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Best common carp lakes in Illinois

20 Illinois waters hold common carp, 8 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Lake Springfield — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass
2. Illinois River — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
3. Rock River — 15 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike
4. Sangamon River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
5. Des Plaines River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish
6. Mississippi River Pool 19 (Keokuk) — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
7. Kaskaskia River — 15 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish
8. Kankakee River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike
9. Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
10. Sara Lake — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Fox River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Northern Pike
12. Washington County Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
13. Lake Mattoon — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie
14. Embarras River — 10 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp
15. Walnut Point Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
16. Vermont Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
17. Greenfield Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
18. Pittsfield Lake — 28 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, White Bass & Hybrids
19. Carlinville Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
20. Lake Altamont — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish

When to fish common carp in Illinois

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

Also in Illinois: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best saugeye lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes

Common Carp elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Montana · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Ohio · Utah · Colorado · New York · Wisconsin · Kentucky · Arizona · Texas · Kansas · Tennessee · Missouri · Delaware · New Jersey · Virginia