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Crooked Lake
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Quick Summary
Quick overview of Crooked Lake: key species, best seasons, and what to expect on the water.
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Top Target Species on Crooked Lake
Bluegill
Bowfin Fish
Channel Catfish
Largemouth Bass
Redear Sunfish
Crappie
Nearby Cities to Crooked Lake
Frequently Asked Questions about Crooked Lake
Where is Crooked Lake in Florida?
Crooked Lake is a large freshwater lake in southeast Polk County, just south of Lake Wales and near Babson Park on the Lake Wales Ridge. It is recognized as an Outstanding Florida Water and is one of the county’s larger lakes by surface area and volume.
Is Crooked Lake good for fishing, and what species are common?
Anglers regard Crooked Lake as a productive Central Florida bass lake, particularly for largemouth bass. Typical catches also include panfish such as bluegill and other sunfish, along with common warm‑water species found in many Polk County lakes.
Are there public access points or parks on Crooked Lake?
Yes, there are public shoreline access areas and conservation lands, including county properties such as Crooked Lake Prairie that provide lake views, limited shoreline access, and hiking trails. Additional access may be available at public ramps, community parks, and private marinas or campgrounds around the lake’s edge.
Can you swim or boat on Crooked Lake?
Crooked Lake is used for various water‑based recreation, including boating and personal watercraft where allowed. Swimming is typically done in designated or privately managed areas, and visitors are encouraged to follow posted rules, local advisories, and any no‑wake or restricted‑use zones.
Is Crooked Lake environmentally protected?
Yes, Crooked Lake has special environmental recognition as an Outstanding Florida Water, which means its water quality receives heightened protection under state rules. Surrounding conservation lands help protect shoreline habitat, scrub communities, and native wildlife associated with the Lake Wales Ridge.
What wildlife and scenery can visitors expect?
Visitors often see wading birds, raptors, songbirds, and typical Central Florida lake wildlife, along with native plants adapted to sandy ridge soils near the shoreline. Elevated terrain around parts of the lake provides scenic overlooks unusual for much of peninsular Florida’s generally low‑lying landscapes.
Fishing Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake is located five miles south of Lake Wales off U.S. 27, with plentiful good largemouth bass and bluegill fishing. This area of Florida has thousands of acres of deep, clear water awaiting you, along with many other things to do.
About Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake is a public lake in Polk County in the state of Florida. The latitude and longitude coordinates for this lake are 27.8170, -81.5831, and the altitude is 118 feet (36 meters). You can find Crooked Lake on the Babson Park USGS quad topo map.
As it is now known, Lake Caloosa, or Crooked Lake, is hidden away in Polk County, Florida, and covers over 7,000 acres. It’s been listed among the top 10 most successful Florida fisheries for to water quality and natural beauty. Crooked Lake has a 60-foot deep spring as well as six other independent springs. A good portion of the lake contains water 30 feet deep, a perfect habitat for monster bass.
With more than 550 freshwater lakes in Central Florida and numerous rivers, phosphate pits, and natural lakes, you’ll catch a wide variety of sweet-tasting freshwater fish here as well.
Crooked Lake Fishing
Anyone interested in fishing Crooked Lake should consult with local guides and resources before heading out to fish.
The perimeters of vegetation and brush around the lake make excellent cover and habitat for largemouth bass. Anglers from around the world and locals catch so many trophy bass in Florida that it earned the title “Bass Capital of the World.” Because of great lakes like Crooked Lake, Florida can live up to this title.
Casting a lure into the water, with the possibilities of reeling in the biggest trophy largemouth bass you’ve ever seen, this is what Crooked Lake offers. Why do the lake’s perimeters provide an opportunity? So do the deepwater access and strategically located brush piles, which make excellent open-water cover and habitat for largemouth bass.
Recorded catches of 10 fish over 5 lbs kind of days happen on Crooked Lake. Caloosa has produced several trophy bass over 16 lbs in recent years.
Crooked Lake is known for excellent largemouth fishing, and it also has excellent Bluegill (bream), Crappie (speckled perch), and catfish fishing available in these waters.
History of Crooked Lake
The earliest maps of the Crooked Lake area have the lake listed as Lake Okhakonkonhee. The first map with Crooked Lake, as we currently know it, was published in 1888.
The northern and eastern shores of Crooked Lake have steep rises, in some locations more than 180 feet above the lake. The lowland banks are the southern and western shores.
Since the 1920s, property owners and special-interest groups have fought over widening and deepening the lake’s southern end, and also spent years fighting over building obstructions to stop water flow, rumored to have been made and taken down multiple times in the last century.
Local Fishing Guide
If visiting this location, consider an experienced full-time guide to have real success. Even if hiring a fishing guide is not in your cards, it would be justifiable to consult with a local before heading out to fish.
If you would like to book a fishing trip or get up to date on lake fishing conditions, contact us here. We are always doing our very best to provide everything you will need.
Boat Ramp
A public boat ramp is located one mile off U.S. 27 on S.R. 630-A at Keene Park Road; refer to the map below for directions.
Summary
We hope you enjoy exploring the entire website. It primarily covers bass fishing, but it also offers excellent information on bluegill, crappie, snakehead, peacock bass, and catfish throughout Florida.
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