You’ll need a big tackle box to take advantage of all the fishing opportunities at Union Lake Wildlife Management Area. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, White Perch, Striped Bass, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, and several varieties of Sunfish keep the fishing set filling their creels. The lake is, after all, almost 900 acres and recent efforts to increase the fish population have proven pretty successful. And with three boat ramps and a parking lot big enough to handle about 50 cars and trailers it is pretty user-friendly, too.

Overall, the Union Lake WMA sports more than 5,000 acres of natural and outdoor activities. And no matter what time of year you go there, you’ll be needing your binoculars. Check out the Bald Eagles and Ospreys that nest on the lake, the spotted turtles that paddle slowly through the feeder streams and the wild turkey that sound the morning wake-up call. (About those turkeys. You’ll need a license, of course, but you can hunt for wild turkey during designated times.)

Even if you aren’t into fishing or hunting, you can hike the unmarked trails that wind through the woods or just wander along the lake shores.