Fishing At Carlyle Lake

AKA: Carlyle Reservoir, Lake Carlyle

Fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and white bass at Carlyle Lake in Illinois.

Located in the south-central part of the state, Carlyle Lake is a 26,000-acre lake offering some of the best catfish fishing in the state. Additionally, there is decent fishing for crappie, white bass, sunfish, bluegill and bass. There is well over 80 miles of shoreline to explore and wet a line. At West Access Marina, as well as other spots around the lake, there is availability of shoreline for those who wish to fish from the bank. Some shoreline brush and rocky points are great places to cast when the fish are shallow in spring and fall. In summer and winter the bait, followed by the fish, move to deeper water for comfort and hang around river channels, ledges, points, hunts and deeper timber. Multiple boat launch ramps, located around the lake to facilitate boat launching. Pleasure boats, pontoons, ski boats, runabouts, bass boats and a wide variety of other fishing boats are popular here. Canoes and kayaks are an ideal craft for accessing the shallows in the upper reaches of the lake. Lodging, restaurants, stores, camping facilities and RV Parks surround the lake to enhance your visit to this enjoyable fishing destination.

Primary fish species residing in Carlyle Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Carlyle Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES