Posts Tagged ‘fishing’
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
Visit our Fort Parker State Park Photo Gallery
Fort Parker State Park is named for Fort Parker, a nearby historic settlement established in 1833 and site of the well known Comanche Indian raid of May 1836 during which Cynthia Ann Parker was captured. One of the largest remaining tall grass prairies in Limestone County mingles into dense woodlands providing a pleasant, shady respite from Dallas 80 miles to the north or Waco 47 miles to the west. In 1939 the CCC built a 729 ft dam across the Navasota River creating the 7oo acre Fort Parker Lake. Canoe rentals are available seasonally at $25 for 8 hours or $15 for a 3 hour minimum. Swimming is unsupervised from a small beach or you may fish from the banks of the lake, the dam or from one of the two fishing piers. Common catches include crappie, bass, catfish or trout in season. The Springfield 1.5 mile multi-use loop trail is for hiking or biking. The .5 mile one way Bur Oak nature trail through the woods rewards the bird watcher as many different species swoop through the trees. We observed bluebirds, cardinals, an indigo bunting and a red-tailed hawk. The 1.5 mile each way Bainscreek Trail brings you up close to the herons and other shorebirds and wading birds frequenting the park. The trailer camping loop (sites #1-25 water & electric) is well situated along the lake shore however most of the sites are close together and smaller suited for small trailers or pop-ups. If your trailer is 25 ft or longer call ahead to see if one of the few larger spaces is vacant. 10 inviting shelters are set into a hillside overlooking the lake. Primitive car camping sites #40-49 are a short drive down River Rd. A vault toilet is in the area. Tip: You may paddle 3 miles on the Navasota River to the Confederate Reunion Grounds. Allow 3-4 hours. Call the park 254-562-5751 to inquire about the availability of shuttles.
Tags: bird watching, camping, family fun, fishing, Fort Parker State Park, Mexia Texas, paddle to Confederate Reunion Grounds, primitive camping
Posted in State Parks, Texas | No Comments »
Friday, August 15th, 2008
We just returned from a short trip to Eisenhower State Park, named for the 34th President of the United States who was born nearby. Located northwest of Denison Texas and approximately 100 miles north of Dallas Texas this nice size park of 423.1 acres is set on the shores of Lake Texoma, a huge reservoir on the Texas/Oklahoma border. The Tex and oma in the name of this Red River impoundment represents both states. 580 miles of shoreline sprawl across the borders of Texas and Oklahoma with 2/3 of the lake actually in Oklahoma.
Visit our Eisenhower State Park Photo Gallery
Tags: bluegill, Eisenhower State Park, family camping, family fun, fishing, hiking, sunfish, swimming, Texas State Park. camping
Posted in State Parks, Texas | 2 Comments »
Friday, August 8th, 2008
Texas Parks & Wildlife airs a weekly program on Texas State Parks and Texas Outdoors. The week of August 3rd-10th, 2008 the program will include a segment on Lake Brownwood State Park in Central Texas. This is a fairly small park (537.5 acres) set on a large reservoir, the 7,300 surface acres of Lake Brownwood. Activities include picnicking, camping, hiking, boating and fishing. Possible catches include large mouth bass, small mouth bass, white bass, stripers, white crappie, yellow cat, flathead cat, perch and gar. Lake Brownwood State Park is located near the geographical center of Texas and is 16 miles northwest of the city of Brownwood. We plan to visit this park later this year and will post a photo gallery. The Texas Parks & Wildlife TV Program is made possible by a grant from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/tv/tvwhere.phtml for time, date and station info.
Tags: bass fishing, camping, family activity, family fun, fishing, Lake Brownwood State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife TV program, Texas State Parks
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Lake Colorado City State Park has a large day use area which includes a swimming beach, covered picnic tables, a playground and a 4- lane concrete boat launch ramp. There is also a lighted fishing pier, a covered fishing barge, kayaks and pedal boats for rent seasonally and yes this park is centered around fishing! http://lonestartravelers.com/wordpress/free-fishing-in-texas-state-parks/ check this link for my blog entry on free fishing in texas state parks. The lake cools an electric power plant, the resulting warm water results in an ideal habitat for fish and waterfowl. Whether you are fishing off your boat or from the 5 miles of shoreline you should have excellent luck reeling in crappie, perch, catfish, bass and even red drum. Campsites are large and spaced well apart. The Mesquite Circle Camping Area (sites #1-34 water and electric) is closest to the fishing barge. The Rolling Hills Camping Area (sites #35-78 has some pull-through sites considered premium at a slightly higher camping fee. The Lakeview Camping Area (sites#95-128) has the best views, is closest to the lighted fishing pier, the camping sites are back in and quite long however they are water only sites. If you are not camping stay in one of 11 stone cottages overlooking the water. Part of the Texas LongHorn herd is pastured here. TIP: The entrance gate is closed from 10PM-8AM.
Tags: camping, Colorado City, fishing, fishing barge, fishing pier, Lake Colorado City State Park, Texas State Park
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
Lake Arrowhead State Park in Clay County is just 18 miles south of Wichita Falls, Texas. At 524 acres this is a small park on a very large (16,200 acres) reservoir with 106 miles of shoreline. Fishermen are drawn to the large abandoned steel oil derricks that dot the lake and yield the fish. Lake Arrowhead State Park participates in “Loan A Tackle Program” where the park lends fishing tackle to the visitors. A Kids Fishing Contest and an Adult Rough Fish Contest are held in June. Check the park calendar for current schedule. When not fishing there are 5 miles of mostly flat and grassy trails shared by hikers and equestrians to enjoy. If you bring your horse there are 4 equestrian campsites. 48 campsites with water and electric as well as 19 sites with water only are spacious and partially shaded. We stopped at this park on our way home from Utah in the summer of 2008. Close to Hwy 287 it is a welcome respite from the roadside highway campgrounds. Tip: Lake Arrowhead State Park is home to an active black-tailed prairie dog “town.”
Tags: Clay County, family, fishing, hiking, kids fishing contest, Lake Arrowhead State Park, primitive camping, Wichita Falls camping
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