lake management level, according to a water resource update from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. This is more than 3 feet lower than it was this time last year.

The MLM level is the five-year average annual low level for the lake recorded at the end of the dry season in late May.

Whether it’s a big deal or not depends on what you’re talking about.

Ecologically speaking, Highlands County Lakes Management Specialist Clell Ford said it is not a big issue, yet.

“It’s a healthy thing for lakes to fluctuate,” he said.

Ford did say that if the rain shortfalls continue into the wet season, it could create a serious impact, adding that he is expecting a further decline of 6 inches to a foot before June.

This won’t help the canals and waterways. Looking at the connector between Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson, the impact is rather obvious. This passageway is but a puddle under the southbound lanes of U.S. 27, dead-ending into a sand bar under the northbound lanes.

Recreationally, the local fishermen have been feeling the effects for a while.

Dave Douglass, the vice president of Save Our Source of Florida Lakes in Lorida, said the lowering levels will keep fish in the deep parts of the lakes. This is bad news for shore fishermen.

But he also suggested that there is a silver lining for the those willing to bring a boat out into the deeper parts. With the lack of competition from shore fishermen and the gathering of fish in the deep areas, the fishing would be much better there.

“People sitting and trolling will get fish,” Douglass said. “Fishermen needing something to look at and throw will be crying.”

Those fishing for speckled perch will simply be in tears.

“I don’t know if it had to do with lake levels or not, but speck and perch fishing has gone down hill this year,” said Steve Layton, part-owner of the Keepers Only Fishing Resort in Lake Placid.