Carlyle Lake is Illinois' largest in-land lake at approximately 26,000 acres.  And, as gateway to Carlyle Lake, our City is ideally situated to access any area of the Lake where you might want to embark on your fishing adventure!  In town, you'll find plenty of options for tackle shops, gas and groceries, sit-down dining, and lodging (see more information on services below).

In October 2008, Carlyle was lucky to be chosen to host the first Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Bass Fishing Finals.  No other state in the Nation sanctions bass fishing as a high school sport.  Illinois will be the first to sanction, and and Carlyle will be the first to host it! 

Species

There are many catchable species of fish in Carlyle Lake, including white bass, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, sauger, and others. 

The State Dept. of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers cooperate to help stock the Lake with fish and to enhance habitat by creating structure. 

Length and daily creel limits for Carlyle Lake follow statewide regulations, except as follows: 

NOTE:  These limits only apply in the Lake (not the Tailwater) and tributary streams up to the Corps of Engineers project boundaries, except the walleye and sauger limit which applies to the Tailwater and the entire Kaskaskia Basin. 

Carlyle Lake Boat Access

There are several locations near Carlyle from which boats can be launched for access to Carlyle Lake, the Spillway, and the Kaskaskia River.  Click here to download the Google Earth file of the locations of the boat ramps.  The table below summarizes the locations of boat ramps convenient to Carlyle:

Carlyle Lake Spillway

It is the damming of the Kaskaskia River that creates Carlyle Lake.  The area below the dam is known as the "Spillway" or the "Tailwater," and provides for some of the best fishing in the entire State of Illinois. 

The Spillway is extremely easy to access from the City, from the Super 8,  and the Mariner's Village.  The Dam East Campground is located on the banks of the Kaskaskia River and the Spillway.  Electricity is available at each site, and it would be a great place to camp and fish for a weekend, or longer!  The location of the Spillway can be viewed in Google Earth by downloading this file.

If you like fishing for a variety species, the Spillway, is a fisherman's paradise with the most productive fishing area in Illinois, producing 3,260 lbs. of fish per water acre. Here anglers have caught 32 different species of fishes.  The state record flathead catfish and white bass have been caught in the spillway.  The major species caught are crappie, carp, drum, bluegill, buffalo, channel catfish, and white bass. Other species taken with some regularity are walleye, sauger, yellow bass, largemouth bass, carpsucker, paddlefish, bullhead, sucker, gar and bowfin.

Fish cleaning stations are located on both the east and the west sides of the Spillway for the convenience of fishermen.

Fishing Guides

Fishing guide services are offered at Carlyle Lake for those seeking.  Two guides specialize in guiding fishing trips at Carlyle Lake.  Guided trips start at $250.  Both guides can assist you in setting up hotel reservations at a Carlyle hotel, if you wish.

Steve Henkel, owner of Henkel's Hook & Arrow, is located in Carlyle at 951 12th Street and can be contacted at (618) 594-4818.  Steve is very knowledgeable about fishing at Carlyle Lake. 

AC Fishing Guide Service, offered by Al Crocker, is another fine guide service.  Al can be reached at (618) 420-9796, or visit him on the Internet by clicking here. 

Fishing Licenses

The Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources maintains a website through which Illinois fishing licenses can be purchased. 

Click here to visit that website.  Look for "Purchase a Hunting and/or Fishing License" to begin the process of making a purchase. 

Bowfishing

Bowfishing is becoming a more popular sport and is permitted in all areas of the Lake above the Dam, all year around.  Bowfishing is also permitted, from a boat only, in the Spillway from the U.S. Route 50 bridge to the cable (just below the Dam) and only between June 14 and September 15 of each year.

Downloads / Guides

The Department of Natural Resources publishes the "Carlyle Lake Fishing Guide," a booklet that describes the several species of fish commonly found in Carlyle Lake.  The Guide also describes where species of fish are typically found at Carlyle Lake.  Download the "Carlyle Lake Fishing Guide" here (PDF, 10.2MB). 

The Army Corps and DNR cooperatively publish the "Carlyle Lake Hunting & Fishing Guide" which is a good companion to the "Carlyle Lake Fishing Guide."  Particularly useful is a map of Carlyle Lake facilities, including boat ramps, parking lots, camp grounds, and roads that can be taken to reach these facilities.  Download the "Hunting & Fishing Guide" here (PDF, 1.7 MB). 

Contact / Phone Numbers

For more information, contact any of the following offices:

Fishing Retail / Services

Carlyle is conveniently located near Carlyle Lake and several facilities where fishermen access Carlyle Lake and the Spillway.  Here, you'll find just about every service or item you need to facilitate your fishing trip in Carlyle. 

Click here to download the Google Earth KML detailing the location of these services.