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Carlyle Lake

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Wildlife

Expand List item 9789Collapse List item 9789  Fishing

At Carlyle Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources provide stocking and habitat improvement programs to increase fish populations and provide a diversity of species.
Fishing at Carlyle Lake and in the tail water area offers year-round varieties of fish such as white bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp, flathead catfish, and walleye.

Length and daily creel limits follow statewide regulations except as follows:

Species Minimum Length Limit Daily Creel Limit
Largemouth Bass 14 Inches 6 Fish
Walleye and Sauger 14 Inches 6 Fish in Combination
White and Black Crappie 10 Inches 15 Fish in Combination

 

Fishing Piers are available at Dam East (Lakeview Parking Lot), Maple Grove (North Side of Coles Creek), and Eldon Hazlet State Park (Allen Branch). These fishing piers provide access for non-ambulatory or partially ambulatory individuals. There is also a fishing pier available at the Keyesport boat ramp, however, it is not ADA accessible. 

Fish Attractor Location Map

Expand List item 9798Collapse List item 9798  Hunting

Opportunities and Management

As part of the wildlife management program, food plots of sunflowers, corn, millet and milo are planted each spring at seven locations around the lake. More than 20,000 acres of public lands are open to hunting and subject to state regulations which can be found at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website. Upland game management areas can be found all around the lake with parking lots which provide access. Carlyle Lake is also a mid-migrational resting area for waterfowl and other migratory birds, thus a variety of wildlife can be seen throughout the year. Subimpoundments #1, 2, 3, and 4 located on the northern end of the lake are intensively managed for waterfowl. These areas are part of the Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area.

Hunting is permitted on all public land except where posted and within 100 yards of developed recreation areas or residences. Developed recreation areas are shown on the Carlyle Lake Hunting Map.

2023-2024 Carlyle Lake Hunting Fact Sheet

Fishing and Hunting Guide

Interactive Hunting Map

Special Hunts

Carlyle Lake provides special hunts for persons with disabilities during the first week of dove season and during duck season to all non-ambulatory or partially ambulatory individuals. These hunts are managed to provide participants an equal hunting opportunity. If interested contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618)594-2484.

Additional Resources

Carlyle Lake Dove Fields

Expand List item 9800Collapse List item 9800  Watchable Wildlife

Watching wildlife is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities in the nation. Carlyle Lake is home to many fascinating species of wildlife, and provides ample opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. Upland game management areas can be found around the lake with parking lots providing access. In addition, Carlyle Lake is a mid-migrational resting area for waterfowl and other migratory birds, providing another opportunity for visitors to spot wildlife. To enhance the wildlife watching experience, Carlyle Lake Project staff, along with Boy Scouts earning their Eagle Scout badge, constructed viewing towers around the lake. Carlyle Lake has six established Watchable Wildlife Sites. Brown binocular logo signs are posted along the highway to indicate these sites.

Expand List item 9803Collapse List item 9803  Endangered Species

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Fish and Wildlife Service work together to focus on the protection and restoration of threatened and endangered species, and also to restore and maintain wildlife habitat for these species.

In 1998 the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with the cooperation of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife conducted a radio tracking study on the Eastern Massassaga Rattlesnake at Carlyle. The Eastern Massassaga is listed on the Illinois endangered and threatened species list as endangered. For a complete listing of Illinois threatened and endangered species visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.