4 Family-Friendly Spots for Lunker Largemouth Bass

It has been said that people often give nicknames to those they care about most. This would explain why one of America's favorite freshwater game fish, the largemouth bass, is affectionately known by a number of different monikers such as bucketmouth, bigmouth, widemouth or lunker.

Many anglers get hooked on bass fishing at a young age since largemouth bass are an accessible species that is widely distributed across the United States. In fact, largemouth bass can be found in all of the lower 48 states. This can pose a challenge though… with so many places to potentially land a lunker, how do you know which ones are best for a family trip?

Below is a list of spots where kids of all ages can have fun fishing for largemouth bass. These parks offer a range of amenities such as parking, restrooms, picnic areas, and campgrounds — they are also included in Take Me Fishing's list of "Top 100 Family-Friendly Places to Fish."

1. Kissimmee State Park, Lake Wales, FL. Kissimmee State Park is a one and a half hour drive from Orlando and is one of the best parks for fishing in Florida. For families who want to bring a boat, there is a boat ramp in the park with direct access to Lake Kissimmee. For families without boats, there are plenty of places to go bass fishing from the canal banks.

2. Lake Berryessa, Pleasure Cove Resort and Marina, Napa Valley, CA. Lake Berryessa is located 40 miles west of Sacramento and is one of Northern California's prime largemouth fishing spots. Families can take advantage of the amenities at Pleasure Cove Marina that includes kayak rentals, campgrounds, cabin rentals, and a convenience store.
   

3. Lake Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley, CA. Lake Chabot Regional Park is approximately 14 miles from Oakland and covers 315-acres. The park is an ideal place to take kids fishing for largemouth bass (it is also well-stocked with trout and catfish) since there are several fishing piers, drinking fountains, a restaurant, and picnic facilities.

4. Table Rock State Park, Branson, MO. Table Rock Lake has been ranked among the nation's best parks for fishing in Missouri by major media outlets and fishing organizations. Aside from the top-notch bass fishing, there are two campgrounds, a marina, boat ramps, picnic shelters and restrooms located within the park.

Know of another great lake where families can go fishing for largemouth bass? Comment on this post with your suggestions by signing into the Take Me Fishing Community.

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Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.