
Kaskaskia River State Fish & Wildlife Area is one of the largest state-owned and managed sites in Illinois. Fishing is popular for channel and flathead catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, and freshwater drum. Public boat launch access to the Kaskaskia River are available at Fayettevile, New Athens, west of Baldwin, and Evansville. Hunting is available and forest game species, such as squirrels and white-tailed deer, are very common as well as waterfowl in wetland areas. The site also has a 12 mile trail system and offers primitive camping. Anglers also enjoy fishing in Baldwin Lake, a 2,018-acre cooling lake. The lake has two boat docks and anglers will commonly find largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, various catfish, and crappie.