Tying the Slow Sinking Spider

This past Monday we conducted our first-ever online fly tying session using the Zoom video conferencing application. Featured pattern was Stephen Robert's Slow Sinking Spider.  The first half of the session, Bill Morrison did a walk-through demonstration using Zoom's recording feature.  Bill has since posted that part of the session to YouTube.

April 13th fly tying online - Slow Sinking Spider

KFF online fly tying session
Monday, April 13, 2020
6:00pm
Zoom meeting at http://zoom.us

Remember to enter meeting id and meeting password before joining session.  The id and password were sent to all members in an email. If you're a KFF member and did not receive this email, please make sure to contact Rich Hudson or Bill Morrison.

Instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting, and how to test for sound, are in the post below.

Monday kicks off the first of several weekly tying sessions during the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.  These sessions will alternate between tying patterns and covering tying basic skills.

On Monday, Bill will lead us in tying the Slow Sinking Spider, created by our friend Stephen Robert of Houma.  The SSS is a great pattern for bedding bream and for fishing around docks and under trees.

KFF kicks off virtual fly tying sessions

With social distancing guidelines in place for the foreseeable future, the Fly Tying Committee has been experimenting with using Zoom - an online meeting tool - to continue our fly tying sessions during this time.  Zoom meetings can be attended on a computer (PC or Mac), smartphone, tablet, or other device with internet access.  From a participant standpoint, Zoom is free, and fairly simple to use.

Last week, FTC member Bill Morrison sent all active members an email with details. These included:

• Youtube videos created by Bill on how to use Zoom on computer or smartphone
• Other links for instruction on Zoom
• Dates for upcoming sessions and what fly will be tied at each session  (see below)

The biggest challenge for members will be to acquire the materials. Bill has listed each fly that will be tied, and sent out a materials list in case some need to be ordered. The list also includes substitutions so members can use materials they might have on hand.

Each tying session will begin with the instructor demo tying the fly without pause, so it can be recorded for posting to the KFF website (via Youtube) later. After the demo, the group will start over and everyone will tie the pattern together. During the 2nd half of the session, participants can "raise a hand" to ask questions.

In order to join each tying session, members will need to enter the meeting ID and password for that session. It will be emailed to members in advance. Since there is a limit on participants, members are asked -NOT- to share this info. In addition, the host (instructor) will review the guests list to insure there are no "crashers". 

Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, April 7 - Zoom practice session. Use this session to test your equipment and practice using Zoom.

Monday, April 13 - Fly Tying - Slow Sinking Spider - Bill Morrison

Tuesday, April 21, 2020:  Fly Tying Basics, Problems, and Q&A

Monday, April 27 - Fly Tying - Bully Bluegill Spider, Foam Spider (time permitting) - Bill Morrison

Monday, May 4 - Fly Tying Basics, Problems, and Q&A

Monday, May 11 - Fly Tying - Wooly Bugger - Gene Taylor

Monday, May 18 - Fly Tying Basics, Problems, and Q&A

Monday, May 25 - Matt Bennett's Lunch Money streamer - Jim Johnson

KFF Specific Zoom Videos (How to join our meetings and use basic features of Zoom)

Short YouTube of Zoom’s basic features on a computer:
https://youtu.be/0oUVKETpejM

See Bill's email for videos on how to join meetings.

To join by phone or tablet:

Download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Store.

Start the Zoom app -> tap Join -> enter meeting ID ->enter your name as you want it to appear in the meeting -> tap the join button ->enter password.

To test computer equipment:

Join a test meeting to check camera, mic, and speakers at:  https://zoom.us/test

Tutorials on how to use Zoom:

A tutorial document specific to joining meetings from various platforms (Windows, Mac, iPhone, & Android) 
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

Details on how to use Zoom on various browsers: 
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362593-Launching-Zoom-from-a-web-browser

There are lots of other tutorials on the Zoom page at
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

COVID-19 update: April meetings cancelled, FF101 postponed

On Monday, President Trump, the White House Coronavirus Task Force , Governor John Bel Edwards and state and local agencies issued strict guidelines to help protect Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was closure of numerous facilities to public use, and strong advisement against social gatherings of more than 10 people.

Out of concern for our members and the public in general, the board of Kisatchie Fly Fishers has voted to cancel our fly tying and general meeting for April, and postpone our Fly Fishing 101 - which was scheduled for March 28th - until sometime in the Fall.

For those members who wish to improve their casting skills, Roger Breedlove has agreed to coach a few members behind the library on the 3rd and 4th Monday of April.  Please make sure to contact Roger in advance.  We do not want to have more than ten folks show up at a time!

Both club trips now through May are still on as planned.

All other fly fishing events across the region through May have been cancelled as of this date. The NLFF Masters Series in July is still on.  In addition, we are still considering our annual "Summer Workshop" in late June.

Bill Morrison receives his FFI Casting Certification

A big congratulations go out to our own Bill Morrison. This past weekend, Bill participated in a Fly Fishers International (FFI) Casting Instructor Certification Program in Lake Charles. According to his mentor, Roger Breedlove, Bill took and passed his practical and teaching exams on Friday, and his written exam Friday evening, and PASSED all three!

Roger says Bill did exceptionally well on the performance test and "smoked" the teaching tasks. The judges were impressed. He also made an "A" on the written exam.  Bill joins Roger and Glen Cormier as KFF members with FFI instructor certification.

Hosted by the FFI Gulf Coast Council, this certification event was the largest of its kind in North America the past year, with 7 examiners and over 15 candidates. The FFI Certification Program was created in 1992 to enhance the overall level of instruction in fly casting and to create a common terminology and methodology of casting mechanics. The CCI program also establishs a communication network among all instructors, with the purpose of sharing new ideas and teaching techniques.

Please join us in congratulating Bill on his impressive feat!

March 16th meeting - annual "On the Water" picnic

KFF monthly general meeting
Monday, March 16, 2020
Cotile Lake Recreation Area
(weather permitting)

** If inclement weather, we'll reschedule this meeting at a later date. **

With Daylight Savings Time in effect, it's time for our annual "on the water" meeting.  Once again, we'll meet at the Cotile Lake Recreation Area.  KFF members, family members and member guests are welcome to attend!

Come anytime that afternoon and fish from the bank.  Or bring your boat, kayak, pirogue, and launch at the Rec Area.  Or take in some casting lessons and/or participate in our Casting Skills Program.  Roger Breedlove will be on hand early to assist anyone with casting.

Then at 7:00pm, we'll start gathering at Pavilion #2 (the open pavilion overlooking the lake) and share fishing stories while nourishing on burgers and hot dogs fresh off the grill.

Please note the following:
1. There is NO entrance fee for our group. Tell Butch or whoever at the entrance that you are with "Kisatchie Fly Fishers" and they'll let you in free.
2.  Bring your favorite beverages.
3.  Bring a chair.
4.  Bring your fly rod and flies.
5.  Bring a camera (or smartphone) to submit entries for the Mixed Bag.

If you plan to attend, please fill out this short form:  CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP.

Please signup if you plan to attend so we'll know how many burgers/dogs to get.

Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic coming this month

Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 2020
Percy Quin State Park, McComb, MS
FREE admission to park & festival
Entry fee for tournament: $25

The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Gulf Coast Council (GCC) will host their first-ever "Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic" fly fishing tournament and festival this Friday and Saturday at Percy Quin State Park just five miles from McComb, Mississippi.

The event marks a departure from the routine conclaves of past years, and joins the growing number of fly fishing tournaments, or events with a tournament component, that have become popular across the country.  Lake Tangipahoa inside Percy Quin offers fly anglers an opportunity for a trophy bass, as well as crappie over 2 pounds during March and April. 

Classic activities include: casting instruction and casting skills challenge, fly tying demos, Big Bream Contest (Friday afternoon) and the Sweetwater Classic Tournament (Saturday morning). The festival is FREE and admission to the park is free for attendees.

The Big Bream Contest entry fee is $5 cash (winner take all), and the Classic Tournament entry fee is $25 (register via iAngler). There’s also a “One Feather Fly Tying Contest” on Friday evening, and an “Iron Fly Tying” contest on Saturday afternoon.  Also, there's a fundraiser on Saturday with many great and one-of-a-kind items!

Anyone who registers for the tournament before Wednesday 11:59pm via the iAngler links is eligible for a drawing for $100 cash, to be drawn at the weigh-in. Must be present to win!

For complete details, including schedule, tournament rules, local lodging and restaurants, go to www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org and click on the “Classic” page or any of the submenu items.

March date changes and non-club events

March is a busy month for our club!  We have several activities planned, and some rearrangement of meeting dates.  There's also some regional events club members may be interested in.

Please note the following:
- NO fly tying session this month.  We resume in April.
- Our annual Spring Picnic meeting is a week early this year,  March 16th.
- Our annual "March Brown" trip to the Little Missouri is March 19-22.
- We'll be at a special event Alexandria Farmers Market on March 24th.
- Our annual "Fly Fishing 101" is March 28th.  Details on the "FF101" page.

Other activities of interest this month:
- Pack & Paddle's annual Spring Demo Day on Saturday, March 7th at Vermillionville in Lafayette. Time is 10am to 2pm.  Free event, with kayak demos and fly rod testing demos.  For details go to www.packpaddle.com.
- Red Stick Day on March 7th in Baton Rouge, the Red Stick club's annual conclave.  Free admission. Location is Waddill Outdoors Center in Baton Rouge.  For details go to www.rsff.org.
- Winnfield Rotary Club meeting, on Wednesday, March 11th at Lydia's Country Kitchen in Winnfield.  Time is 12 noon.  KFF member Glen 'Catch' Cormier will speak on fly fishing.
- Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic, fly fishing tournament and conclave,  Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, Percy Quin State Park in McComb, MS.  This is a new event by the FFI Gulf Coast Council.  Free admission, with a $5 entry fee on Friday's Big Bream Contest and $25 entry fee for the Saturday bass and crappie tournament.  Details and registration are at www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org.
- Alexandria Farmers Market,  Tuesday, March 24th,  2727 Jackson St (across from United Methodist Church).  KFF will be displaying and doing casting lessons for the general public.
- Sowbug Roundup, Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, AR.  This is the largest fly tying event in the country, hosted by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers.  Admission is $10 good for all 3 days.   Go to www.sowbugroundup.org.

Also, the Lake Athens Fly Fishing tournament and festival will be the first weekend in April,  Friday-Saturday, April 3rd and 4th.  Location is Lake Athens Marina in Athens, TX.  Free admission, with the Big Bass Contest having a $40 entry fee.  Proceeds benefit Project Healing Waters. Go to www.johnnyonthefly.com.