Carlyle Lake

Carlyle Lake

Size
22,844ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
No
Species in Carlyle Lake
Crappie
Crappie
White bass
White bass
Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Sauger
Sauger
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Blue catfish
Blue catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Bluegill
Bluegill
Walleye
Walleye
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Striped Bass
Striped Bass

Overview

Illinois' largest lake, featuring largemouth, catfish, white bass and crappie. Walleye, bluegill and a few hybrid stripers available too. Good public use facilities. 26,000 acres

Carlyle Lake Map

Features

Completed in 1967, Carlyle is the largest man-made reservoir in Illinois. The 6,507-foot long Carlyle Dam and reservoir are used to maintain adequate water flow downstream in the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers.--In recent years, Carlyle's excellent largemouth bass population has attracted attention from anglers throughout the Midwest. The Burlington Northern Railroad tracks span the impoundment, creating a division between the upper and lower portions of the system. The upper portion (approximately one-third of the lake) seasonally offers excellent bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.--Additionally, Carlyle Lake is popular with sail boaters because low surrounding hills do little to block strong winds from the open water. Weekend sailboat traffic can be heavy, and power boaters must remember to yield the right-of-way.--The same features that make Carlyle popular for sailing also can result in very rough water. When winds are more than 15 miles per hour, the reservoir is considered unsafe. Boaters must also watch for floating debris and shallow water throughout the lake. In addition, there are no-wake zones north of the railroad grade, within 600 feet of shore or where marked by buoys.

Forage

Gizzard shad are abundant but become too large to be utilized as forage by the end of their first year. Stocked threadfin shad only grow to about 4 inches and reproduce many times in spring and summer. Other forage includes bullhead minnow, red shiner, brook silverside and other young-of-the-year species. Crayfish, insects and their larvae are preyed upon during periods of abundance.

Seasonal Movements

During spring, sauger and white bass migrate into all large tributaries. As water levels recede, they return to the lake. Catfish move from deep water to shallow stumpy areas or riprap to spawn.
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Fish Species

Blue catfish
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Bluegill
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Channel catfish
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Crappie
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized crappie based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202314
202114
202014
201814
Flathead catfish
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized flathead-catfish based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202245
Largemouth bass
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized largemouth-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202420
202220
202120
201920
Sauger
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized sauger based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201622
Smallmouth bass
fish
8-16 in
Length Range
11 in
Length Range
2017
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2017
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2017
Sep
Striped Bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2014
Sep
White bass
fish
6-14 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized white-bass based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202417