Fishing near Carbondale, Illinois

Jackson County, Illinois, is where Carbondale sits. Some 26,399 people call it home. What sits closest: Campus Lake after 1.3 miles to the south, Carbondale Reservoir after 2.2 miles, Chautauqua Lake after 4.7 miles to the west plus Spring Arbor Lake after 6.2 miles. At Cedar Lake the corner by the outlet moves water, and fish sit on it. The choice covers a few different types. Steeper banks give depth without a boat. It caps in a hard winter only. In milder years there is nothing to walk on at all. Closest is Campus Lake at around 41 acres of water. Boats go in at Campus Lake, going by the mapping. Open records for Jackson County list bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish, largemouth bass and longear sunfish. Held water dominates the list, so expect hard banks and managed levels. Start with Campus Lake and work down the list as the season goes on....