Trying to come up with a 3 day spring fishing trip have never been to Carlyle. How is the Crappie fishing there and suggestions on places to stay and best time to go. I am thinking early April.
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Trying to come up with a 3 day spring fishing trip have never been to Carlyle. How is the Crappie fishing there and suggestions on places to stay and best time to go. I am thinking early April.
I don't much about Carlyle. I usually drive over to Rend in the Spring. Lake Cove Resort is a great place to stay right near the lake. Fish shallow and in the buck brush April & May. You should do really good.
Fishing is pretty good there, can be very rough on windy days, and a lot of shallow spots in the middle of the lake. Can't recommend a place to stay, I know they have some cabin's at the State Park.
Do your self a favor and pass on Carlyle
If you don't have your brush piles marked, good luck. Little to ZERO natural cover. When the fish are on, it's unbelievable, problem is that is few and far between.Quote:
Originally Posted by barrelslime
ok thanks for replies looks like would be better off at Shelbyville or Kinkaid. Have had moderate success at Shelbyville tried Kinkaid twice but both times we had terrible Weather not the lakes fault just bad timing. I have been to rend and was not impressed I know it is supposed to be a great lake but would need quite a few trips to try and figure it out. And a windy day on Rend isn't much fun.
Kinkaid for a chance at a BIG crappie. Shelbyville for a relaxing trip. Rend for quality numbers of fish. Rend is easy...follow the crowd...bridges or buck brush. :ThumbsUpQuote:
Originally Posted by djcoop52
Coming from a local, Carlyle crappie fishing is excellent. it doesn't get the traffic Rend or Kincaid does. What some anglers say is true, not much cover, shallow and can be windy(what big flat lake isn't windy?). but that is also some of the positives. limited cover makes them easy to locate and so does lack of depth. Numbers and sizes on Carlyle are excellent. most days you don't catch shorts. Find cover and you will find fish. start around the boat launches, xmas tree drops etc. and you will find plenty of crappie year round.
Most anglers say bad things about Carlyle crappie because they don't know how to catch them! plenty of hotels and cabins in the area Carlyle, Keyesport and Greenville have all you will need. best of luck if you head down!
Been a lot of years since I have been to Carlyle. The last time I was there there was lots of timber north of the RR bridge at Keysport. Is that all gone now?
Still a lot of timber, not much water depth though. Only a fraction is navigable and I would not recommend it to someone new to the lake. Timber is mostly gone but plenty of stumps just below the surface.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boa3
So you would suggest Carlyle Lake to someone that doesn't fish it regularly or never fished it? The OP has never been to Carlyle Lake. It isn't an easy lake to fish and can be very dangerous to newbies...especially north of the tracks as it looks easily navigable but is nothing but stumps just under the surface. To those of us that do and know how to fish it, it's great. As I would say it has a better population of larger crappie than Shelbyville and Rend.Quote:
Originally Posted by BondCountySlabs
But for someone that has never fished it and might have limited time off to fish. Rend Lake and Shelbyville would be better choices for both ease of fishing and safer lakes.
OP, I also don't get out as much as I would like and come here to see how others are doing and get advise. For what its worth, I find the end of March and beginning of April to be a bit tougher to find them when compared to the beginning of March and end of April. Seems to me they are moving deep to shallow about the time you said you were planning your trip.
My post mentioned to try the xmas tree drops near the boat launches . none are in or near any standing timber in the north so im not sure what your implying is 'dangerous" of any sorts and have plenty of depth . Plenty of places on rend to get in trouble shallow timber for a person that has only fished it a few times. I would think a person would look at a map of some kind before fishing a new lake and do some research such as the OP is doing a good job of!, especially with internet access and on a crappie forum. And yes, I would recommended carlyle . not any more or less "dangerous" than any other of the lakes mentioned for new visitors . excellent size and numbers as others would agree! All are lakes mentioned are excellent fisheries and have their own strengths.
So why would you not mention Lake of Egypt and Crab Orchard?Quote:
Originally Posted by Illinois_angler