Little girl, big fish, and 100 top family fishing spots

Posted on: June 17, 2016 | Bob Frye | Comments

kellys pikeKelly Fanelli of Pittsburgh with her nice Conneaut Lake northern pike.

It’s not easy finishing in second place any time, but especially when there are only two of you.

That’s what happened to Richard Fanelli of Pittsburgh, though.

He took his 10-year-old daughter, Kelly, fishing at Conneaut Lake. He got, in his own words, “skunked.” A few fish expressed interested in what he was offering, but the only result was them “playing strip the minnow with his bait.”

Kelly, by comparison, caught a 23-inch northern pike on a minnow. It was her first pike ever.

“Outfished again,” Richard said.

He dutifully took this photo of Kelly, though, and now at least has a memory – a special one – to his credit.

With Father’s Day weekend here, how about creating your own?

Taking a son or daughter fishing always leads to more than fish caught. Some of the outings I shared with my own boys are among the most special times I can recall.

Sure, one ended up with a trip to the emergency room, when one boy hooked the other. But most were filled with laughter, jokes, fish caught and missed, and good times.

If you’re wondering where to go there are options.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation recently released its list of the top 100 family fishing and boating destinations nationwide. It’s a fun list, more than anything. Waters are chosen by voters who cast ballots from among 300 candidates, much like baseball fans submit votes for the Major League all-star game.

But if it’s not “official” in any way, the list at least gives you some ideas where other families have gone and had a good experience.

Unlike in past years, no Pennsylvania waters made the top 10. But the state did put six in the top 100.

The highest ranked was Foster Sayers Lake in Bald Eagle State Park. It finished 13th. Keystone Lake in Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County was 20th, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum near Philadelphia was 30th, Lake Erie at Presque Isle State Park was 35th, Lake Lackawanna in Lackawanna State Park was 41st, and Pinchot Lake in Gifford Pinchot State Park was 50th.

The complete list of 100 top spots is here.

You can also find a lot more information on where and how to fish by clicking here.

And remember, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its second Fish for Free Day – when anyone, regardless of age, state resident or not –can fish without first having to buy a license on July 4. Details, including information on where to borrow fishing equipment, are available here.

Bob Frye is the everybodyadventures.com editor. Reach him at 412-838-5148 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at everybodyadventures.com.

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