Presidents Who Were Fishermen
The Brown House at Rapidan Camp in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia originally served as a home away from the White House for former president Herbert Hoover. (Credit: NPS)
Even the president of the United States needs some rest and relaxation every now and then. Many of America’s presidents were avid fishermen and turned to the waters as a way to clear their heads from their stressful jobs. In honor of Presidents’ Day, we take a look at some of the presidents who enjoyed fishing and where they spent their time. You may even find a way to turn your next fishing trip into a history lesson..
“Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.” - Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Perhaps no president enjoyed fishing more than Herbert Hoover, who later had a biography called The Fishing President written about him. His lifelong passion for fishing began as a young boy growing up in Iowa, where he fished the Wapsinonoc Creek not far from his hometown of West Branch. He also enjoyed fishing in Oregon and in the Florida Keys.
While president, Hoover wanted somewhere close to the nation’s capital that he could easily reach when he needed to get away. He purchased land in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains near the Rapidan River and built a camp that featured 13 buildings and offered fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Visitors included Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh and British Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald.
When Hoover’s presidency ended, he donated Rapidan Camp (also known as Camp Hoover) as a retreat for future presidents and it later became part of Shenandoah National Park. Jimmy Carter, another avid fisherman, was the last president to use the camp.
Today, Rapidan Camp is a national historic landmark. Many trails and trout pools remain and three of the original buildings still stand, including ‘the Brown House’ (the president’s cabin away from the White House) and the Prime Minister’s cabin. Ranger-led tours take visitors inside the cabins with exhibits highlighting Hoover’s presidency and time at the camp. The camp can also be reached by a four-mile round trip hike, although access to buildings cannot be guaranteed without a tour.
For those looking to learn even more about Hoover and his love for fishing, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in Iowa also has exhibits dedicated to the former president’s favorite pastime.
Calvin Coolidge
Although many presidents who fished started as children or young adults, Coolidge didn’t become an avid fisherman until he took office. Encouraged by a member of his Secret Service detail, Coolidge was on vacation in the Adirondacks when he truly discovered the joys of fishing. Soon after, he announced he wanted to spend time out west. Lured in by stories of great trout fishing to be found, he headed to the Black Hills of South Dakota. His plan to stay for three weeks turned into a three-month working vacation. The State Game Lodge at Custer State Park served as the 1927 Summer White House for the Coolidges, and several years later President Eisenhower also spent a few days there, with time for trout fishing built into his busy agenda. The lodge is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors to the resort can book the same historic rooms Coolidge and Eisenhower stayed in. Visitors to the park will enjoy the beautiful Grace Coolidge Creek, which was renamed in honor of the former first lady.
Harry Truman
Credit: U.S. Navy/Harry S. Truman Library
Growing up in Missouri, both Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, were avid anglers. The president particularly enjoyed fishing on the waters around the Florida Keys. During his presidency, Truman made 11 trips and spent 175 days in Key West. Today, visitors can tour the “Little White House” where the Trumans stayed during their time in Florida. Originally constructed as housing for naval officers, the Little White House was used by six presidents through the years, although none stayed quite as often as Truman.
Grover Cleveland
The only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, Grover Cleveland was so fond of fishing that he often received complaints from the press that he spent too much time on the water. His days as a child in central New York shaped his fondness for fishing, particularly bass fishing. He spent summers fishing almost daily in Cape Cod and also was a frequent visitor to Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks.
Dwight Eisenhower
“Who’s been counting my fish?”
Dwight Eisenhower once made headlines for being accused of taking more trout than allowed from Colorado’s waters. Eisenhower fished all over, from Argentina to Wisconsin, although Colorado was perhaps his favorite place to fly fish. A bronze statue of a fishing Eisenhower can be found in Fraser, where he often stayed on a ranch and invited former president Hoover to enjoy a fishing trip with him in 1954.
George H.W. and George W. Bush
This father and son presidential duo loved fishing. The elder Bush started fishing at age 5 in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he often went bass fishing and where the younger Bush soon picked up the pastime as well. Like Truman, the elder Bush also enjoyed fishing in the Florida Keys, although Islamorada was his location of choice in the Keys. He started the George Bush/ Cheeca Lodge Bonefish Tournament in the ‘90s, and the lodge still holds an annual presidential tournament.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter took very few vacation days while in office, but there’s a good chance he was fishing in his home state of Georgia or in Pennsylvania during most of them. One of the most well-known presidential anglers and the oldest living president, Carter has been known to have said he had a fishing pole in his hands as early as he can remember. He’s fished all over the world, from Georgia to Wyoming and even Mongolia.