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Fishing Kaskaskia River: what the data says
Carlyle tailwater downstream to Fayetteville. spring white bass stacks below the gates. The river tops out around 15 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
White Bass fishing at Kaskaskia River
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 5 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. Shoal Creek confluence is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring white bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | see map |
Channel Catfish fishing at Kaskaskia River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Shoal Creek confluence, a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Kaskaskia River
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. Bottomland snags is the standout, a standing timber / brush at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Blue Catfish fishing at Kaskaskia River
Start shallow in spring: blue catfish sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Carlyle Lake tailwater: a creek channel around 14 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Crappie fishing at Kaskaskia River
Spring crappie on Kaskaskia River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. Bottomland snags is the standout, a standing timber / brush at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for summer crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Kaskaskia River
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 5 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Bottomland snags, a standing timber / brush in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Kaskaskia River also holds freshwater drum (4 to 15 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Carlyle Lake tailwater: creek channel, around 14 ft
- Lake Joy Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Carlyle Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.3): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 31.1): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.0): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 40.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 43.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 46.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Kaskaskia River?
Kaskaskia River is about 15 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Kaskaskia River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Kaskaskia River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Kaskaskia River?
Shoal Creek confluence is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Kaskaskia River?
For white bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Washington County Lake · Lake Glenn Shoals · Carlinville Lake · Otter Lake · Lake Altamont · Greenfield Lake
See how Kaskaskia River stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Illinois · best white bass lakes in Illinois · best crappie lakes in Illinois · best channel catfish lakes in Illinois
Browse all Illinois fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.