Fishing Carbondale Reservoir in Jackson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Carbondale Reservoir is set in Jackson County, Illinois. The water sits 436 feet up. Around 126 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 2.0 miles on foot. Nearest place of any size is Carbondale, 2.2 miles away. Murphysboro is 7.5 miles away, with De Soto at 8.3 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Carbondale Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Jackson County include bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Carbondale Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 79°F and January at 31°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Carbondale Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A marina 0.9 miles from here covers launching and moorings. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Fishing from a pier is possible 0.9 miles away. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. There are toilets half a mile off. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Campus Lake is 0.9 miles distant.