If memory serves me correctly, my best memories of camping and fishing were with my grandmother.  Oh, was she ever a pioneer spirit!  Living in a rural area, she had some of the best “fishing spots” picked out and we’d visit all of them over a period of weeks.  Just two females being out alone under a bridge fishing, probably wasn’t the smartest activity, but we had fun.  Every outing was an adventure and we came away with dinner almost every time.  My grandmother taught me – have fun even if you are a girl, the boys don’t have a monopoly on outdoor sports!  Now that I’ve gotten older, I realize the seriousness of what we were doing.  I wouldn’t just go crawl under a bridge and fish alone now-a-days, it’s just too dangerous.   

What I would do, though, is reserve myself a place in a state park and enjoy every minute of it!  For most state parks, you don’t need an RV.  There is usually a choice of tent camping or cabin usage.  Those with RVs will find some very nice camping sites with amenities ranging from water and electricity  to outdoor cooking pits.  Most state parks have a dump station for black and gray water.  Many of them have “day use” areas where a family or individual can come out, place your things on a picnic table, and walk on down to the water.  Check-out time is usually dark-thirty.

One of my favorite state parks in Texas is Possum Kingdom State Park with a spectacular lake built in the 1940’s.  While driving through the park cedars  you feel as though you’ve entered another country.  Superb views of hillsides with craggy surfaces, cedars growing at precarious angles, and a multitude of natives greet you, from the horned toad to the white-tailed deer.  Adjacent to the state park is the river which flows southeast of the huge Possum Kingdom Lake.

 Between late January and early March, the Brazos River Authority supplements these waters (Brazos River) with rainbow trout!  Anglers of every age can be seen wading out hip deep in the cold running water – attempting to snag these delicious treats.   Since the time frame is very narrow for trout fishing in this area, positions are jockeyed for and reluctantly given up.  There is nothing more beautiful than watching the delicate dance of a fly line and the jump of a fish online.

The park itself offers a variety of camping opportunities.  Quaint cabins with kitchenettes can be found in close proximity to the store and recreational areas (volleyball, children’s playground) while more primitive camping areas can be experienced where the cedars and Blackjack Oak cling to the massive limestone landscape.  Convenient boat ramps allow boaters easy access to the water.  In the evening sounds of outdoor cooking, singing, children laughing, and the occasional dog barking seem to soothe away the stress of the outside world.  Oh yes, occasionally the sound of generators permeate the air, although loud, nothing seems intrusive when you’re relaxing in this place.  A guide for the park can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park.  Possum Kingdom State Park is located in Caddo, Texas – west of Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County.  Take Hwy 180 to Caddo, then go 17 miles north on Park Road 33.  1-940-549-1803, marina 1-940-549-5612.  At Possum Kingdom State Park, you’ll find plenty of fun activity for all ages.  (This beginning of 2006, the park is open for day use only until March 3, 2006).

The Texas State Parks Pass and Family Fishing allow you to visit all Texas parks for a full year and the Texas Parks Wildlife Department (TPWD) Family Fishing Celebration means your entire family can fish in the state park without purchasing additional licenses.  The parks pass and the opportunity for free fishing make Texas parks a great adventure and value.  A word of caution:  since mercury levels are on the rise in our waters, park and wildlife officials along with the medical society are cautioning Americans to limit their fish intake to twice a week for fish caught here and abroad as well as your local supermarket catch.

Other favored and varied state parks include:  Lake Colorado City State Park – known for its good skiing.  Lake Colorado City State Park, Colorado City (325-728-3931), 11 miles southwest of Colorado City off interstate 20 on FM 236.  Caddo Lake State Park:  an exotic, mysterious place where bald cypress gracefully dip into the lake along with floating American lotus flowers and waterlillies, while shallow backwaters snag unsuspecting boaters.  The Caddo Lake area is bountiful for largemouth bass.  The record for the largest bass caught to this date is over 13lbs.  Be sure and take a GPS system along on this trip.   Caddo Lake is known for its 5 main channels and 23 auxiliary channels.  Fishermen and women may go for days without seeing someone.  If you like the feeling of solitaire and a moody environment – this is the place for you.  Caddo Lake State Park – 1-903-679-3351.  From Marshall Texas, take Hwy 43 north, drive 1 mile past Karnack to FM 2198.  Turn east and go ½ mile to Park Road 2.

Other Texas State Parks include Eisenhower State Park, Lake Whitney State Park, Goose Island State Park, Colorado Bend State Park, and Meridian State Park just to name a few.  Maybe I’ll see you in one of these parks.  Happy Traveling!

(photos courtesy of Texas State Parks and Wildlife service,  www.stock.xchange.com members: Tessa H. – sunset, Jacek Frey – fishing man, Alexander Warnolf – men fishing, Nadine Wegner – camping, Steve Todey – canoe, I’bon San Martin – river stones )