The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will bring two of its most popular aquatic outreach programs to Youngsville for residents and the surrounding greater Lafayette area – the Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program and the Get Out and Fish! Community Fishing Program.
Through the Get out and Fish! Program, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries creates fishing destinations in urban areas. The department has partnered with East Regional Library to bring this program to the pond at Southside Regional Park at Fabaher Field in Youngsville. The pond will be stocked with adult-sized channel catfish in the spring and rainbow trout in the winter, with the intention of establishing a put-and-take fishery in the area.
A kickoff event will be held on Saturday, April 7 from 6:30 a.m. to noon and will include a fishing competition, fishing activities and demonstrations, raffles and lunch provided by the Kiwanis Club. Pre-registration is available HERE. Day-of registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. The first 100 children to register will receive a free goodie bag. Participants 16 and older must have a valid recreational fishing license.
The Aquatic Volunteer Instructor Program encourages angling enthusiasts to pass the art of fishing on to the next generation. A free workshop will be held on March 14 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the East Regional Library in Youngsville for interested volunteers. At this hands-on workshop led by Wildlife and Fisheries biologists, attendees will receive the training necessary to become a volunteer instructor. Workshop topics and activities include knot tying, casting skills, basic fishing techniques, fish identification, fisheries management and more. A binder full of activity guides, lesson plans and educational materials will be provided to all volunteers who attend the workshop. Loaner equipment is available to those volunteers who successfully complete the 8-hour workshop and pass a background check.
