Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BATON ROUGE–Calling all youth 15 years of age and younger! The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges and the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges are pleased to announce the Virtual Youth Fishing Rodeo. This Virtual Fishing Rodeo will replace the 27th Annual Youth Fishing Rodeo at BogueChitto National Wildlife Refuge due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The virtual youth fishing rodeo will be on Saturday, June 13  and Sunday, June 14, coinciding with Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Free Fishing weekend.

Participants can choose the fishing location of their choice within the state boundaries of Louisiana. No registration is required. Fishing starts at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13 and finishes at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. Participants can use their own fishing pole and tackle. Loaner fishing poles and tackle will be available upon request, but quantities are limited.

To be eligible for prizes, youth must be 15 years of age or younger by June 2020. Send a photo with the youth and caught fish through Facebook @SoutheastLouisiana or email virtualfishingrodeo2020@gmail.com. Photos must be received by 4 p.m. Monday, June 15. Random prizes will be drawn from photos submitted and will be announced on Wednesday, June 17.

For more information or to reserve a loaner fishing pole, contact Supervisory Refuge Ranger Becky Larkins at rebecca_larkins@fws.gov or 985-882-2025.