Over 50 women joined the ranks of experienced anglers in Louisiana by participating in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Women’s Fishing Workshops. The two workshops were held last month at the Cabela’s in Gonzales. Participants were taught how to rig their own rod and reel, fishing tactics, methods of cleaning fish and native fish species identification.
The Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana sent each participant home with her own rod and reel. In addition, raffle winners brought home new fishing gear courtesy of Cabela’s and Louisiana Fish Fry.
The workshops are open to women 18 and older who have in interest in fishing and conservation but have not had the opportunity to learn the skills and techniques needed to get started. LDWF and Cabela’s have partnered to hold several of these one-day workshops over the past 5 years, training over 200 women.
Those who participate in the workshops are eligible for selection for department coordinated fishing trips where they are paired with a fisheries biologist and boat captain, allowing them to put their newly learned skills to use. Selection for these trips is random due to limited accommodations.
The Department strives to inspire people to learn about and enjoy the outdoors. These workshops are one of the many outreach initiatives LDWF and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation sponsors, designed to do just that. The goal is to provide women with hands-on education and experience from trained staff and volunteers.
The women’s workshops are 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 Department and Commission in the challenge of conserving Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries resources.
