Cenla Fly Fest cancelled / postponed

Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for central Louisiana and all parts north. Icy road conditions may exist as far south as Lake Charles and Opelousas beginning Saturday afternoon. This was especially concerning since our special guest speaker, and many of our guest tiers were coming from the I-20 corridor and further north.

Out of abundance of concern for our guest tiers, speakers, and attendees, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers decided to cancel this Saturday's Cenla Fly Fishing Festival. Whether it will be cancelled for 2026 or postponed until late Spring or early Summer remains to be seen.

Many of you are disappointed I'm sure. Interest in the 2026 Festival was much higher than in the previous five events, so we were anticipating a record turnout. The board will meet in a couple weeks and discuss the possibilities for having this event this year.

PLEASE stay safe out there!

January 12th fly tying - Sunday Special

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, January 12th
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: Sunday Special

This month Robert Hughes will lead us in tying the Sunday Special.  Created by Clint Wilkinson, it's been called the ultimate Arkansas guide fly since it is a consistent, dependable pattern.   It is a buggy, bead head pattern that imitates a wide variety of insects, from caddis to scuds. It fishes well alone with an indicator or with a trailing midge.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -http://bit.ly/3oBk106  

2026 Mixed Bag Contest is live!

Our Mixed Bag Contest is back for a ninth year! The MBC is a members-only, months-long tournament where the goal is to catch as many different species on fly rod. It's CPRE which means catch-photo-release encouraged. And best of all, there is no entry fee!

Are you ready?  Here's what you need to compete:

• Be a 2026 member of KFF
• Go to the Mixed Bag Contest page and review the rules
• Have your camera or smartphone available when fishing
• Take photos of your catch and include either the fly rod or fly, or both
• Log them in using the links on the Mixed Bag page.
• Bring your enthusiasm!  Remember, while the top 5 finishers get placement prizes, all other participants are eligible for several consolation prizes. Each entry gets you one ticket into the consolation drawing.  

Check out our website and Facebook page during the year for frequent updates. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed holiday season. Hope everyone finds something under the Christmas tree they can use for their piscatorial pursuits in the coming year.

While Christmas is a season of festivity, let's not forget the reason for the season: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” John 1:14. Please be giving to those in need, and pray for those who are less fortunate, for those in suffering, and for those away from their families this season.

We also wish everyone a prosperous and healthy New Year.  Stay tuned for details on the 2026 Mixed Bag Challenge which kicks off January 1st.

Festival time just weeks away!

Cenla Fly Fishing Festival
Saturday, January 24, 2026
8:30am to 3:30pm 
Kees Park, Pineville, LA
FREE admission!!

In even-numbered years we hold our biennial Festival, a celebration of the fly fishing experience.  This event is  unique in that it's all about education, instruction, and community.

We encourage attendees to come learn about the sport, new places to fish, or how to fish them. Watch some of the top tiers from across the region tie flies, or jig makers.  Cast a fly rod and/or get casting instruction from top FFI Certified Instructors.  Learn why kayaks are an economical and very effective way to fish.  

And please take part in our giant raffle and fundraiser to raise money for our friends at The Food Bank of Central Louisiana - and help feed some hungry families! 

For complete details, including schedule, list of fly tiers and jig makers, exhibitors, speakers, and much more, click on the "2026 Cenla Fest" menu above. 

Club honorees, Mixed Bag winners recognized at banquet

At our annual Christmas banquet on December 8th, the club honored those members who have had an outstanding year, either in service to the club or with individual achievement. Each honoree received a 15-ounce custom artwork designed coffee mug with their name and award.

New Member of the Year - Anthony Falgout
Given to a club member who joined over the last 18 months, and who has been very active in our club, shown a strong dedication to our sport, and a willingness to learn.

Fly Tier of the Year - Joe Vandersypen
Awarded to that club member who has shown exceptional dedication to the art of fly tying, either through commitment, or significant development in their tying skills, or in enhancing the education of others, or some combination of.

Presidents Award - Jim Johnson
This award is chosen by the president, and recognizes someone who has given outstanding service to the club, and benefitting the membership.

Member of the Year - Ed Jones
Awarded to that member with some combination of: active participation, personal accomplishment, promotion of the club, aid in development of others, furthering the mission of the club, assisting in club events.

Mixed Bag Contest

Our annual Mixed Bag Contest is a months-long CPRE (catch-photo-release encouraged) tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. Five places were awarded gift cards of varying amounts. In addition, every member who made at least one entry, but wasn't a winner, had their name placed in a consolation drawing for a wide range of prizes including a TFO fly rod.

Here are the 2025 MBC winners:

Bill Morrison - 49 species
Eron Borne - 36 species
Ed Jones - 31 species
Jim Johnson - 26 species
Jerry Patton - 26 species

This year, we set new records for number of entries (295) and came up one short on most participants with 24 entrants. The most entered species was bluegill followed by longear, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and green sunfish. Top flies were the: Rio Bandito, Clouser, Shrimp pattern, Hares Ear, Soft Hackle. 

Winner of the annual "Carlton Townsend Hogsucker Award" for rarest species on fly was Ed Jones who caught a Black Redhorse. Jim Johnson was also recognized for "outstanding fish" for catching a 52-inch longnose gar. 

Our 9th annual Mixed Bag Contest kicks off January 1st, 2026. Look for updates on the Mixed Bag page sometime after Christmas. 

Happy Thanksgiving! And a Christmas Party reminder

This Thursday means many things to many different people. For most, it's a day of feasting with friends and family. Here in Louisiana, the dinner table will be adorned with turkey, roast, venison, duck or other hearty meat slowly cooked, along with Cajun favorites like sweet potatoes and corn machcoux. I'm getting hungry just typing this, lol!

While we do enjoy our feasting and football, we still recognize Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. We're thankful for all the woods, waters and wildlife we have here to enjoy. And for the wonderful friends we've made through our love of outdoors.

And speaking of friends, our annual club Christmas Gathering is set for Monday, December 8th. Good food, great comradery, live music by Sam and Jane, Club awards, Mixed Bag awards and drawings, fantastic door prizes, silent auction, an exciting presentation by Tom Zabasky ("30 Days in Alaska") and more!  If you've not received the email invite with the registration link, please check your spam folder.  Or email Catch Cormier at catch(at)laflyfish(dot)com as soon as possible!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

November 24th meeting - Christy Graham, AGFC

KFF general meeting
Monday, November 24, 2025

6:30 pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom & YouTube

Join us this month as Christy Graham joins up via Zoom. Christy is Trout Program Coordinator for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and oversees their trout stocking program. 

Bad luck has hit the AGFC trout hatcheries this year. In Spring, floods caused damage to the Hinkle Spring River Hatchery that supplies most of the fish to the Little Missouri River. Then in October, there were problems at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery that resulted in loss of 80 percent of the fish used to stock Beaver, Norfork and Bull Shoals. As a result, emergency regulations were placed on most stocked waters to limit the amount of harvest. 

However, with winter comes peak stocking time and some rivers like the Little Mo are likely to receive much fewer trout than normal - perhaps very little at all. Christy will discuss what the current problems are, and what plans they have to restore what is the best trout fishing in the South.

As always, the public is welcome! Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The livestream is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106