Fishing in Carthage, IL

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in Carthage, Illinois?

Anglers in Carthage , IL recommend these top fishing spots: Mississippi River (IL) , Bear Creek , Carthage Lake , Chaney Creek , La Harpe City Reservoir .

Q: 🐟 What fish can you catch in Carthage?

Most commonly caught species around Carthage , IL : Largemouth bass - 716 reported catches Channel catfish - 297 reported catches Bluegill - 129 reported catches Black crappie - 63 reported catches Freshwater drum - 60 reported catches .

Q: 📢 What are the latest Carthage fishing reports?

The latest Carthage , IL fishing reports are: @FishFlyHQ reported a nice Largemouth bass at Horton Lake . @DinkHunter_ reported a nice Flathead catfish at Mississippi River (IL) . @ashley.carey reported a nice Largemouth bass at Lake West . @leo.fishes reported a nice Paddlefish at Mississippi River (IL) . @invincible_is_peak reported a nice Northern pike at Mississippi River (IL) . .

Q: 📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Carthage?

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Carthage , IL . We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro , you will get the following capabilities: Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions. Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches. Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates. .

Illinois, United States

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Top fish species in Carthage

Latest Carthage fishing reports

Largemouth bass

Horton Lake

13 in · 1 lb

Flathead catfish

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Lake West

length · weight

Paddlefish

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Northern pike

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Northern pike

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Northern pike

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

Smallmouth bass

Mississippi River (IL)

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Carthage

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Illinois can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of July 6th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Aggregate

Additional information

There is no statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site-Specific Regulations. Only statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online.

Edibility

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Synonyms

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

40°24′51.1″N 91°07′39.4″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about Carthage fishing

🎣 Where to fish in Carthage, Illinois?

Anglers in Carthage, IL recommend these top fishing spots: Mississippi River (IL), Bear Creek, Carthage Lake, Chaney Creek, and La Harpe City Reservoir.

🐟 What fish can you catch in Carthage?

Most commonly caught species around Carthage, IL:

Largemouth bass - 716 reported catches
Channel catfish - 297 reported catches
Bluegill - 129 reported catches
Black crappie - 63 reported catches
Freshwater drum - 60 reported catches

📢 What are the latest Carthage fishing reports?

The latest Carthage, IL fishing reports are:

@FishFlyHQ reported a nice Largemouth bass at Horton Lake.
@DinkHunter_ reported a nice Flathead catfish at Mississippi River (IL).
@ashley.carey reported a nice Largemouth bass at Lake West.
@leo.fishes reported a nice Paddlefish at Mississippi River (IL).
@invincible_is_peak reported a nice Northern pike at Mississippi River (IL).

📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Carthage?

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Carthage, IL. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities: