2012 fishing forecast: Carlyle Lake is tops

This update on Carlyle Lake was provided by Dan Stephenson, fisheries biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Carlyle Lake, the largest lake in the state, had one of the better bass surveys I’ve seen in my 32 years.

Also tops were the white bass and crappie surveys.

A channel catfish and flathead survey had to be in the top 10, and the survey also was very good bluegill and even some sauger. 

What an astounding lake! 

For that reason, we changed one of the regulations that will go into effect April 1 of this year. 

The 10” minimum length limit will remain but the angler will be allowed 15 crappie per day, instead of the current 10 per day.

We want the crappie harvested. 

Better to have the anglers take them than have them dying of old age in the lake. 

The several years of high water in the spring have led to excellent spawns and recruitment of all species it appears. 

Anyway, I can’t say enough about Carlyle Lake. 

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