Lake Carlos
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Lake Carlos Fishing Reports
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Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Points
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Spinnerbaits
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
This is a great lake for Bass and Northern Pikes with a nice State Park with camping on the North Side of the Lake! During this fall season, I did not find any fish in shallow waters or under docks. All fish caught were in 7 to 18 fow, and it was a very multi-species day. Caught a lot of northern pikes, largemouth bass and a few hefty rock bass! Some of the biggest rock bass I have caught so far! All were in the 12-14" range! Since this is a clear lake, I had much better luck using natural colored tandem spinner baits and chatter type baits. Blue gill color, purple/black combinations. I did however catch some bigger pikes using a fire tiger pattern tandem spinner! This fish were aggressively hitting my lures, and at times it was every 4th or 5th cast and FISH ON! This is the best time to get out there are fish them, even though there's a state park and easy access boating ramp, this lake does not seem to get pressured as the lakes near the cities. There are some monster pikes or fish in here. Had one on that broke my wired leader! It hit so hard, the head shakes were huge and couldn't really budge the fish. fought it for maybe 15-20 seconds and unfortunately, never saw what it was. It could have been a musky, too. Makes me want to make another trip back there, and soon!!! This is one lake I'll definitely being making a trip back to during the ice fishing season. Would love to catch more pikes, and ROCK BASS through the ice! Once local fish that I have not caught through the ice yet, the rock bass!
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Reeds
Fish were sparse in the reeds. We fished several techniques. Found that throwing biospawn baits worked best along with a craw style bait. We fished rocks and reeds in shallower water. Fish were in small numbers but found them to bit early morning and late evening. Bite was hot from 4-6.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Points
The fish are definitely are in full fall swing. Small Mouth and large mouth are being found mixed up on points and submerged vegetation. Alternating baits when fish were located was crucial to catching numerous off of the same spot.
Phil Lambert
Bronze Ambassador
9/14/24
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Humps
Forage
Insects
Water Temperature
70°
Dropshot and a live leech (it wouldn’t let me submit a report without picking a bait) in 20ft around the big mid-lake hump just out from the west launch.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Spinnerbaits
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Carlos was fishing a lot different with the low water in 2021. The shoreline structure was very "burnt" from the sun and lack of depth, so the panfish forage has been pushed to the deeper weediness. The deeper grass was much more healthy. However, there is a LOT of grass in Carlos so using search baits is your best option. I got a lot of quality fish fishing a jackhammer & white spinnerbait over grass lines near deeper water. Topwater on main lake points & around docks can be really fun in the early morning.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Bluegill
The water level is very low on the chain this year. The shallow structure that is USUALLY very productive in the summer, is very torched from the low water levels. Forage seems to have moved out to the deeper weediness where the grass is healthy and green. Shallow grass is very brown and scummy. Bass were easily caught in weed lines from 8-15' with moving baits. Chatterbait, spinnerbait and square bill crank baits were effective.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Grass Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Water temp was in the high 70's and I was in the 12-16 foot range. although a dropshot was get a lot of fish on the weed edges the bigger fish came on a heavy jig or Texas rig. The boat was in deeper water throwing into the 12-15 foot range
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Grass Jigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Used a chatterbait and swim jig on weed edges to locate fish. Found groups of larger fish schooled up in milfoil patches. Classic flipping baits worked well, with most fish coming on a stealth feider jig and a 3/8oz weighted tokyo rig with a craw tube trailer. Having multiple rigs at the ready was key to getting multiple bites.
