Youth take advantage of program

Published 4:51 pm Sunday, October 29, 2017

It appears that the “Get out and Fish” program by the state’s wildlife and fisheries department made a good run during the past few months.

The department stocked ponds and small lakes with channel catfish in various areas of the state (Lafayette, Hammond, Baton Rouge, West Monroe, Minden, Vidalia, Grambling) and invited the public.

The event is sponsored in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation and seeks to increase the number of people with access to quality fishing, to recruit new anglers to the sport of fishing and to promote outdoor activities for future generations,

The last stop on the trail was Ragley and the pond at the Purple Heart Memorial Park (on La. 171) last weekend. Eight hundred pounds of adult catfish were dropped into the water. 

A spokesman for the department said that almost 350 fishermen competed in events that included fishing competition and aquatic activities for the entire family.

The South Beauregard Recreation District helped sponsor the day with assistance from the East Beauregard, South Beauregard and Sam Houston high school fishing teams as well as various donations from companies and individuals.

The largest catfish caught was a 7.88-pounder by junior angler Trey Rannekleiv. Also in that category, Kendall Metcalf caught a 5.28 cat and Ashton Brown a 5.11-pounder.

In the “Little Angler” division, Nicholas Hann had a 5.51-pounder, Caleb Benson a 3.95 and Hazel Linton a 3.7.

Among adults, William Nolen landed a 5.59, Jennifer Shirley a 5.13 and Keith Conner a 4.92.

The wildlife and fisheries spokesman said there remained numerous large catfish in the pond and that the odds of catching one is still high and encouraged fishermen to give it a try.

As early as it may seem, duck hunting begins this weekend with “youth only” hunting. Young hunters, 17 and younger, can get an early start on Saturday and Sunday in the Coastal Zone and Nov. 4 only in the West Zone while hunters in the East Zone must wait until Nov. 11.

The regular opening date for duck hunting is Nov. 11 in the Coastal and West zones and Nov. 18 for the East Zone.

Splits for the Coastal and West are Nov. 11-Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-Jan. 21 and Nov. 18-Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-Jan. 28 in the East Zone.

The West Zone will have one final youth-only hunting day on Jan. 26 and the East Zone will have Feb. 3.

Geese splits run Nov. 4-Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-Jan. 31 for Canada geese, Nov. 4-Dec. 3, Dec. 16-Feb. 11 for snow, blue and Ross’ geese and Nov. 4-Dec. 3, Dec. 16-Feb. 11 for white-fronted (specklebelly).