When I finished my Potomac adventure last summer, I stopped by Berkeley Springs State Park and its famous spas and mineral water. For families recreating at Cacapon, a side trip to the sister park should be a pleasurable experience.

DISTRICT III
Stonewall Jackson Resort State Park
My favorite lake to fish for largemouth bass in West Virginia is Stonewall Jackson. In fact, the Lewis County impoundment is also my preferred destination for crappie. Those are not unusual preferences among anglers who seek out bass and papermouths in the Mountain State. Sam England, who is superintendent of the park, explained the lake's appeal for both kids and serious anglers.

"The lake is known for its excellent fish populations," enthused England. "Stonewall is considered the No. 1 reservoir in the state for fishing success. Crappie and bluegills are really abundant, which is great for the kids. Of course, there are good populations of largemouth bass and channel catfish.

"Stonewall is also known for its great habitat, mostly the standing and fallen timber. This lake is one of the few in West Virginia that was actually designed for recreation, a major reason why the timber was left. In fact, some 40 percent of the lake has a no-wake zone restriction -- another thing that fishermen will appreciate."

The catch-and-release regulation for black bass remains in effect, continued England, and that helps explain why this District III body of water draws both serious and casual anglers. Kayaks and paddleboats are available for rental at the park, but most anglers bring their own craft, either the standard bass boat or a motorized johnboat.

England said that families have a number of housing options. One of the most intriguing is the opportunity to rent a houseboat. I have spent several nights on these boats and have found them very comfortable. Kids may well enjoy fishing for bluegills from the docks where the boats are anchored.

Also of interest is the Stonewall Resort, which was opened in 2002 and contains 198 rooms. Elaine and I spent a weekend at the resort when it first opened and thoroughly enjoyed both dining at the restaurant and the excellent accommodations. Ten cottages and a 45-site campground round out the lodging possibilities. Sam said that the cabins were constructed right on the lake. This was possible because Stonewall only varies about 6 feet in water level from summer to winter pool.

England added that the park also offers a nature and recreation program for children, interpretative hikes and activities designed to help folks learn how to use canoes and kayaks.

DISTRICT IV
Moncove Lake State Park
Bob Beanblossom, district administrator for the state park system, informs that 144-acre Moncove Lake is on the comeback trail. The lake was closed and drained several years ago (some 10,000 pounds of fish were captured and sent to Bluestone Lake) so that workers could repair a crack in the riser of the dam. Beanblossom said that the repair was an expensive project, but it was successful and the body of water was refilled and restocked in the spring of 2006.

"The stocked bass and bluegills have experienced very significant growth rates," Beanblossom said. "Back in September, my wife, Judy, and I visited the lake. She caught a largemouth that was between 12 and 13 inches. Moncove Lake should be a very good place for families to fish during the summer of 2007.

"The lake is a very important resource for folks living in southern West Virginia. In fact, visitation to the park really suffered when the lake was drained. I think fishermen will be interested to know that Moncove still has a lot of the hardwood stumps, which were left behind when the lake was created in the 1950s. Those stumps are in remarkably good condition and still draw bass and bluegills."