INDIANAPOLIS — Potato Creek and Fort Harrison state parks have been named in a list of “America’s Top 100 Family Fishing and Boating Spots” for 2016.

The list was compiled by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). The entire list is available at takemefishing.org.

The nationwide list was divided into regional categories. Potato Creek’s Worster Lake ranked 20th and Fort Harrison’s Delaware Lake ranked 22nd among the top fishing spots in the Midwest. Potato Creek is in North Liberty, near South Bend. Fort Harrison is in Indianapolis. Also on the list from Indiana was Eagle Creek Park, a city park in Indianapolis.

Dan Bortner, director of Indiana State Parks, said “wetting a line” is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, especially with children.

“It is about more than catching fish, too,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to talk, to listen, to watch other wildlife and to develop in our youngsters an appreciation for all elements of the natural world.”

The list was part of RBFF’s “Take Me Fishing” campaign, which aims to introduce families and newcomers to boating and fishing. Increased participation in boating and fishing is good for the economy and generates funding for conservation projects.

RBFF pre-selected more than 300 family-friendly fishing and boating spots, and anglers and boaters cast votes online to narrow it down to a top 100.

To be designated as family-friendly, the destinations had to meet some or all of the following criteria:

– Be within an hour drive of a major city or town.
– Have plenty of common fish species, such as bass, crappie, bluegill and trout.
– Have amenities such as playgrounds and campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms and parking spaces.
– Have plenty places to cast a line, like a fishing pier and a boat ramp.

Last year, Summit Lake and the Brookville Lake/Whitewater Memorial Park complex were both honored.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.