The tailwaters below the Carlyle Lake Dam may be the best of the three. Channel catfish weighing 3-5 pounds are common with occasional catches of huge flathead catfish.

An Aug. 11, 1995 photo provided by Jody Harris shows Harris, right, and buddy Chuck Frerker holding a 78-pound record flathead catfish caught on Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, Ill. Thirteen years later ...

The tailwaters below the Carlyle Lake Dam may be the best of the three. Channel catfish weighing 3-5 pounds are common with occasional catches of huge flathead catfish.

During a balmy evening on Carlyle Lake on Aug. 11, 1995, Harris and his friend, Chuck Frerker, were fishing for white bass when Harris accidentally hooked a 78-pound flathead.

Carlyle Lake - Catfish action is hot around the main lake rip rap as fish have moved in to spawn. The best success has been on night crawlers, cut shad and stink baits. Crappie action has slowed ...

Baldwin Lake - Fishing traffic has been light. Water temperature at the boat ramp has risen to 95 degrees. Carlyle Lake - Catfish are still rated excellent in the lake. The best action has been in ...