There’s certainly no shortage of fishing opportunities in Louisiana, particularly during the state’s annual celebration of Free Fishing Weekend. This year, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering a unique, incentive-based fishing experience with itsGet Out and Fish!Weekend Derby.
Free fishing weekend provides an opportunity for anglers to fish without a fishing license on any of the state’s public waters. To encourage anglers to take advantage of this opportunity, any tagged catfish landed on June 8 through 9 at aGet Out & Fish!site is eligible for a prize sponsored by Berkley and Louisiana Fish Fry.
Tagged channel catfish will be stocked at 10 LDWF Get Out and Fish! ponds across Louisiana. For more information about the event including directions, reporting instructions, and derby rules, clickhere.
Get Out & Fish! Community Fishing sites to be stocked with tagged catfish include:
Girard Park – Lafayette
BREC’s Burbank Park – Baton Rouge
Kiroli Park - West Monroe
Turner’s Pond – Minden
William T. Polk City Park Pond – Vidalia
Purple Heart Memorial Park Pond – Ragley
Grambling City Park Pond – Grambling
Southside Regional Park – Fabacher Field – Youngsville
Elmore D. Mayfield Park – Ruston
Sidney Hutchinson Park – Walker
With the exception of free fishing weekend, anglers 16 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license when fishing in any Louisiana public waters. Licenses are available for purchase online athttps://la-web.s3licensing.com/. By purchasing a fishing license, Louisiana receives matching funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program for public fishing and boating access, fishing programs and education and fisheries management.
This event is hosted in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LWFF). The LWFF was formed to provide a means for individuals and corporations to become partners with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in the challenge of conserving Louisiana’s wildlife and fish resources.