September 24 meeting - Fall casting session

KFF monthly general meeting
Monday, September 24, 2018
6:00pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

** Please note: Meeting time will be 6:00pm this month to give us an extra half-hour for casting.  **

This is our annual "Fall Casting Session".  We'll take advantage of the last of Daylight Savings Time to get some casting education done.  This session will be on hauling line, a technique that will improve your distance and ability to cast in windy conditions. After casting, we'll have a brief meeting to discuss a few business items before adjourning.

BRING YOUR FAVORITE ROD. It's been hot and there's no chance it'll get cool for the meeting, so wear comfortable clothing.

In case of rain, we'll meet in the library and watch a video on the subject.

Countdown to Christmas - and the Mixed Bag too!

Phil Havener's freshwater drum (goo) at the Diversion Canal

There's only 97 days left until Christmas! More important, there's only 72 days left in our "Mixed Bag" contest! So put your Christmas shopping on hold for a couple of weeks and get busy adding to your list of species before time runs out.

Our Mixed Bag Contest is a CPRE (catch-photo-release encouraged) tournament where size doesn't matter but diversity does. Right now, it appears that Bill Morrison took his diversity training seriously. He's the clear leader with 15 species.

However, we'll be awarding FIVE places in the contest. With that in mind, Robert Hughes, Phil Havener and Rich Hudson have each moved up into the money spots with five entries. They're also within striking distance of Jim Johnson and Catch Cormier (10 entries each) and Carlton Townsend (7).

Even if you don't get but one entry in, that's all you need for the Grand Prize drawing, which will be drawn from all members who enter at least one fish.

** A reminder that the token in the photo is no longer necessary as long as the photo submitted is the original.  We'll use the metadata off the photo.  Less handling - less stress on the fish!  That's especially important in these hot water conditions. **

So here are the current standings:

Stephen Jameson with an Arky brown trout

Bill Morrison (15) - black crappie, bluegill, redear, green sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, longear sunfish, smallmouth bass, brown trout, ladyfish, cutthroat trout, rock bass, redbreast sunfish, channel catfish, spotted bass

Jim Johnson (10) - bluegill, chain pickerel, spotted bass, longear, rainbow trout, redbreast, largemouth bass, crappie, warmouth, freshwater drum

Glen Cormier (10) - crappie, redear, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow bass, warmouth, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, longear sunfish, brown trout

Carlton Townsend (7) - rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, longear sunfish, redear, crappie, brown trout

Greg Babin (5) - longear, largemouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass

Phil Havener (5) - green sunfish, longear sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, freshwater drum

Rich Hudson (5) - Kentucky bass, bluegill, redeye bream, rainbow trout, longear sunfish

Robert Hughes (5) - bluegill, crappie, brown trout, cutthroat trout, redfish

Others - Tom Zabasky (4), Jim Guillory (4), Stephen Jameson (3), Lindsey Torbett (3), Gene Taylor (3), Spencer Hackney (2), Corinne Cormier (2), Will Cameron (2), Greg Hackney (1), Robert Clark (1), Ronnie Richmond (1), Hunter Lonsberry (1), Barbara Carlin (1)

September 17 fly tying - Purple Haze

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, September 17, 2018
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

Dan Fromme will lead us in tying the Purple Haze. This is a dry fly with a purple thread body. In tying this fly, we'll learn how to construct the vertical (parachute) wing and how to palmer hackle around it. Parachute flies are a must for every trout angler. And the purple body induces more strikes in non-selective fish.

Beginners and guests are welcome. If you don't have tools, the club has a few sets for use during the session.  Materials will be provided.

August 27th meeting

KFF monthly general meeting
Monday, August 27, 2018
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

This month we have no organized program. Instead we'll have a potpourri of topics, starting from fishing in Alaska to cleaning a fly line to catching fall bream.

Guests are welcome!  Bring a friend!

August 20 fly tying - Meat Whistle

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, August 20, 2018
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

Bill Morrison will lead us in tying the Meat Whistle. Created by John Barr, the fly was designed to replicate the commie tackle Pig-n-Jig. Originally intended for bass, it's become a great fly for big trout. The orientation of the jig hook allows the fly to be worked slowly on the bottom.

As always, bring your tools. If none, the club has a few sets for use during the session.  Materials will be provided.

Beginners and guests are welcome!

Mixed Bag Contest update - 8/1

Hunter Lonsberry with a Little Mo Bow

We're entering the last full month of "SweatFest" - the festival nobody likes to celebrate. Between the drought and occasional temps near 100 degrees, fishing across central Louisiana has been sluggish at best. Good news is that cooler weather - and great fall fishing - will be here in a few weeks.

Despite the heat, there's been several entries this past month in the club's first-ever "Mixed Bag" contest, a CPRE (catch-photo-release encouraged) tournament where size doesn't matter but diversity does.

It looks like Bill Morrison has emerged as the clear frontrunner. But there's still time for everyone to catch up. Even if Bill lucks out and wins the MBC, remember this - we will be awarding FIVE places in the contest.  And that doesn't include the GRAND PRIZE winner, which will be drawn from all members who enter at least one fish.

** A reminder that the token in the photo is no longer necessary as long as the photo submitted is the original.  We'll use the metadata off the photo.  Less handling - less stress on the fish!  That's especially important in these hot water conditions. **

So here are the current standings:

Bill Morrison (13) - black crappie, bluegill, redear, green sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, longear sunfish, smallmouth bass, brown trout, ladyfish, cutthroat trout, rock bass, redbreast sunfish

Jim Johnson (10) - bluegill, chain pickerel, spotted bass, longear, rainbow trout, redbreast, largemouth bass, crappie, warmouth, freshwater drum

Glen Cormier (10) - crappie, redear, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow bass, warmouth, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, longear sunfish, brown trout

Carlton Townsend (7) - rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, longear sunfish, redear, crappie, brown trout

Greg Babin (5) - longear, largemouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass

Others - Tom Zabasky (4), Rich Hudson (4), Jim Guillory (4), Lindsey Torbett (3), Phil Havener (3), Gene Taylor (3), Spencer Hackney (2), Corinne Cormier (2), Will Cameron (2), Greg Hackney (1), Robert Clark (1), Bonnie Richmond (1), Hunter Lonsberry (1), Barbara Carlin (1)

6th annual NLFF "Masters Series" this Saturday

This Saturday, July 28th is the annual "Masters Series" held at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Bossier City. Hosted by the North Louisiana Fly Fishers of Shreveport, the Series is co-sponsored by retailers and regional clubs, including Kisatchie Fly Fishers.

The headliner is usually one of the big names in fly fishing, one who has made major contributions to our sport, and/or brings a wealth of information for improving our success as anglers. Past headliners have included: Dave Whitlock, Davy Wotton, Bob Clouser, and George Daniel.

This year NLFF is proud to present Kelly Galloup. Galloup is co-owner and  guide of Slide Inn Lodge on Montana's Madison River. Galloup started tying flies at age 13, he currently has over 40 recognized patterns. His biggest contributions have been the articulated streamers now recognized as the ticket to big predatory fish.

In addition, Kelly has written two books, Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners.  He's been published in nearly every fly fishing periodical in the country, and was a host of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network.

The Masters Series is a limited ticket event, with only 75 tickets sold. Tickets are $40 each and include lunch and refreshments. As of today, only a handful of tickets are still available. Anyone wishing to get in,  please contact Scott Irwin at 318-469-0854 asap

July 23rd meeting - What's New for 2019

KFF monthly general meeting
Monday, July 23, 2018
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

Once again, Glen Cormier attended the Fly Tackle Dealer / ICAST trade show earlier this month and has lots of new products to report on.  He'll give us a slide presentation on "New Products for 2019" covering fly fishing, kayak fishing and accessories. He'll also give us a "State of the Sport" summary  giving the latest stats and trends in fly fishing.

Guests are welcome!  Bring a friend!