Hi everyone,
I want to take my 4 year old daughter fishing for the first time this weekend. I am looking at some local parks to take her too. Specifically I am looking at Tom Bass Park (Houston/Pearland), Independence Park, Buffalo Run Park, and Community Park. Does anyone have a recommendation or know of other places in the area I should consider?

From your choices listed above, I would go with TomBass regional Park III for a first-time fishing experience. Independence and Buffalo Run both have sizeable bass populations but I would cross them off my list for other reasons. Another nice park in the Mizzou City area is Kitty Hollow Park. There is at least 1 gator in Kitty Hollow but I doubt it would be a problem if left alone. Community Park would be a good experience following one of the many winter trout stockings it receives, but that doesn't help you now. I think it also gets a ton of catfish stockings?Good luck. Let us know how you do.....

Fantastic, thanks for the advice TXfisherman12. We are headed to Tom Bass in the morning!

We tried Tom Bass III yesterday with no luck, but we had fun. The floating pier is closed because the water level is so low. We fished for about 3 hours and had a good time. If we have the time next weekend we will find another park to give a shot.

@TXfisherman12 - just curious, why do you say that Independence and Buffalo Run should be off the list? Is the park dangerous?

Sorry you caught no fish but at least you had a good time. My comments are more directed towards Buffalo Run park. Personally do not like the park. Fished there once and took my kids on playground another time. Both times got a bad feeling about it-not the safest part of town. Plus there is trash everywhere. I have had heard rumors about "activity" going on in the Independence park parking lot. Can't say I ever stuck around to find out. On the plus both those parks have good bass fishing from the bank, but since you mentioned taking your daughter I personally thought you might have a better time elsewhere.

Feel free to send me PM if you have any more questions.

Thanks for the info TXfisherman12. We may give Community Park or Mammoth Lake a try next.

If you go to Tom bass make sure to park in the south lots. A lot of cars are broken into in the north lot. Also, independence park is full of plecos...I walked around half and saw about a hundred on the bank someone had caught and thrown up there. I have caught some small carp and a decent buffalo there, but I wouldn't call the action hot and heavy.

We tried Kitty Hollow Park and Community Park both in Missouri City today. Skunked in both places. We'll try somewhere else next weekend.

To SMD: What are you fishing with? Artificials or live bait? I took my 4 y/o out to Kitty Hollow two weekends ago. We caught several bluegill on live worms under a bobber. We got the worms from digging up in back yard. Nothing of notable size but my son had a blast! We caught them only about 5 feet from the bank near one of those submerged trees.

We've been using artificials, but we had talked about using night crawlers next trip. Thanks for the tip. We were trying crappie jibs around the fishing pier thinking we might get something.

One thing you might try is bring a few cans of sweet corn and an extra rod. Chum a few handfuls, thread some on the hook, and LOOSEN YOUR DRAG. Keep fishing for other species and wait for the rod to go off...you may find yourself with a hard fighting carp with little effort.