10 Fishing Locations in the US That Moms Love

Moms love fishing as much as dads do. And according to studies, children are so much more likely to join a fishing trip arranged by their moms. What can we say? Moms are better at family-friendly planning trips. 

How do you plan a fishing trip like an expert angler mom? Here are some ways:

• Make sure the place is accessible and has ample parking areas.
• Ensure that there are other family-friendly activities for kids to enjoy if they get bored.
• The place should have great facilities for outdoor activities and practical matters (clean toilets, seating areas, and recycling bins)
• Plenty of sure catches!

Let’s take our cue from our fish-loving moms and plan a trip that would earn her stamp of approval. Here’s a list of 10 fishing locations in the US that we know moms will love.

1. Alaska – Eklutna Tailrace

Eklutna Tailrace is a quirky fishing spot just outside of Anchorage. Its crystal-clear waters are filled with various fish but are best known for chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, and Arctic char. Kids will love exploring the surrounding area of this unique fishing hole as it is filled with the ruins of classic cars from the Alaska Raceway Park. It’s a popular spot for anglers during summer but is beautiful during fall.

2. Arizona - Lake Havasu State Park

Lake Havasu State Park is a well-appointed outdoor park and campground with fantastic facilities for several water sports like fishing, boating, and swimming. It is known for its bass fishing, regularly yielding trophy largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and striped bass. The park has several well-marked trails that hikers will enjoy exploring.

3. Louisiana – Grand Isle State Park 

There’s something for everyone at Grand Isle State Park, no matter what time of the year. Every July, it hosts a Tarpon Rodeo that your entire family can enjoy watching (or participating in!). Spring is calmer but offers plenty of speckled trout on the surf. Redfish are active in the fall and winter. Swimming is also fun all year round at the park as it has access to warm Gulf of Mexico waters. 

4. Colorado - Steamboat Lake State Park

Sitting at Hahn’s Peak base, this scenic state park offers awe-inspiring views. Aside from its priceless views, it provides a wide range of outdoor activities, including bird-watching, biking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. The park has several streams that yield rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. It’s also an excellent ice-fishing spot.

5. California - Yosemite National Park

For a postcard-pretty fishing experience, take your entire family to Yosemite National Park. Apart from its iconic views, the park has several water bodies that offer an excellent fishery. Fly fishing is especially great at the Merced River, where you can catch plenty of rainbow trout and some brown trout. Aside from its productive fishing streams, the park offers river-rafting opportunities and is an amazing camping and hiking spot.

6. Florida - Destin

You will never go wrong with planning a fishing trip to Destin. It is, after all, the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village, so you’ll be guaranteed a catch wherever you go. It boasts the state’s biggest charter boat fleet, and many of them offer kid-friendly inshore fishing trips that will make your entire family fall in love with fishing. 

7. Idaho-Utah - Bear Lake State Park

Be in two states at once when you go to Bear Lake State Park. Half of this landlocked park sits in Idaho, and the other half in Utah. It is a beloved destination known for its turquoise waters and its rare winter catch — the Bonneville cisco,  an endemic whitefish only to the lake. If you can’t brave the cold, you can still enjoy fishing for cutthroat trout or lake trout during spring. 

8. Nebraska - Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area

This state recreation area has several single-family campsites and provides fantastic camping amenities, including drinking water, hot showers, and flush toilets; its waters are calm and protected, making the lake a great fishing and kayaking spot. The park provides a convenient fish cleaning station, grills, and campsite tables. The most popular catch here is rainbow trout, but expect to catch more fish, including yellow perch, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and walleye. Apart from its quality fishing opportunities, the park is a great place to enjoy bird-watching and wildlife viewing. 

9. Pennsylvania - Presque Isle State Park

Presque Isle State Park is the best way to access productive fishing in Lake Erie. The great lake is teeming with panfish, bass, crappie, walleye, northern pike, steelhead, and muskellunge. The vast state park offers several access points to catch these fish, many ADA-accessible. If you want to supplement your fishing trip with an educational tour, then visit the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, a wonderful interactive center that’s all about the park’s diverse ecosystems. 

10. Kentucky - Lake Cumberland State Resort Park

The Lake Cumberland area is known as the “Houseboat Capital of the World,” so book one of the rental houseboats in the park if you want a unique fishing/camping experience. Apart from its large fleet of houseboats, the area has several marinas that offer rentals for different water-based activities such as ski boating, pontooning, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Fishing here is top-notch. The most popular choice of catch? Striped bass.

Bringing the entire family along for a wholesome fishing trip is not just a great bonding activity; it’s likewise the best way to teach our kids about the joys of the great outdoors and how important it is to care for the gifts of Mother Earth.