Top 8 State Parks for Boating and Fishing

With roughly 365 million trillion gallons of water on our planet, it can be difficult to decide where’s best to drop anchor and throw out a line. Then, for us fishermen and women, add in, can I fish there, is it a good place for the family, is there a boat ramp, what species should I plan to catch… and the planning process can become much more than you bargained for. Well, thanks to the help of our experienced Facebook fans, we have put together a list of the top 8 state parks for boating and fishing, helping you get one step closer to holding that pole in your hand.

Convenient, affordable and family-friendly, state parks offer the perfect balance for a family trip. There are 7,804 state parks in the U.S, with most offering options for family activities like hiking, fishing, picnicking, sightseeing and enjoying the water. Which park to choose? Well here are a few that offer all the above, not to mention camping, boating and fantastic views.

The Top 8 State Parks for Boating and Fishing
 

• Lake Murray State Park, Oklahoma

• Itasca State Park, Minnesota

• Blue Spring State Park, Florida

• El Dorado State Park, Kansas

• Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania

• Cave Lake State Park, Nevada

• Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

• Wellington State Park, New Hampshire

This list features some of America’s most beautiful natural aquatic places. Take Fall Creek Falls for example, that features the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, plunging 256 feet into a shaded pool. Or Wellington State Park in New Hampshire, home to one of the clearest lakes in the state.

These parks also provide family-friendly activities like camping, swimming or scuba diving in Florida’s Blue Spring State Park, or beach fun at Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania.

Most importantly, the fishing in these parks is top-notch. You’ll find miles of lake, river and ocean water, all with convenient boat ramps for kayaks or motor boats. Once on the water, you’ll find large and smallmouth bass in Lake Murray, Oklahoma’s largest state park; trout and crayfish in Cave Lake in Nevada; muskie and Northern pike in the 100+ lakes of Itasca State Park; and of course, walleye and flathead in El Dorado State Park’s 8,000 acre reservoir.

On top of the great amenities these, and all state parks offer, they are also protected areas. One of the unique parts of fishing and boating is that taking part in the sports, actually helps preserve and protect its natural arenas. Many may not realize that a portion of all fishing tackle and license sales, as well as boat supply and registration sales, fund the conservation and preservation of our natural places, like state parks, and is vital to aquatic conservation efforts.

So, why not get started planning that weekend fishing trip. Hey, we’ve done half the planning for ya.

Stephanie Vatalaro

Stephanie Vatalaro is vice president of communications for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and its Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar campaigns where she works to recruit newcomers to recreational fishing and boating and increase awareness of aquatic conservation. Stephanie grew up in the Florida Keys as the daughter of a flats fishing guide. Outside of work, you can find her fishing and boating with her family on the Potomac River in the Northern Neck of Virginia.