Updates, Feb. 2: Andrew Jacob Wallace, 18, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Dylan Poche’s death.
Funeral arrangements have been set for Poche at 2 p.m., Feb. 4, at Freedom Life Church in Natchitoches, with burial following at Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin, La.
A Dylan Poche Memorial Fund was just set up. To donate, click on Keith Poche’s website here and go to the box at the right.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Tragedy struck the fishing world again as young and talented angler Dylan Poche was stabbed to death at a boat ramp Saturday evening, Jan. 30, 2016, at Sibley Lake near Natchitoches, La.
Very few details are available at this point, but Dylan Poche’s uncle, Elite Series angler Keith Poche, said that after the altercation took place, Dylan’s younger brother, Caleb, wrecked the alleged assailant’s vehicle with his own and kept him restrained until the authorities arrived. The suspect is currently in custody.
Dylan, 18 years old, was a college angler at Northwestern State University and recently finished fourth in his second BFL event on Toledo Bend Lake in late January 2016. Dylan Poche competed last year in the 2015 Costa Bassmaster High School Series Central Open on Toledo Bend, and he was registered for the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional this month.
“He was enjoying some success and showed real resolve to build a career out of fishing,” said Keith Poche. “Watching him grow up, it was obvious he had a natural talent for reading the water and finding the right fish. He fished tournaments in high school and college, and team tournaments on a regular basis — I mean, all he did was fish, he loved it.
“I have no doubt that he would have eventually made it to the highest level of competition. He had that kind of talent. Dylan grew up fishing and was very passionate about his time on the water, which combined with his excellent marks in school, made his determination clear to me. I really wish we were talking about him winning a major tournament, and not this…”
“This is just tragic,” said Hank Weldon senior manager of the college, high school and youth tournament series at B.A.S.S. “It’s horrible that it happened to such a young angler who had a bright future in front of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Poche family at this time.”
This is another senseless act of violence that has occurred at boat ramps in the past several months. In October 2015, Tennessee angler Gregg Hawkins, 53, was shot and killed as he apparently interrupted a car burglary.
