You come here to fish. Forget about big marinas packed with roaring speedboats and jet skis, because this place is basically just a quiet cluster of strip-pit waters tucked off the county roads where you can slide a flat-bottom johnboat in without fighting anyone for ramp space. Most folks show up with light tackle looking for bass and plate-sized bluegill hiding out along the drop-offs. It stays remarkably peaceful. You'll mostly just hear red-winged blackbirds squawking in the cattails and the low whine of an electric trolling motor, but not much else.

The shoreline gets pretty rugged. Fallen timber chokes the back of the narrow pockets, which will absolutely eat your lures if you cast sloppy, though those submerged root balls hold some solid channel catfish and crappie. Total tackle box graveyard. Waterfowl hunters drift in once late fall rolls around, too, posting up along the murky bends to wait on passing mallards and wood ducks. Just throw your muck boots in the truck bed, bring a thermos of black coffee, and leave the fancy gear at home.

State park permits can be purchased at any of the state park property locations across Indiana. State park permits can also be ordered online by visiting the INDIANA ENTRANCE FEE web page.