Get Out & Fish! Community Fishing Program
Kids 17 and Under Fish Free!
A recreational fishing license is required for anglers 18 and over. You can purchase a license online.
Easy Access to Easy Fishing!
Get Out & Fish! ponds are stocked with adult-size fish for fun, easy fishing. Stocked ponds are located at community parks throughout Louisiana.
Check In!
Be sure to check-in when you're fishing at a Get Out & Fish! pond and provide information to help us with our stocking efforts.
| October 31 | November 5 | November 7 | November 12 | November 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BREC Burbank Park, Baton Rouge | Turner's Pond, Minden | Forts Buhlow & Randolph, Pineville | Purple Heart Memorial, Ragley | Joe Brown Park, New Orleans |
| Zemurray Park, Hammond | Grambling City Park, Grambling | Parc Natchitoches, Natchitoches | Oil and Gas Park (I-10 Park), Jennings | Girard Park, Lafayette |
| Sidney Hutchinson, Walker | Elmore D. Mayfield Park, Ruston | William T. Polk, Vidalia | Southside Regional Park-Fabacher Field, Youngsville | |
| Bogue Chitto, Franklinton | Kiroli Park, Vidalia | Bayou Country Sports Park, Houma |
Fishing Tips for Stocked Fish
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
- Stocked in the spring and fall each year,.
- You’ll have luck fishing for channel catfish along the bottom of the pond with many different types of bait. Channel catfish particularly like baits with a strong smell.
Fishing Gear Checklist
| What to Bring | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Basic Fishing License (freshwater only) | Required for anglers 18 and over to fish legally |
| Any rod/reel combo labeled as medium or medium-heavy | Medium-heavy action is best for bigger species like catfish |
| Tackle box | To store your equipment |
| Monofilament fishing line, 8-12# test, any brand | Strength of line recommended for channel catfish |
| Corks/bobbers | For use with cork/bobber rig |
| Split shot sinkers | For use with cork/bobber rig, if you need extra casting distance; size varies based on need |
| Egg sinkers (1/8-1/4-ounce should be ideal for most conditions) | For use with Carolina rig; helps the rig to roll along the bottom without getting snagged |
| Fluorocarbon leader line, 8-12# test, any brand | For use with Carolina rig; hard for fish to see, can improve catch rates |
| Swivels, small-medium size | For use with Carolina rig |
| Circle hooks (2/0-3/0 size will work for most brands) | Best hook type for catfish, helps avoid hook swallowing |
| Bait (recommend most forms of protein or catfish bait—dough bait, worms, insects, chicken meat, etc.) | Live/cut bait is ideal for catfish |
| Long-nose pliers | To assist with hook removal |
| Landing net | To assist with getting the fish out of the water |
Fishing Tips Video
Catfish Recipes
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Will be stocked mid-January to early February, pending a decrease in water temperatures.
- We suggest fishing for rainbow trout with a light line and small hook. You might try a small spinner lure or rooster tail. Many people have luck with power bait as well. You can catch rainbow trout with both live and dead bait. Click here for a printable PDF of gear suggestions.
Fishing Gear Checklist
| What to Bring | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Basic Fishing License (freshwater only) | Required for anglers 18 and over to fish legally |
| Any rod/reel combo labeled as light or medium-light | Lighter action is best for trout species due to their more sensitive bite |
| Tackle box | To store your equipment |
| Monofilament fishing line, 6-10# test, clear color | Strength of line recommended for rainbow trout |
| Spinning lures, small (1/8-1/4-ounce), rooster tail spinner baits recommended | Easy to operate, great for trout |
| Corks/bobbers | For use with cork/bobber rig |
| Split shot sinkers | For use with cork/bobber rig, if you need extra casting distance; size varies based on need |
| Egg sinkers (1/8-1/4-ounce) | For use with Carolina rig; helps the rig to roll along the bottom without getting snagged |
| Fluorocarbon leader line, 6-10# test, any brand | For use with Carolina rig; hard for fish to see, can improve catch rates |
| Swivels, small-medium size | For use with Carolina rig |
| J hooks (#8-5 size will work for most brands) | For use when fishing with bait instead of a lure |
| Bait (corn, trout PowerBait) | Corn or PowerBait made specifically for trout are commonly used in trout fishing |
| Long-nose pliers | To assist with hook removal |
| Landing net | To assist with getting the fish out of the water |
Fishing Tips Video
Rainbow Trout Recipes
Don’t forget to bring an ice chest because both rainbow trout and catfish make for great eating. Remember there is a daily limit on rainbow trout of five fish per person.
About the Program
LDWF’s Get Out & Fish! provides easy and affordable access to quality fishing at locations close to cities and towns. Through this program, LDWF partners with local governments and community organizations to stock community fishing ponds with adult channel catfish in the spring and fall and rainbow trout in the winter, weather permitting. By stocking community ponds with fish, we hope to introduce new anglers to the sport of fishing and provide opportunities for current anglers to practice their skills and for former anglers to get back into fishing if they haven’t been for some time.
Get Out & Fish! Events
We launch each new community fishing site that joins the program with a Get Out & Fish! event which includes a fishing competition and fishing education activities. Through these events, we hope to provide the skills necessary to make even new anglers feel prepared to come back to the site and fish at any time on their own. We also hope to provide a family-oriented fishing opportunity that gets youth and their families outside to spend the day together.
How do we select fishing sites for the program?
We partner with community organizations and local governments to identify high-quality fishing locations within a short walk or bike ride from a community or town. All ponds must be open to the public. Ideal sites are three- to 10-acre ponds with amenities such as restrooms, parking, and play areas. LDWF biologists assess each potential pond for suitability as a healthy fishery.
Volunteer with Us
Our dedicated volunteers help make Get Out & Fish! events possible. Volunteering with us provides an opportunity to share your passion for fishing and other outdoor activities with anglers of all ages and levels of experience. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Heather David at hdavid@wlf.la.gov.
Sport Fish Restoration Program Funding
Get Out & Fish! Is funded through the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program. Excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest are collected and deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration Fund. These funds are apportioned to each state annually based on land to water ratio and number of paid license holders.
For more information, contact Danica Williams at dwilliams@wlf.la.gov or 504.286.4043.