Whiteside County · reservoir · 73 acres
Lake Carlton
Stocked 14× since 2021 · Illinois DNR
Lake Carlton is a reservoir in Whiteside County, Illinois, stocked with Channel Catfish, Muskellunge and Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) — most recently on Jan 1, 2026. FishableWaters aggregates every stocking record for this water from Illinois DNR; the latest schedule and today's bite windows are above.
Best days this week
Days near a new or full moon tend to fish best.
Today's bite windows
Conditions, next 3 days
Today
Partly cloudy
84°
58°
8 mph
0%
Fri
Rain
75°
67°
18 mph
69%
Sat
Rain
75°
65°
22 mph
80%
→ pressure steadyStable weather — expect a normal bite.
Stocking ledger
| — 2026 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 10,791 | 2" | |
| — 2025 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,212 | 5.5" | |
| Jan 1 | Muskellunge | 77 | ||
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 15,020 | 2" | |
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 15,020 | 2" | |
| — 2024 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 10,851 | 2" | |
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,200 | 5.5" | |
| — 2023 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Muskellunge | 78 | ||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,200 | 5.5" | |
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 10,197 | 2" | |
| — 2022 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 11,655 | 2" | |
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,500 | 9" | |
| — 2021 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Muskellunge | 81 | ||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,212 | 9" | |
When does Lake Carlton get stocked?
Going by 14 records since 2021, stocking here peaks in January.
Angler reports
What's biting
No reports yet — be the first
Best bite times
No reports yet
Field notes
No notes yet
All Illinois waters with channel catfish → · All Illinois waters with muskellunge →
Nearby waters
- Little Rock Creek2.5 mi
- French Creek3.5 mi
- Little Spring Creek5.3 mi
- Lynn Creek8.7 mi
- Otter Creek8.4 mi
- Spring Brook7.4 mi
- Ellsworth Creek10.5 mi
- Otter Creek8.7 mi
Seasons, limits, and rules are the state's call — check the official IL regulations and buy your license before you go. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Lake Carlton fishing — FAQ
What fish are stocked in Lake Carlton?+
Lake Carlton is stocked with Channel Catfish, Muskellunge and Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) in Whiteside County, Illinois, most recently on Jan 1, 2026 by Illinois DNR. The full stocking ledger is on this page.
When does Lake Carlton get stocked?+
Going by 14 records since 2021, stocking at Lake Carlton peaks in January. Check this page for the season's scheduled and most recent stockings.
Do I need a license to fish Lake Carlton?+
Yes — Illinois requires a fishing license. Buy one from the state and check current seasons and limits before you go; both are linked on this page.
Where is Lake Carlton?+
Lake Carlton is a reservoir in Whiteside County, Illinois. Driving directions and an interactive topo map are on this page.
Data: Illinois DNR · updated Jan 1, 2026 · checked daily · we publish what agencies publish, nothing else.