Why Presque Isle is Among my Favorite Fishing Spots

By Andy Whitcomb

Jun 06, 2016

One of our favorite boating and fishing spots is Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. This peninsula extends into one of the largest freshwater fishing lakes on earth and is well known for impressive numbers of smallmouth bass, walleye, jumbo yellow perch, and more.

America is fortunate to have an amazing number of great places to fish and boat. In fact, TakeMeFishing.org has just released the 2016 Top 100 Family Fishing and Boating Spots in America. When I checked the list, I noticed that my family visits #35, Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie, Pennsylvania several times a year.

Reasons to Visit Presque Isle, Pa.:

1. Quality and quantity. This peninsula extends into one of the largest freshwater fishing lakes on earth and is well known for impressive numbers of chunky smallmouth bass, trophy walleye, and jumbo yellow perch. Although the interior waters of lagoons and bays receive a high amount of fishing pressure, they seem to be continually reloading.

2. Diversity. In addition to the freshwater fish species mentioned above, depending on the time of year, anglers can find pike, steelhead, brown trout, largemouth bass, crappie, and freshwater drum in the surrounding waters. It is also home to some unusual fish species such as burbot and bowfin, such as the one that crushed a spinnerbait on our last trip.

3. Outdoor options. Besides excellent fishing spots, there are nice beaches, miles of bike trails, four boat launching areas, and a great chance for some wildlife viewing. Even during the winter when Lake Erie is frozen, bird watchers may travel many miles to photograph the snowy owls which often visit.

Presque Isle State Park is no secret, but this boating and fishing spot handles its many visitors nicely. And just writing this makes me want to run back up there again. Before you travel, be sure to check out the Top 100 Family Fishing and Boating Spots in America. Have you tried any new fishing spots because of this list?

 
Andy Whitcomb
Andy Whitcomb
Andy is an outdoor writer (http://www.justkeepreeling.com/) and stressed-out Dad has contributed over 380 blogs to takemefishing.org since 2011. Born in Florida, but raised on banks of Oklahoma farm ponds, he now chases pike, smallmouth bass, and steelhead in Pennsylvania. After earning a B.S. in Zoology from OSU, he worked in fish hatcheries and as a fisheries research technician at OSU, Iowa State, and Michigan State.