FAQ

Original plans for Lake Carroll started in 1971, with construction starting in 1972. The site for the lake was chosen due to the peaceful, gently rolling hills and valleys in the foothills of the driftless region. The lake, after filling, became a 640-acre recreational oasis, in the heart of a 14,426-acre watershed with nearly seven miles of streams providing a constant supply of water to the lake.

Lake Carroll is a private community where boating and fishing are open to members and their guests. The lake is open year-round for anglers to enjoy the challenges of all seasons. Illinois law requires a valid fishing license for all anglers and Lake Carroll rules require members to be present with their guest while fishing in Lake Carroll.

Lake Carroll allows a diverse boating opportunity from kayaking to surfboats or sailboats to pontoons. Our rules and regulations allow for runabouts, ski boats, bass boats and deck boats of 21 feet or less, while sailboats are required to be 24 feet or less and pontoons 25 feet or less. Follow this link to our Rules and Regulations for more information. Before purchasing a boat, we suggest you work with the Lake Carroll Staff to ensure your purchase is allowed on the lake.

Lake Carroll has a diverse fishery for virtually all interest groups from the trophy fisherperson to the “worm and bobber” recreational fisher. We have a population of naturally spawning native species and for those species not spawning naturally in the lake, we have a robust annual fish stocking program.

Along with the stocking program, Lake Carroll is home to a private fish hatchery where adult walleye are collected each spring and spawned. The fry from this effort are raised in grow-ponds to be put back into the lake at 6” to 8” in the fall of the year.

Anglers can expect to catch a variety of panfish, including black or white crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch. The fishery is well known for its healthy population of large and smallmouth bass with average bass caught in the 3-pound range. Walleye are annually stocked through the hatchery operation and the purchase of supplemental walleye from surrounding suppliers in Illinois and Wisconsin.

For the discerning angler, Lake Carroll is home to trophy muskie, stocked annually to help control the large gizzard shad population. These elusive muskie can grow to record size here at Lake Carroll.

Anglers do not need a boat to enjoy fantastic fishing at Lake Carroll. There are shore fishing opportunities around the lake at both the East and West marinas, as well as at 3-Tubes area which is in the North East corner of the lake.

The West Marina provides members and their guests the opportunity to refuel boats and jet skis. Members can also quench their thirst with a variety of bottled soft drinks, ice cream and snacks. Bait and limited tackle are also available.

Lake Carroll continually works to monitor and maintain water quality. Lake Management works diligently to develop and administer sediment and nutrient reduction programs that keep our lake from ‘aging’.

In 2017, we developed a Lake Improvement Program that funded over $2.3 million towards maintaining our water quality. This included sediment reduction programs, dredging projects, and a US EPA 319 9-points watershed plan for our area. All of which focus on non-point source pollution reduction.

Wildlife abounds at Lake Carroll with opportunities to witness, deer, bobcats, foxes, and many species of predatory, waterfowl, and song birds. The openness of our landscape with undeveloped large lots of grass and woodlands affords wildlife many opportunities to cohabitate with our community.

We actively manage wildlife to minimize human and animal conflict as well as maintain a healthy animal community. One way we do this is by allowing controlled bowhunting for whitetail deer. This program is open to all members of the community and their guest. We also have a management program to aid in the control of Canada Geese.

Along with the normal larger wildlife we see, we manage several larger tracts of natural prairies. One of our prairies is a remnant of prairies from long ago that is home to a federally endangered Rusty-Patch Bumblebee. Our Prairie Club is integral to the viability of these prairies.