Responsible Anglers United is holding a special raffle with an eye toward continuing to replenish and restore local fisheries.
The winner of the raffle will receive a smallmouth bass fishing trip for two to Lake Champlain in New York. The winner and anyone of his or her choosing will be able to fish with Bassmaster Elite Pro Tyler Rivet. The cost of each raffle ticket is a $20 donation and the drawing will occur on June 19 at Becks in Raceland. The trip will be held from Aug. 17-20 and it is all expenses paid.
The Responsible Anglers organization formed to unite anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts to safeguard the future of bass fishing in South Louisiana, doing so through advocacy, community education and bass restocking efforts. The motivation to launch the nonprofit came following the fallout from Hurricane Ida, which Dufrene called the “worst fish kill we’ve ever seen.”
“All the money raised is going to release fish into the area. The more money we raise, the more fish we can purchase,” said Steve Dufrene, founder of RAU. “We release fish where it’s accessible to the public, so criteria one is where the public has access and criteria two is doing so where there’s habitat – good water quality, good vegetation where the fish can survive, thrive and reproduce. We want to release as many fish as possible.”
Rivet is a longtime pro who began the bass fishing team at his alma mater of Nicholls State University. The Raceland native has 14 top 10 finishes in the Elite Series to his name and more than 40 top 30 finishes, with more than $650,000 in career winnings.
He said the RAU cause is near and dear to him and that when Dufrene, Rivet’s cousin, began efforts toward restoration, he wanted to help.
“I think he stepped up and said, ‘We’ve gotta do something.’ Because the fishing here isn’t like it was,” Rivet said. “It’s not Sportsman’s Paradise anymore (since Ida). We were able to release 32,000 fish this past October. And it’s just something I always want to help with because I grew up down here – it’s where I learned how to fish, and now fishing is how I make my living,” Rivet said.
Rivet said he wants the children in his home region to have the same opportunities that he had.
“I went fishing (Monday) for a little while. Normally, March is primetime here and you don’t go five minutes without a bite,” Rivet said. “I really only caught two today. It kind of goes to show what we’re dealing with.”
Rivet noted Lake Champlain is a fantastic smallmouth fishery.
“All of the proceeds go toward the nonprofit, buying more fish to put here in our fisheries down here,” Rivet said. “And if you win (the raffle), it’s really the best deal ever for $20 – tickets, lodging, a couple of days of fishing at a great place for it. In August in New York, you could be wearing shorts with a hoodie on. It’s that kind of perfect weather we wish we had in August down here.”
To purchase tickets, visit responsibleanglersunited.com.
