Cast the line!
Fishing with friends and family
Fishing's for everyone of any age!
The fishtival is a blast for the family!
The prizes are always great!
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Big Bass Fishing Rodeo and Fishtival

Since 1946

The 67th Annual Big Bass Rodeo & Fishtival and Boats on the Bayou was a raving success!

City Park Big Bass Rodeo drew 575 anglers. Here's how they finished:

Bass (Youth)

1. Joseph Finger, 4.59
2. Christopher Menard, 2.30
3. Jace Ouliber, 1.38

Bass (Adult)

1. Robert Meyers, 5.48
2. Phil Kent, 3.94
3. Mike Laviolette, 3.26

Junior Anglers

1. John Schwegmann, .31
2. Hunter Thomasie, .29
3. Hunter Eason, .28

Champions Challenge

Joel Stokes, 2.54

Fly Fishing

Gale Rhodes, 1.94 (bass)

Rio Grande Cichlids

1. Team Stop, Drop & Reel, .64
2. Team Johnson

Catch-a-Gar Bonus

Team Muchos Rio Grande, 3.54

The inaugural Boats on the Bayou division drew 89 kayakers. Here's how they ended up:

Trashbash

1. Joseph Grande, .25 (bream)

Bass

1. Ian Wiggins, 3.42

Trout

1. Steve Neece, 1.57

In 2015, New Orleans City Park will host its 68 annual Big Bass Rodeo & Fishtival and Boats on the Bayou, the oldest freshwater fishing rodeo in the country. Last year over 500 anglers sought largemouth bass and other species hoping to earn bragging rights and a trophy. Unlike high caliber bass fishing tournaments, this nonprofessional rodeo provides fishing categories and activities for all ages and is a great time to enjoy springtime in the Park. 

Click here for the 2014 Rodeo Booklet

  •  
    Big Bass Fishing Rodeo

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    Boats on the Bayou

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    The Fishtival

    Fun for the whole family!

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    Registration

    For any part of the event

  •  
    Committee and Contacts

  •  
    Sponsors

    Want to help out?

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    History

    We've got fish tales to tell!

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    Wildlife and Fisheries

  •  
    Past Winners

    From 1946-Present

TWEETS FROM THE PARK:

PARK TALK:

“One of my favorite places....absolutely the most beautiful park I have ever seen (even internationally)!” - Karen L.
“Such a beautiful, magical park!” - Josh A.
“Had fun at the park yesterday...my family and I rented the paddle boats and had a blast!!! ” - Kristi S.
“One of the best kept secrets in NOLA. ” - Wyndham N.
“We LOVED this Park. The Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn made us take off our shoes upon laying eyes on it!” - Marvin G.
“Beautiful trees. So peaceful to be there.” - Colleen P.
“I remember having my picture taken at the Peristyle for my dance review back in 1964. The Peristyle is still so beautiful!” - Bunny W.
“Climbing the trees at City Park is an important rite of passage for any true NOLA kid. ” - Melissa R.
“Can't wait for the day that I can take my grandchild to the place that my parents use to take me...great memories! ” - Jennie O.
“Another claim to fame in our beloved city.” - Carolyn B.
“If I was 40 years younger I would climb these large trees!” - Renee E.
“One of my favorite places in the world!” - Karen L.
“Worth seeing! We drove to the park & there was plenty of parking & it was easy to find. Loved the sculpture garden!” - Linda B.
“My #1 reason for wanting to move to the city!” - Nicholas C.
“City Park its really, really, really beautiful.” - Nina G.
“Man, @NOLACityPark is one of the best things about this city.” - Rab G.
“I played mini golf with my husband there 41 years ago. ” - Peg K.
“We had great time yesterday at the Park! We will definitely be back soon! ” - Nadra J.
“When you go to City Park, you enter another world!” - Linda Marie J.
“I take my 93 year old father to Morning Call whenever possible. I listen to him reminisce about his early memories of City Park.” - Linda J.
“City Park is my gym, my place to grab a snack, my zen place.” - Elodie C.
“The lighting on the Peristyle and Bandstand look great! Thank you City Park for being beautiful! ” - Julie S.
“This is my little piece of heaven. ” - Debby G.
“I found the Park extremely beautiful and peaceful. I would not have imagined such a beautiful green space existed so close to the city. ” - Hugo E.
“My family and I have been riding our bikes on the track around the Festival Grounds. We love it, and it’s clear everyone else does too. It’s a big asset for the city. ” - Truman B.
“Everyone I know calls the horses on the Carousel the Flying Horses! ” - Ralph M.
“I just finished my jog at the beautiful City Park. It’s a great place to exercise. ” - James B.
“A beautifully landscaped, tranquil haven away from the razzle dazzle of the French Quarter. ” - Sue B.
“The free and open space - there’s nothing like being at City Park on a nice day. ” - Ase W.
“Every route is scenic. Trails and paved roads snake like the Mississippi River around bayous, lakes, ponds, sculptures, fountains, Venetian gondolas, and 600-year-old oaks. There's a 3/4 mile boardwalk around Big Lake, nature trails, and paved areas for running! ” - G. Hill
“This Park is vast & beautiful - old oaks, a museum, gardens, art - a park you can bring the kids to for rides and to feed the ducks & swans. ” - Molly W.
“I had my reception at City Park in September of 2003 and people STILL talk about the food. It was beyond my wildest dreams! ” - Veronica P.
“I so love MY PARK, even at 53 years old, it is a treasure that brings back my earliest memories - and great ones at that!” - Allison J.
“My husband and I love the cedar swings at the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn. It's our date place to get away from the kids. ” - Elodie C.
“Great for riding bikes through. We even saw Surrey bikes that you can rent at the Park!” - Lars H.
“I just discovered the walking paths in Couturie Forest off of Harrison. They are awesome! ” - Bern S.
“Thank you, City Park, for the gift of the exercise equipment and the walking/running/biking trail at the Festival Grounds. It is a great venue to work out in and to enjoy the Park” - Kathy S.
“The Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn, across from the Peristyle, is a fantastic addition to the Park. ” - Daniel T.
“My daughter's 5th birthday party was here, it was great. ” - Victoria T.
“Beautiful! A nice place to get away from city traffic. The Spanish moss large draped oaks are gorgeous for picture taking.” - Adam T.
“City Park is amazingly beautiful and provides a wealth of resources in our great city.” - Gina M.
“I have wonderful memories biking through CP & Couturie Forest w/ my children.” - Karen C.
“New Orleans is a destination of sights, of tastes, and of sounds. Here, the sounds of the city can fill you with life. But in City Park, an oasis for natives and transplants like myself, the sounds of the Big Easy can make you feel safe. Calm. And at-home.” - Garland H.
“Can't wait to go back.” - Lisa S.
“We are from Florida but love NOLA! And City Park is one of the crown jewels! We go there each time we visit! Love it, this is the model all city parks should strive to emulate. City Park is for all the citizens of New Orleans. ” - Shannon D.
“We rented a Single Surrey, and did a full tour, that took us next to the Botanical Garden, Amusement Park, City Putt and Morning Call. Cafe. What a great time!” - Amy C.
“I saw a yellow-crowned night heron eating a worm for breakfast this morning! #Nature” - Andrea P.
“@NOLACityPark has to be the nicest park I have ever seen. Best place for #running or just #relaxing.” - Jamie Z.
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CITY PARK FACTS:

The antique wooden carousel in Carousel Gardens was created by famed carvers Looff and Carmel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A post-Katrina renovation garnered national attention and praise from the National Historic Preservation Society.