Virtual Tying Tuesday reminder

A short reminder that tonight for our bi-weekly Virtual Tying Tuesday, Gene Taylor will be leading us in tying the Seaducer.  There are two ways to join in.

1)  Active participants can join via Zoom (www.zoom.us).  Download the Zoom app for use on any PC, tablet, or smartphone.  Enter the meeting ID and password to join in.  If you need the ID and password, email Bill Morrison with a request.

2)  Casual observers can join via live-streaming on YouTube.   No downloads necessary.   If you have a YouTube app on your PC, smartphone or tablet, you can even cast it onto your TV  (if your TV has an internet connection) and watch it on the big screen in high definition!

• Method 1.  Click directly on this link:  https://youtu.be/1FEAcs1RhTo
• Method 2.  Go to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube Channel:  http://bit.ly/3oBk106
  and click on "Live" videos.
  

Patton early leader in 2021 Mixed Bag

Red taken by Chris Williams on EP Shrimp fly

January 1st kicked off our 4th annual "Mixed Bag Contest" - a members-only CPRE (catch-photo-release encouraged) online tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. The goal is to catch as many different species as possible, for chances at awards and prizes. 

Speaking of awards and prizes, for 2021 there are a few changes coming to encourage greater participation by "spreading the wealth". We all know that we have a group of outstanding anglers in our club that routinely catch 10 or more species each year on fly. The changes will give the folks who catch fewer fish a greater opportunity at more prizes. We'll still recognize "winners" but their cash prizes will be reduced or eliminated. For the prize drawing, we'll expand the number of prizes from only 1 to at least 3, possibly 5. Each entry in the Mixed Bag continues to get you 1 ticket into the drawing, so there's still an incentive to get as many entries in as possible.     

We'll have more on that later. Meanwhile, we have our first month on the books.  It's been a rough start to 2021, with cold and windy days, but our members have braved the elements and made a great start!  

Here are our current leaders:
Jerry Patton (5) - black crappie, rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, spotted bass
Chris Williams (4) - bluegill, spotted bass, striped mullet, red drum
Carlton Townsend (4) - brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black crappie
Tyler Wood (3) - redfish, seatrout, flounder
Rich Hudson (1) - rainbow trout

The most productive flies have been: Clouser Minnow and EP Shrimp Fly in saltwater, Squirmy Worm, Green Weenie and Pheasant Tail in fresh.  Top locations have been Highway 1 marsh to Grand Isle, Calcasieu marsh, Lower Mountain Fork, Little Missouri river, and Toledo Bend.

February Virtual Tying Tuesday sessions

Tuesday, February 2nd
6:00pm
Lefty's Deceiver
Deadline for materials request:  Monday, Jan.  18th

* Postponed from 1/25 due to materials shipping backlog *  

The next fly pattern we will tie will be the Lefty’s Deceiver.  This is a proven fly for any species that eats baitfish and is probably only exceeded in popularity by the Clouser Minnow. We will tie a size #2 version in the popular white/chartreuse colors that should work well for bass, large trout, or saltwater. 

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/7etFHwBwTb9ZtBoy7

Tuesday, February 16th
6:00pm
Seaducer
Deadline for materials request:  Friday, Feb. 5th

Seaducers have been around since the late 19th century, and have been used for nearly every predator species from brown trout to stripers to tarpon.  Chico Fernandez used this fly to catch his world-record redfish.  The Godfather of Fly Fishing, Lefty Kreh, writes in his book, Presenting the Fly, that Seaducers are "one of the best patterns for both large and smallmouth bass that I've fished. I never make a trip without some of these in my box.".

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/7etFHwBwTb9ZtBoy7

For all sessions:

• Active participants can join via Zoom (www.zoom.us).  Download the app for use on any PC, tablet, or smartphone.  Enter the meeting ID and password to join in.
  
• Casual observers can join via live-streaming on YouTube.   No downloads necessary, just click on the link below and click on "Live" videos to watch.   If you have a YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet (almost all do), you can even cast it onto your TV  (if it has an internet connection) and watch on your TV.
• Link to KFF YouTube Channel:  http://bit.ly/3oBk106

 

Social Distance Casting sessions

Social Distance Casting
Mondays
4:30pm to dark
Big Island Field, City Park, Alexandria

Big Island has lots of space.  Please wear a mask and practice social distancing guidelines. 

 We'll continue our fun format with challenges for casters of all levels of proficiency.

• Hula Hoop Loop. See if you can throw a loop thru a hula hoop. 
• Casting Target. See if you can cast a fly into a hula hoop laying on the grass. 
• Balloon Pop. This is a test of high accuracy. See if you can hit a balloon target and make the balloon pop!

As always, there will be casting instruction and tips to improve your casting. Or participate in the Casting Skills Challenge program and earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold recognition.  Our Casting Committee led by Roger Breedlove and Chris Perkins will be very happy to guide you through the process.

January Virtual Tying Tuesday sessions

Tuesday, January 12th
6:00pm
Ozark Craw
Deadline for materials request:  Monday, Jan. 4th

Jim Johnson will lead us in tying Chris Johnson's "Ozark Craw".  This fly is a crawfish imitation which is effective on multiple species.  It's also fairly simple to tie.

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/ChMY7RZP3rXgBTGP8

For all sessions:

• Active participants can join via Zoom (www.zoom.us).  Download the app for use on any PC, tablet, or smartphone.  Enter the meeting ID and password to join in.
  
• Casual observers can join via live-streaming on YouTube.   No downloads necessary, just click on the link below and click on "Live" videos to watch.   If you have a YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet (almost all do), you can even cast it onto your TV  (if it has an internet connection) and watch on your TV.
• Link to KFF YouTube Channel:  http://bit.ly/3oBk106

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and 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.

We also wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2021.  With much emphasis on healthy!  Hopefully, this time next year things will be back to normal, and we can enjoy the company of others and celebrate as we have in the past.

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 - especially our troops. Love and peace to everyone!

Club honorees recognized at banquet

At our annual Christmas banquet, the club honored those members who have had an outstanding year, either in service to the club and/or with individual achievement.  Each recipient will receive a customized coffee mug with their name and recognition.

Fly Tier of the Year - Captain Tyler Wood
Awarded to that member who, either through active participation, or educating and sharing skills, or significant improvement in their own skills, advanced the art within our club. Tyler, a new member to our club in 2020, not only led a trio of our online fly tying sessions, but also brought a wealth of knowledge about flies, materials and techniques. Tyler is a great addition to our excellent group of club tiers.

Member of the Year - Bill Morrison
Awarded to that member who, either made important contributions to our club, or assisted in helping others, or achieved milestones in their own skills. Bill hit home runs on all three criteria! In March, he earned his certification as an FFI Casting Instructor. In April, he organized and initiated our Zoom meetings, creating YouTube tutorials that not only benefitted our members, but also other clubs that are now holding their own Zoom meetings. In addition, as Chair of the Tournament Committee, he helped make our 2020 Mixed Bag Contest the most successful ever.

Presidents Award - Rich Hudson
This award is selected by the president in recognition of service to the club, or for any actions or deeds that he/she sees worthy of recognition. For the past several years, Rich has done a truly outstanding job as our secretary/treasurer. But with the challenges of 2020, and lack of public events or access, he somehow managed to promote our club and generate membership throughout the year. Our club now stands at 83 member families - largest in the state! Rich has been a great club ambassador, reaching out through various community connections to promote our club.

Please join us in congratulating all of our award winners!

 

3rd annual Mixed Bag Contest final results

Channel catfish caught by Jim Johnson

At our recent Christmas banquet, Tournament Committee Chair Bill Morrison gave a recap of this past year's Mixed Bag Contest. The MBC is a CPRO (catch-photo-release optional) tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. Basically, most species caught within a defined geographical area wins.

Year 2020 saw a record total of 126 fish entered, despite restrictions on travel and several favorite spots severely impacted due to  hurricanes. Of those, the top three species entered was bluegill (17), followed by rainbow trout (12), and longear sunfish (9). The most unusual entries were Goldeneye Shad, Skipjack Shad, Striped Mullet, and Northern Hogsucker. Altogether, 33 different species were entered into the contest!

Entries came from four states - Louisiana (85), Arkansas (39), coastal Alabama (1), and Oklahoma (1).  None came from Texas or Mississippi.  The most entries from one body of water was the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas (28). While most of those were rainbow trout, they also included brown trout, smallmouth, largemouth, and several other species.  Runnerup location was Little River near Fishville/Jena, with 16 entries.

Top flies were poppers (10 entries), Clouser Minnows (9), Sqwirmies (8), Fluff Butts (8), Lunch Money (5) and Mardi Craw (5).

Six places were awarded. Here are those winners and number of species they entered:

• 1st - Bill Morrison (18)
• 2nd - Carlton Townsend (15)
• 3rd - Glen Cormier (12)
• 4th - Joel Dinnat (11)
• 5th - Jim Johnson (11)
• 6th - Robert Hughes (11)

* 4th, 5th, and 6th places were determined based on the tiebreaker rule of first entered

As is tradition, each participant who entered a fish and did NOT get awarded was entered into the Consolation Drawing. Each received one ticket based on the number of fish entered, e.g., Terry Stafford had 6 entries so 6 tickets were placed in his name.  This year's Consolation Winner was Hunter Lonsberry, who had 4 entries in the Mixed Bag.  Hunter wins a new Cheeky Tyro fly reel.

The club wishes to thank everyone who participated, and to the members of the Tournament Committee - Bill Morrison, Jim Johnson and Glen Cormier - for another successful contest.  The Committee will hold a Zoom meeting over the holidays to finalize details for the 2021 Mixed Bag set to start on January 1st.  If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please do submit them to one or all members before the new year.