🐟 What fish can you catch in Charleston?

Most commonly caught species around Charleston , IL : Largemouth bass - 1,387 reported catches Channel catfish - 445 reported catches White crappie - 270 reported catches Bluegill - 229 reported catches Black crappie - 172 reported catches .

📢 What are the latest Charleston fishing reports?

The latest Charleston , IL fishing reports are: @landon.badstibner reported a nice White crappie at Lake Charleston . @jameshonemann reported a nice Freshwater drum at Lake Charleston . @chris.evangelisti reported a nice White crappie at Lake Mattoon . @chris.evangelisti reported a nice Black crappie at Lake Mattoon . @matbaird reported a nice Yellow bass at Lake Charleston . .

Fishing in Charleston, IL

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in Charleston, Illinois?

Anglers in Charleston , IL recommend these top fishing spots: Kaskaskia River , Lake Charleston , Embarras River .

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

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Charleston , 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 Charleston

Latest Charleston fishing reports

White crappie

Lake Charleston

length · weight

Freshwater drum

Lake Charleston

18 in · 3 lb

White crappie

Lake Mattoon

length · weight

Black crappie

Lake Mattoon

length · weight

Yellow bass

Lake Charleston

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Lake Shelbyville

16 in · 2 lb 6 oz

Channel catfish

Lake Shelbyville

40 in · 22 lb

Largemouth bass

Lake Fork

length · weight

Common carp

Embarras River

length · weight

Freshwater drum

Embarras River

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Charleston

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 April 23rd, 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

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.

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

39°29′3.1″N 88°10′41.2″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about Charleston fishing

Anglers in Charleston, IL recommend these top fishing spots: Kaskaskia River, Lake Charleston, and Embarras River.

Most commonly caught species around Charleston, IL:

Largemouth bass - 1,387 reported catches
Channel catfish - 445 reported catches
White crappie - 270 reported catches
Bluegill - 229 reported catches
Black crappie - 172 reported catches

The latest Charleston, IL fishing reports are:

@landon.badstibner reported a nice White crappie at Lake Charleston.
@jameshonemann reported a nice Freshwater drum at Lake Charleston.
@chris.evangelisti reported a nice White crappie at Lake Mattoon.
@chris.evangelisti reported a nice Black crappie at Lake Mattoon.
@matbaird reported a nice Yellow bass at Lake Charleston.

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Charleston, 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: