September 19th fly tying

Our next fly tying session will be Monday, September 19, at the Rapides Westside Libary in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm.

This month Dan Fromme will lead us in tying the Slow Sinking Spider (SSS). The SSS is the creation of Stephen Robert of Houma, and has quickly become one of the best bream flies anywhere! Stephen says, "I use this pattern sight fishing to bluegill and bass. If you have bright sunny days and the fish will not hit poppers and you can see the fish let this fall slowly in their face or in their beds.".  Earlier this summer, Kevin Andry and I did exactly that and had a banner day on Kincaid fishing beds in 3-4 feet of water. Every fly tier who fishes bream needs to learn the Slow Sinking Spider!

As always, beginners are welcome. Bring your tools if you have some, otherwise the club has a few toolsets for those without tools.  Materials are provided.  See you Monday!

2016 Gulf Coast Fly Fair this weekend

The 2016 Gulf Coast Fly Fair will be held this Friday and Saturday, September 16 and 17, at the Civic Center in Ocean Springs, MS.  Hosted by the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) Gulf Coast Council, the expo features exhibitors, seminars, fly tying, casting, workshops, banquet, auction and more.  Best of all, admission is free!  In fact, many of the workshops are also free.

Whether you're a beginner or expert, there's something for everyone at the GCC Fly Fair.  For complete details, including a schedule of activities on Friday and Saturday, programs, workshops and tiers, click here to go to the Gulf Coast Fly Fair website.

For info about the IFFF Gulf Coast Council, go to www.gulfcoastfff.org.

National Hunting and Fishing Day - September 24th

Cenla National Hunting and Fishing Day Festival
Saturday, September 24, 2016
7:00am - 9:00am - Kids Fishing Derby
9:00am - 2:00pm - Main exhibits and activities
LDWF Woodworth Outdoors Center
661 Robinson Road, Woodworth, LA

FREE admission! Food and refreshments provided, BBQ sampling as well as wild game tasting.

Activities include: Falconry demonstrations, Alligator skinning SWAT Team Demonstration, cannon net demonstrations, target shooting with shotguns, .22 rifles, Muzzeloaders, air rifles, as well as archery target shooting, live snake display, free photos taken on the Air Boat, rock wall climbing, retriever dog demos, hay rides.  

Also fly casting and fly tying demos by the Kisatchie Fly Fishers. 

There will be free burgers and drinks courtesy of Burger King, Sayes Office Supply and the Alexandria Optimist Club. Also barbecue samples from the Woodmen of the World BBQ Contest.  For the Kids Fishing Derby, participants should bring their own bait and fishing gear. Ages 15 and under can fish for bream, bass and catfish.

For more info, click on the Cenla NHF Day poster above.

August 22nd meeting

Our next general meeting will be on Monday, August 22, at the Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm.

For the program, we'll watch a brand new DVD by Gary Borger entitled "The Perfect Cast".  If you're a beginner or even intermediate level caster, or an expert looking for a few extra tips on making tighter loops and more control casts, this video will be the ticket!

Also on the agenda:  Cenla National Hunting and Fishing Day the last Saturday in September. KFF will participate.  Also, fishing reports and the new NatGeo application for locating fishing spots.

The public is welcome, so bring a guest if you can!

Contraband Fly Fishing Expo this Saturday!

Recap: Fly Tying Workshop with Jeff Guerin

For the summer months - June, July and August - the Kisatchie Fly Fishers cancelled our regular 3rd Monday fly tying sessions and instead held two "Summer Fly Tying Workshops" featuring nationally-renown fly tiers.  The first with Stephen Robert was held in July, and the second with Jeff Guerin was held in August. Both were held on Saturday mornings at the LDWF Woodworth Outdoors Education Center, and were open to members of other clubs.

The August 13th session with Jeff Guerin came on the worst weekend possible, when a tropical depression moved over south Louisiana, dumping as much as 22 inches of rain in some locations - the worst natural disaster in our state since Hurricane Katrina!  Central Louisiana was spared the flooding, so the class went on as scheduled.  Although it did take a toll as only 11 of the 18 registered were able to attend.

Still, it was a great session!  Jeff demonstrated the original hare's ear pattern, a basic wet fly pattern, and his own creation, the A&W Emerger.  Even the expert tiers in the group learned quite a bit as most of Jeff's presentation was more about the concepts of fly design, dubbing selection and mixing, and numerous production tying tips.  Jeff also explained why certain patterns are very effective and his observations from many years of guiding folks on the rivers of southern Arkansas.

KFF would like to thank Jeff very much for giving us this workshop.  Check out his website at www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com.  If you've never been fly fishing on the Little Missouri River near Murfreesboro, or have never fished for trout on moving water, I strongly recommend hiring Jeff for a day.  He's a great guide and excellent casting instructor.

July 25th meeting

Our next general meeting will be on Monday, July 25, at the Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm.

This month's program is "New Fly Gear for 2017".  Catch Cormier will update us on both new and current products from the ICAST / IFTD trade show which he attended earlier this month. 

Also on the agenda:
- Roger Breedlove will bring the last of his "surplus rods" to sell for the club. He says he saved the best for last!  Money raised will help club projects.

- Updates on the 2nd and final "Summer Fly Tying Workshops" to be held Saturday, August 13th, featuring Little Missouri Fly Fishing owner and guide Jeff Guerin.

- Last meeting before the club votes on affiliated status with the IFFF.  Last chance to ask questions or raise concerns!

- Upcoming Fall and Spring 2017 club activities. Yes, it's time to think ahead!

The public is welcome, so bring a guest if you can!

Reminder: no fly tying this month!

Because of our summer tying workshops, there will be NO regular monthly tying sessions in July and August.  Our next monthly tying session will be on September 19th.

Speaking of our summer workshops, the second and last workshop is Saturday, August 13 - Arkansas Trout Flies with Jeff Guerin.  Time 8:30am - 12:30pm.  Location is LDWF Woodworth Education Center.  This session is open to members of Kisatchie Fly Fishers or other recognized fly fishing clubs.  Refreshments will be provided.  Bring your tools, materials will be provided.  Some basic knowledge of tying techniques may be required.

To register, please email Glen Cormier at catch@laflyfish.com.