Robert H. Cleveland Jr.

Whiling away precious summer days on non-fishing activities can be hard on an avid angler. Luckily, Empire State anglers don't have that problem. New York State has fine inland fisheries for salmon, trout, bass, walleyes, pike, muskellunge, shad and panfish, plus access to Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean bluefish, flounders, stripers and other saltwater game fish.

Next door to all these great fishing waters are state parks offering affordable family-friendly lodging, and villages with a variety of seasonal festivals, historic sites and amusements sure to please every member of the family.

Here's a list of prime New York family fishing vacation destinations for you to consider in 2007:

SUMMER ON THE ST. LAWRENCE
This region has everything that an adventuresome angling family could want. The St. Lawrence River, the main outlet for Lake Ontario, flows out of the northeastern tip of the great lake down a 1,200-mile course into the Atlantic. Most warmwater species are plentiful, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskellunge, walleyes, northern pike, yellow perch, crappies and bullheads.

Anglers can expect a good day on the water fishing from a boat or from one of the many docks and piers that dot the shoreline.

Grass Point State Park near Clayton sits on a point of land that juts into the American channel of the St. Lawrence, an area known for some of the best fishing in the country.

Grass Point has tent, RV sites and a rental cottage. The park has a marina and boat launch, a sandy beach with shallow water excellent for younger children, and a playground.

For information on Grass Point State Park, call (315) 686-4472. You can learn more about any New York state park at NYSparks.com. To make reservations, call 1-800-456-2267.

Keewaydin State Park, one mile west of Alexandria Bay, has 48 campsites overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The park has a sheltered marina, boat rentals, a swimming pool and a playground.

Call (315) 482-3331, or the reservation line at 1-800-456-2267, or go online to NYSparks.com.

Canoe-Picnic Point State Park is a peaceful boat-access-only campground with tent sites and cabin rentals. The area is wooded, with some nice hiking trails. South of the camping area is Picnic Point, where tables, shorefront cooking facilities and dockage can be found. The fishing here is excellent!

Call (315) 654-2522 for information on the park and boat rentals.

Cedar Island State Park spreads over half the island and features lightly wooded campsites. Access is boat-only, with best access from the public boat launch and parking area in the village of Chippewa Bay.

Call (315) 654-2522 for boat-rental information.

Cedar Point State Park, six miles west of Clayton, has tent and RV sites, a sheltered sandy beach and a playground. There are plenty of docks and a fishing pier.

There's always something going on in the nearby village of Alexandria Bay. The many historic buildings and homes add atmosphere, while the many special events add fun! In June, there are annual festivals devoted to 1920s boats and colorful gangsters, and the theme of one entire weekend is "Kids are King."