Mermet Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Picnic area, fishing, hiking, boating, hunting and special events, such as the Archery Shooters Assoc. IL. championship. Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is an old cypress swamp which has been made into a waterfowl hunting area. Primarily the area was developed for duck hunting but several thousand Canada, blue, and snow geese frequent the area each winter. The shallow lake also is very productive for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and most panfish. The lake is closed in October prior to waterfowl hunting season and is re-opened in December directly after waterfowl season. One-half mile southwest of Mermet on U.S. 45, 2,630 acres, with 690 permanent water.