MUDDY CREEK TWP —Moraine State Park is one of the best family fishing spots in the United States.

The park was ranked 15th on the Top 100 Family-friendly Places to Fish and Boat list that was compiled by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.

“That’s a big honor,” said park manager Dustin Drew.

This is the first time the foundation compiled a list naming the top 100 places. Anglers from around the country voted on the sites.

“We enlisted the help of state fish and wildlife agencies to identify popular locations, and asked fishing and boating enthusiasts who belong to our communities to vote on their favorite spots that are easily accessible and where the fish are known to bite most often,” said Frank Peterson, foundation president and CEO.

Some of the criteria for making the list included being within an hour from a major city; having plenty of common fish species such as bass, crappie, bluegill and trout; having amenities such as parking, restrooms, playgrounds and picnic areas; and a lot of places to cast lines and launch boats.

Lake Arthur, the 3,225-acre body of water at the heart of the park, has northern pike, largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie and bluegill. The state Fish and Boat Commission also stocks muskellunge, walleye, channel catfish and hybrid striped bass there.

The lake has 10 boat launches, as well as a concessions to rent motorboats, sailboats, pontoon boats, canoes and kayaks.

Drew said the park likely was ranked because of its large number of amenities, such as free parking and admission, as well as Lake Arthur itself, which is the largest state park lake located entirely in the state.

“I think it’s a number of things,” Drew said.

He said boating and fishing are big attractions at the park.

“They are certainly two of our most popular activities at the park,” Drew said.

The park offered a Fish for Free day on Memorial Day and will offer another one on July 4, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. These events allow anyone without a fishing license to fish.

Family fishing programs will be June 7, July 12 and July 26 at the park. They will discuss how to rig a fishing rod, knot tying, different types of bait, casting and rules. Fishing licenses are not required.

Drew said the park put in more dates for the family fishing programs this year due to demand.

Additionally, several kayaking programs are scheduled throughout the summer, and several of them are full already. Drew said the popularity of kayaking has increased during the past several years.

At the top of the 100 list, the foundation lists Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley, Calif.

Two other Western Pennsylvania spots made the list’s top 20. Presque Isle State Park in Erie County is ranked 10th and Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County is ranked 18th. Six places total in the state made the list.

The foundation is a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Va., that tries to increase fishing and boating while encouraging water body conservation.