Carlyle Lake, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is Illinois' largest inland-lake at approximately 26,000 acres. The Corps maintains an office of full-time staff on-site at Carlyle, including Park Rangers Jody Harris and Doug Wasmuth. Jody and Doug have been fishing Carlyle Lake for about 25 years each. And they know a thing or two about Carlyle's largemouth bass. Before getting into Doug and Jody's bass tips, it is important to understand that Carlyle Lake is an important flood control device for the Kaskaskia River valley area of Illinois. The Corps maintains complex rules and regulations that govern the level of the Lake and the flow of water through its dam. The Corps attempts to hit water levels, which are dependent upon the time of year it is. During the winter, the Corps draws down the Lake to an elevation of 443'. Right on May 1 of each year, the Corps tries to raise the Lake up a bit to 445'. Judgments on Lake levels are based upon these marks.
Right off the bat, when asked about Lake conditions to monitor, Jody and Doug mentioned water levels and water clarity. "Pay attention to water levels, whether the Lake has been dropping, and whether it is high or low," reported Jody. "The Corps works closely with IDNR Fisheries and Water Control during the May spawn season, to try to make sure that the Lake isn't dropping more than a 10th of a foot a week. Ideally, the Lake will be raising a tad in April and May," said Jody.
Jody stressed to pay attention to water levels during the bass spawn. "If water is high, bass will be scattered among woody vegetation. You'll probably find a majority of the bass there if the water is high."
And if the water is low, Doug countered that, "rip rap will come more into play. Especially look for where there's transition (of water depth) from low to high." Doug stressed points of transition, as well. "Transition of rock to sand along the Lake bottom is usually a good spot for bass. There's not a lot around Carlyle, but they do exist." Lake levels are monitored and reported daily for the public to see. The easiest place to obtain this information is by visiting the Carlyle Lake website at www.mvs.usace.army.mil/carlyle/. Click on "Lake Level" and scroll down the screen to find Carlyle Lake's levels under "Midnight Pool Level." The "Seasonal Rule Curve" also provides a reminder for where the Lake level should be for the time of year.
The Corps does monitor for water clarity at Carlyle, but varying conditions make reports difficult to make. "Clarity will be different from Dam West, to Allan Branch, to Keyesport," said Doug. Jody commented further that clarity will depend up recent rain. "If it rains, feeder ditches will bring some dirty water into the Lake."
Spring 2008 for Carlyle Lake and much of the Midwest was a very rainy season. Lake levels at Carlyle were quite high. "Some structure was created by fallen trees in the branches. Look for the clay points that will come out in the coves. Trees fall into the Lake often at these points, and it's good for the fish," Jody said.
Although Doug Wasmuth points out the rip rap may be the most abundant structure at Carlyle Lake, the Corps does make efforts to create other forms. "(We) put a lot of structure in the Lake. In the coves, we fabricate stuff," said Jody Harris. The "stuff" referred to includes brush piles and multiple, natural Christmas trees that are tied to cinder blocks and dropped in the Lake. The Corps implements an annual program in which the public is encouraged to drop off their used Christmas trees for placement in the Lake. "We put them, basically, in the coves. Look in Allan Branch and Peppenhorst Branch," said Jody. "This year, we put in roughly 25 (sets). Some of them will be in shallow water so you'll see them."
In addition to monitoring water levels and creating structure, the Carlyle Lake Corps staff also work to generate fishing and temperature reports. Temperature and fishing reports are found on their website. The fishing reports are also recorded as a phone message, updated almost daily, that can be accessed by calling 618-594-4637.
Doug and Jody had a lot to say about lures. According to Jody, lots of fishermen at Carlyle like to use plastic crawfish and spinner baits in the shallows. For Doug, plastic lizards, spinner baits, and jigs work well. "During the spawn, you have to use a slower presentation," said Jody. "The bass are more apt to be just sitting in Lake beds. During April and in the Fall, they are often active on a feeding frenzy." Doug concurred, that May usually finds bass more relaxed in bedded areas.
The knowledge shared by Doug Wasmuth and Jody Harris, and their combined 50 years of fishing experience at Carlyle Lake, have served them well. Although no longer active in bass tournaments, Doug has fished club events at Carlyle Lake where his team brought in 20 pounds on a five fish limit. Doug's largest single bass caught at Carlyle was a five pounder. As for Jody, the biggest largemouth bass he has caught at Carlyle was a seven pounder. "I caught him in Peppenhorst Branch. And it was in May."