September Sleep Late Saturday Summary: fishing poor, casting great!

Some blamed the unusually hot and dry weather we've had this month. Others blamed the full moon. Whatever the cause, the fish at Cotile Lake were mysteriously absent this morning. Even moreso than the last week.  Despite some good action of bass busting shad and redears biting along the dam, neither was happening today. A few small bream here and there, and that was it!

However, it was a great day for casting, and our "Casting Challenge" program. Roger Breedlove - our newest FFI Certified Casting Instructor - used the shaded grounds of Cotile Park to teach casting early on, then facilitate the Challenge for a number of club members. 

At our last meeting, Chris Perkins with the club's Education Committee presented on the particulars of the Challenge. Roger has been facilitator for the early testing. Last Sunday Bill Morrison rolled all 3 levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold - in about an hour!

Today, Chris finished up his requirements for the Gold Level, having already earned the Bronze and Silver. Jim Johnson and Lindsey Torbett swapped off for about an hour or so and both completed tasks for the Bronze Level.  Then Carlton Townsend breezed through the requirements for Bronze and he was followed by Rich Hudson.  Rich hesitated and then went to work in earnest.  In a half hour, he was casting beautiful loops and completed the Bronze Level.  Preston Keiser began work on his Bronze Level and  completed about half the list before hustling off to fish.  Gene Taylor is scheduled to do all 3 levels Sunday evening.

The club will recognize those members who achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold levels at the club level, and also at the FFI level if they are, or become, FFI members. In addition, FFI club members who achieve casting challenge certificates will be recognized on the FFI Gulf Coast Council website (www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org).

The group gathered at 12 noon at Lillian's Lakeside Diner for lunch and to exchange fishing and casting stories. We all enjoyed the morning, and hope to have much better fishing - and cooler temperatures - for our October event.

Sleep Late Saturday kicks off September 14th

Crappie taken on Silli Minnow off the dock at Cotile

September "Sleep Late Saturday" club trip
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Cotile Lake near Gardner
7:00am to 12:30pm - fishing time
1:00pm - meet and eat at Lillian's Lakeside Diner
No entry fee!
Prize drawing - see below!

Please RSVP using this link

The KFF Warmwater Committee is initiating a series of monthly half-day trips within an hour of Alexandria, which we will refer to as "Sleep Late Saturdays" because you don't have to be on the water until daybreak (unlike our usual time of 3:00am).

While the weather is still hot/warm, the trips will be in the morning. When it gets cool, some trips might be in the afternoon (then you can sleep REALLY late!).

Our first-ever SLS outing will be to Cotile Lake. You can launch at the Hwy 121 public boat launch (south end) or at the Cotile Recreation Area (north end). Or fish from the bank at the Rec Area.

Bring your camera or smartphone and take photos of catches. At the Meet & Eat at Lillians, we'll share photos and stories. Later you can submit your photo for a chance at a $25 gift card.

* Please make sure to RSVP for Lillians so they'll know how many to set up for.

August 26th general meeting - Casting Skill presentation, Casting video

Kisatchie Fly Fishers general meeting
Monday, August 26, 2019
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

On the agenda for our August meeting:
- tackle tips for September redears
- a brief presentation on the FFI and KFF Casting Skills Challenge

- a portion of a new video by Gary Borger, demonstrating the 3-finger grip

Also, upcoming Fall trips and events

As always, our meetings are open to the public. See you Monday!

KFF member's piece featured in national magazine

We have a celebrity in our club!  Gene Taylor, our Fly Tying Co-Chair and resident bibliophage, was published in the Summer issue of The Drake magazine. 

In his article, entitled "Whippersnapper: The Joys of Being a Designated Youngin", Gene recants his experiences as a young member in a club with many seasoned anglers, most of which are of senior status.  He points out examples of their fanatical devotion to the sport, and their uncanny ability to catch fish. And how, being the young protege, he has learned much.

Most of the story involves a club trip to Pointe-aux-Chenes, and Gene's first encounter with the poisson rouge on fly from kayak. It's so funny, and yet so true! Save a long explanation, but my wife Lisa read the article to me out loud. She and I laughed at several passages in the article - she couldn't believe a fly fishing article was so enjoyable.

And that's what makes The Drake different from any other fly fishing periodical. In an age of declining magazine sales, its circulation continues to grow.  Its readers are mostly young and/or highly passionate about our sport.

The Drake magazine offers little "how to" about fly fishing. And none of those absurd glory shots of fish with the anglers exchanging high-fives. The essay style and creative photography of this magazine are for anglers who enjoy the right-brained side of fly fishing.

It's not a cheap magazine, but you get great content and lots of it. You can get a copy of The Drake by going to their website, or picking up a copy at the Books-A-Million bookstore in Alexandria.

August 19th fly tying - March Brown Spider

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, August 19, 2019
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

This month, we'll be tying the March Brown Spider. Originated by his friend Sylvester Nemes, Dave Hughes mentioned it several times during his recent presentation at the NLFF Masters Series as one of his most productive wet flies. It imitates an emerging March Brown mayfly.

Materials we will use include:
- hook: standard wet fly, sizes 12 or 14
- thread: orange 6/0 or 8/0
- hackle: brown partridge
- rib: oval gold tinsel
- body: hares ear fur and sparkle yarn mix

As always, beginners are welcome!  Bring your tools, if none, the club has sets for use during these sessions. Materials are provided.

Mixed Bag Contest update - August 11

Joel Dinnat's white bass taken on Red River oxbow

August is the last full month of SweatFest 2019 - the festival no one likes to celebrate.  Typically a tough time for fishing. But the rivers were so high for so long, and now that they're low and clear, fishing is off the charts good at places like Red River, Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Deer Park and several others.  And salinities are up all over the coast.

Our members have taken advantage of this late summer jubilee with several recent entries to the Mixed Bag Contest.  The MBC is our months-long CPRO (catch-photo-release optional) contest where size doesn't matter but diversity does. The goal is to catch as many species as possible on fly rod, and register that catch online.

Here are the latest standings (number is different species registered):

Bill Morrison - 15
Carlton Townsend - 15
Robert Hughes - 12
Phil Havener - 8
Jim Johnson - 8
Glen Cormier - 8
Joel Dinnat - 6

Others: Gene Taylor -5, Rich Hudson -4, Greg Babin -3, Robert Clark -3, Ronnie Richmond -2, Jonathon Bennett -2, Tom Zabasky -1.

Making the biggest jump since our last update were Robert Hughes and Bill Morrison, each with 5 entries.

A few of the species taken in the last month include: two white bass on the Red River (both on Clouser Minnow), Spanish Mackeral at Dauphin Island (Coma Spoon), Channel Catfish at Toledo Bend (Rosborough Hares Ear), Blue Runner in northwest Florida (Bead chain fly), Common Carp (Mop Fly) and an Ozark Bass (Creek Crawler) taken at Crooked Creek.

A reminder that there are 67 possible listings! So this contest is far, far from over. We'll be awarding 6 (six) places. In addition, all non-place entrants will have a shot in the Consolation Drawing.  Remember, you only need one (1) entry to be in that drawing.

No July general meeting

Due to a special event the fourth week of July at the Rapides Westside Library, the meeting rooms were not available.  We thought it might be a good time to take a break as many members are on vacation anyhow. 

We will resume our usual 4th Monday general meetings in August.  See you then!

July 15th fly tying - Bluegill Gurgler

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, July 15, 2019
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

For this month, Gene Taylor will lead us in tying a foam fly, the Bluegill Gurgler, a great-looking popper.  All materials will be provided, and we'll have a selection of different foam colors from which to choose. Bring whatever thread color you think you want to tie.

Here are materials we will use:
- hook: size 10 standard length
- tail: marabou with pearl Krystal Flash
- shellback: 2mm foam body
- body: ice dubbing
- legs: barred rubber legs

Aways, beginners are welcome!