Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

Upgrade your outdoor game at 19,000-acre Rend Lake reservoir. This well-developed area has plenty for everyone who passes through southern Illinois' biggest outdoor playground. Anglers, in particular, love the copious amounts of fish.

Cast your line from the park itself, because three-fourths of it has a shoreline along Rend Lake. Prepare for catching bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Two state fishing records have been set here thanks to large bowfin and black crappie. You'll be smiling when you reach your limit by the end of the day.

Pack your shotgun for a unique Illinois experience. Seasonal pheasant hunts are popular here. Up to 120 hunters per day can take pheasants during designated times. As such, the park is also a training ground for sporting dogs. Many beagles, retrievers, and bird dogs learn the tricks of their trade near the lake.

243 modern campsites have full hook-ups. Seventeen tent sites provide a rustic experience. Each campsite is first-come, first served.