ABILENE, Texas — The City of Abilene, Parks, and Recreation has paired up with Texas Parks and Wildlife to host their annual Trout Fest.
The free fishing tournament will be a two long event held at Cal Young Park.
"People can come out to Cal Young park and fish whatever day works best for them or even come out every day if they want to. It's a free event, there is a little contest with three different categories- longest rainbow trout, getting the biggest other fish, and then how many days you have been out. You could probably catch nothing but depending on the number of days you’ve been out still enter into a contest" said Alyssa Hartley, multi-media specialist with the city of Abilene.
Natalie Stockholm, an assistant biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife- Inland Fisheries says they will be stocking rainbow trout across Texas ahead of this weekend. According to Stockholm rainbow trout aren’t native to the big country and you can only take advantage of this unique fishing experience during the colder months.
"If you are 17 and older you need a valid fishing license for freshwater, if you are keeping these fish and we encourage that you are allowed 5 rainbow trout per day and no minimum length, any size you catch is good," said Stockholm.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is also offering to lend out fishing poles to borrow for families who need them.