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Did you ever think you could win a fishing event without paying an entry fee or weighing or measuring a fish? Here’s your chance! The Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex and the Friends of Louisiana Refuges, Inc. are hosting a Virtual Youth Fishing Rodeo during Louisiana free fishing weekend June 12-13, 2021.

All youth 15 years of age and younger are eligible to participate for FREE! Participation is easy, youth who are 15 years old or younger fish the location of their choice in any Louisiana waters starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 12 and ending at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 13. Fishing licenses are not required to fish during Louisiana’s free fishing weekend. Take a photo of youth holding their catch with a participant flyer or handmade sign that reads #GeauxFish or #GetYourFishOn or #YouthFishingRodeo2021 and send the photo via email to virtualfishingrodeo@gmail.com or to the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex Facebook page @Southeast Louisiana.

Participant flyer can be downloaded at this website https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bogue_Chitto/YouthFishingRodeo.html. No printer? Simply download participant flyer to your smartphone and hold the phone up in photo with youth and their catch. Youth could also create their own sign to display next to their catch or use a recent newspaper to verify date of catch. Photos of youth and their catch must be received by 4 p.m. Monday, June 14.  During a live program at 3 p.m. CST on June 16, prize winners will be randomly selected and announced on the Refuges’ Facebook page @SoutheastLouisiana. Loaner fishing poles are available, but supplies are limited. For more information or to reserve a fishing pole send us an email at virtualfishingrodeo@gmail.com or by phone at 985/882-2015.  More details at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bogue_Chitto/YouthFishingRodeo.html