Fishing over the rainbow

Rainbow Trout? In Louisiana? This might be a good weekend for it with temps dropping into the 20’s.

I’m not sure why or how. But I do know you need a fishing license. Other than that, after scouring the 70 pages or so of Louisiana fish regulations, I couldn’t find any regulations for rainbow trout, but you can now go trout fishing in 10 different spots in Louisiana. And today’s as good as any. The new area trout hotspots are Kiroli Park in West Monroe, Grambling City Park in Grambling, Elmore D. Mayfield Park in Ruston and Turner’s Pond in Minden.

I’m gonna just run this news release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries without further comment…

Here you go:

“Grab your fishing gear and bring your friends and family to a nearby Get Out and Fish! pond for the opportunity to catch a fish you don’t land everyday. Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stocked ten water bodies with adult-size rainbow trout, ranging from 1 to 2 pounds, making a perfect stringer for dinner.

Now is the only time of year our Get Out and Fish! sites will be stocked with rainbow trout, so do not miss this unique opportunity to land one, right here in Louisiana. Rainbow trout are native to rivers and lakes in western North America; yet, due to their popularity, these fish have been introduced throughout the United States through stocking efforts. When water temperatures are cool during winter months, our ponds and lakes can support the cold-water fish.  

Anglers 16 and older must possess a valid Louisiana fishing license to try their hand at catching this tricky species.

For additional program and stocking information, follow us on Facebook @ldwfgetoutandfish or visit our program website .  2019 event dates and locations will be available soon. Video footage of today’s stocking is available here .

Get Out and Fish! pond stockings are funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, a USFWS grant program that provides  grant funds to the states,the District of Columbia  and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies for fishery projects, boating access and aquatic education.

Get Out and Fish! 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.”

In case you’ve made it this far:

Today’s Trout fishing tips:

Natural as well as scented baits—A natural fish food like bait fish, crayfish, frogs allowed as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn as well as other diet substances not containing any kind of ingredient to injure or destroy fish. Good examples are worms, mayflies, minnows, crayfish, fish eggs, crickets, grasshoppers, fly larvae, waxworms and numerous additional bug larvae. Also comprises dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any material designed to draw in fish by taste or scent and virtually any fly, lure or bait containing or used with such materials. Hooks used for these baits ranges from No. six to fourteen, generally fitting bait size with hook dimensions. Worms should be threaded on the hook in at least two places and the whole hook concealed. On occasions trout are going to grab a worm, squash it, spit it, and then pick it up again. This nibbling routine can make a cautious fish difficult to catch on an uncovered hook point.

Prepared trout bait ranges from commercial products to do-it-yourself concoctions. Most varieties have a cheese base and come in small chunks or balls. Cheese baits are normally cast across a pool area and the bait allowed to drift with the current. Other popular baits include whole kernel corn, marshmallows, and cereal kinds. It doesn’t take much imagination to fish for trout.

NOTE:  I did call a popular local fishing supply store and ask if they had any rainbow trout baits. They just laughed at me. Whaaaat?