Believe It or Not, You Can Now Catch Trout in Minden

You could fish Louisiana waters every day for the rest of your life and if your bucket list included the need to catch a rainbow trout, you'd pass without ever checking that one off.

Trout just aren't native to the Bayou State. A person doesn't have to travel too far north into Arkansas to catch them, but catching one down here would be nothing short of a miracle.

Just a couple of days ago, on Tuesday, January 10, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries once again stocked non-native rainbow trout into Turner's Pond in Minden as part of the Get Out & Fish! program.

If you're not familiar with Turner's Pond in Minden but would like to take advantage of this unique opportunity, just go HERE for directions.

Turner's Pond along with 16 other sites across Louisiana were stocked with adult-size Rainbow Trout. Don’t have a boat? No problem! These sites are designed for bank fishing, so grab your gear and head out to a site with family and friends to catch a fish you don’t land every day in the Bayou State.

Now is the only time of year these sites will be stocked with Rainbow Trout, so do not miss this unique opportunity to land one at a community fishing pond near you.

LDWF stocks this cold-water species when water temperatures cool off during winter months. Anglers are encouraged to keep their catch, so the Rainbow Trout are harvested before temperatures rise.

Anglers 18 and older must possess a Louisiana fishing license when fishing in any Louisiana public waters. Licenses are available for purchase online at https://louisianaoutdoors.com/licenses-and-permits.

Since most of us don't actually have much experience catching these non-native rainbow trout, the LDWF lists the following tips to help you be successful on your outing:

• 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.

For more information on the Get Out & Fish! Program, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/GOF or email GOF@wlf.la.gov.