March 2026 activities

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, March 9th

5:30 pm - Casting practice
6:30 pm - Tying begins
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: Stimulator Dry Fly

** Note: Monday is our first meeting in Daylight Savings Time, so we'll begin fly casting prior to all meetings, starting at 5:30pm. We cast on the grounds behind the library.

This month, Bill Morrison will lead us as we finish our series of trout patterns with the Stimulator.  This "dry fly" pattern was originally created by Jil Slattery in 1980, with the popular version we now fish created by Randall Kaufmann in 1982.      

The Stimulator is a winged, double-hackle dry fly that floats extremely well and works great in rippled or splashy water. It can represent a variety of insects, including hoppers, caddis and even emerging stoneflies.  While this fly may look imposing to tie, with a couple of tricks, it can be somewhat simple. It demands an eye to proportion which with practice is easily attained.

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. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

KFF general meeting
Monday, March 23rd 

5:30 pm - casting practice
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Special guest via Zoom:  Tim Flagler

This month, we are joined - via Zoom - by one of the world's premier fly anglers and fly tiers, Tim Flagler. Tim is a videographer by trade and owner of Tightline Productions located in New Jersey.  Incidently, it was Tim who was instrumental in helping KFF select equipment for our livestreaming of fly tying and general meetings.

While his video programs cover a wide range of topics, his specialty is fly fishing.  A renown fly tying instructor, his videos are some of the best around and his YouTube channel currently has over 126,000 subscribers and 40 million views. Almost every week he produces a new fly tying or “how to” video which appears on his Tightlinevideo YouTube channel as well as Midcurrent and the Orvis News fly fishing blog. They’re also featured on Trout Unlimited’s national website and in the Orvis Learning Center. 

In addition, he has a regular column “Beginner’s Masterclass with Tim Flagler” in Fly Tyer magazine, which selected Tim as their “Fly Tyer of the Year” for 2022.

Tim is a featured presenter at all of The Fly Fishing Show venues, as well as several other large fly fishing events.  From late Spring on, he guides for South Branch Outfitters and hosts annual trips to Patagonia, Kootenai, and northern British Columbia. 

Each month, Tim and Clark "Cheech" Pierce and Tim Rosenbauer compete in a friendly "Tie Off" livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube and Tim's own channel.  In fact, the day of our meeting, Tim will be in a tie-off... you can watch it on FACEBOOK LIVE at the Orvis Fly Fishing page or Tightline Productions page.  Time is 2:00pm CDT. 

Tim's presentation will be "What Trout Like to Eat & Flies to Feed Them".  This updated video-based presentation includes incredible underwater footage of a variety of aquatic insects, bait fish & crustaceans that trout eat in order to survive. In addition, Tim will share the fly patterns he uses to best imitate the variety of bugs discussed.

** IMPORTANT: this meeting will only be available remotely to 2026 members via ZOOM.  We will -NOT- be broadcasting or recording this meeting to YouTube per the speaker's request.  ** 

Also happening this month... 

31st annual Red Stick Day
Saturday, March 7th 
8:30am - 3:30pm
Waddilll Wildlife Refuge
4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge)
FREE admission!

Our friends in the Red Stick Fly Fishers club in Baton Rouge will be holding their annual festival the first Saturday in March.  The event includes programs, fly tying demonstrations, casting seminars and instruction, and more.  Best of all, admission is FREE!

Fly tying begins at 8:30am and continues through the day. Some of the region's top fly tiers will be on hand.  There are free refreshments during the day.  A lunch prepared by award-winning Jambalaya cook Ken Holmes will be provided for a nominal cost. Then there's the big raffle and Gamblers Draw for flies, tackle, equipment, and other items that help benefit the club's education and conservation projects.

For more details, go to www.rsff.org and click on "Red Stick Day".

February 23rd general meeting - Big Catch, Survey, New products

KFF general meeting
Monday, February 23rd 
6:30 pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom & YouTube

Join us for our first general meeting of 2026 (our January meeting was cancelled due to weather). This month we will have 3 short presentations of interest to all members.

First, Bill Morrison will give an overview and take questions on our new "Big Catch" Challenge which kicks off February 21st. 

Second, Catch will give a short presentation on some of the many new items he saw and tested at the Denver Fly Fishing Show earlier this month.  

Finally, Catch Cormier will give the results of the Club Survey and touch on the items of most interest to club members.  Open discussion of the items will follow.

A reminder that 2026 dues are due!  They remain at only $25 per family... for now.  You can pay at our meetings OR online through our membership page.  

Also... we have a very special program lined up for our March  meeting - ONLY 2026 members will be able to view remotely (no YouTube either).  You will NOT want to miss it, so pay those dues!

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

Introducing the Big Catch

Kisatchie Fly Fishers is excited to announce a new annual contest, the Big Catch Challenge.  Unlike our Mixed Bag Contest, this is a fishing contest where size does matter!  This contest is open to all KFF members. There is no entry fee required.

Our Big Catch Challenge kicks off February 21st and ends November 30th at 11:59pm. Winners will be announced and participants will be eligible for prizes drawn at our annual Christmas party in December. 

The Big Catch Challenge is designed to see who is the club’s best lunker lander.  There will be 4 species categories: 

    Black Bass -  largemouth, smallmouth, Redeye, etc
    Bream        -  bluegill, redear, warmouth, etc
    Crappie      -  black, white
    Trout          -  coldwater trout e.g., rainbow, brown, etc

At our February general meeting, the KFF Tournament Committee will give specific details and answer any questions about the Big Catch.  In the meantime, you can learn about the rules on the "Big Catch" page (click on the menu item above).

February 9th fly tying - Tan Bead Belly

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, February 9th
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month Bill Morrison leads us in tying Jeff Guerin’s Tan Bead Belly - one of Jeff's staple patterns for the Little Missouri.  It can imitate caddis, March Browns, or other insects.  

What makes this fly different from nearly all the trout nymphs we've tied is that the bead is tied near the middle of the hook rather than behind the hook eye. This gives the bead the impression of an air bubble. The pattern has classic soft hackle lines and fishes well under an indicator or stripped or pulled just below the surface.

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  

Cenla Fly Fishing Festival reset for May 30th

Cenla Fly Fishing Festival
Saturday, May 30, 2026

8:30am to 3:30pm 
Kees Park, Pineville, LA
FREE admission!!

We were all disappointed that our Festival in January had to be canceled due to a winter storm watch.  The good news is that now have a NEW date for our Fest - Saturday, May 30th.  And promises from the weatherman that this time there's an extremely small chance of frozen precipitation.

So mark your calendar, tell your friends, and come enjoy a celebration of the fly fishing experience.  Watch some of the top tiers from across the region tie flies and jigs.  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! 

We'll be posting the new schedule, speakers, and tiers for the event in the weeks ahead.  Click on the "2026 Cenla Fest" menu  for details.

January 26th meeting cancelled

In addition to the cancellation of our Cenla Fly Fishing Festival on Saturday due to weather concerns, the Rapides Parish Police Jury has announced closure of all offices and facilities, which includes the parish libraries.  For that reason - as well as continued travel concerns due to possible lingering icy roads - the club has cancelled our January general meeting set for Monday, the 26th.  See you all in February!

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.