Carlyle Lake in Clinton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Clinton County, Illinois, this is Carlyle Lake. Elevation runs to 433 feet. Surface area runs to some 35.6 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The water reaches back into a network of arms, each one worth a session of its own. It ranks among the bigger water on our Illinois list. You are 8 miles from Carlyle. St. Louis is the closest city, 50 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Carlyle Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Records held for Clinton County cover channel catfish, green sunfish and black bullhead. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Carlyle Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 78°F; by January the average is down near 28°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Carlyle Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Goose Pond sits 7.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Carlyle Lake locally before you travel.