The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the City of Ruston invite you to join us for a Get Out and Fish! community fishing event on Saturday, May 5 at Elmore D. Mayfield Park. The pond will be stocked by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation prior to the event with 1,000 pounds of adult channel catfish – a perfect size to load in the ice chest and bring home.
The event will take place from 6:30 a.m. until noon and is free. The first 100 youth registrants (ages 15 and under) will receive a goody bag. In addition, every participant will be entered into a raffle drawing to win a variety of prizes.
Lunch will be provided free of charge by Grown and Grazed while supplies last.
Fishing competition categories include heaviest catfish and heaviest “other” fish. Age divisions include Little Angler (ages 8 and under), Junior Angler (ages 9-15) and Adult Angler (ages 16 and older).
Participants 16 and older must possess a valid Louisiana fishing license available for purchase online at https://la-web.s3licensing.com/. Please bring your own gear, bait, tackle and an ice chest to keep your catch.
The Get Out and Fish! Program seeks to increase the number of people with access to quality fishing, recruit new anglers to the sport of fishing, and promote outdoor activities for future generations. Through this program, LDWF will regularly stock the pond at Elmore D. Mayfield Park with adult-size channel catfish in the spring and fall and rainbow trout in the winter, with the intention of establishing an easily accessible community fishing pond in the Ruston area. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ldwfgetoutandfish/.
The Fisheries Extension Outreach Program fosters responsible, licensed anglers by organizing community fishing events and developing opportunities for anglers to participate in the conservation of Louisiana’s aquatic resources. The program promotes awareness of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which utilizes angler support to help ensure the future of recreational fishing in Louisiana for generations to come.
This event is hosted in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation. 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.