November 10th fly tying - Scrambler

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, November 10th
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month Chris Williams will lead us in tying the Scrambler, another streamer pattern from Space Coast Flies. Created by Sam Sumlin, this is one of those patterns, that while it is designed for saltwater, works really well for bass (Catch Cormier used it for smallmouth this past summer with good success). 

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

Mixed Bag standings - November 1st

We're now into the final month of our annual Mixed Bag Contest - it ends 11:59pm on November 30th. The MBC is our members-only, online tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. The objective is to catch as many different species on fly rod and flies over the course of 11 months, over a limited geographical area. Click on "Mixed Bag" menu above for complete details.

Proof that you can catch just about anything on flies - check out this photo of a Lowland Cichlid taken by Eron Borne in a New Orleans canal.  While closely resembling the Rio Grande Cichlid, the Lowland Cichild is a new species here in Louisiana.

So far, 24 members have logged more than 270 entries. While  the top contestants may be way ahead in numbers, don't let that deter you from submitting entries.  Remember that under the new format we started a couple of years ago, there are many more consolation drawings - and some really nice prizes too!  Every entry gets one ticket in the drawing. For example, enter 4 species in the Mixed Bag and you get 4 tickets in the drawing. More entries = greater chances to win!
 
Mixed Bag Standings as of 11/1/2025:

Bill Morrison - 42
Eron Borne - 35
Ed Jones - 31
Jim Johnson - 25
Jerry Patton - 21
Chris Williams - 19

Warmouth taken by Joel Dinnat on Rio Bandito

Others: Orlando Madrid -15, Jeff Albrecht -11, Noah Hoyt -11, Tyler Hoyt -8, Glen Cormier -7, Joel Dinnat -6, Mike Carlin -6, Robert Hughes -5, Chris Perkins -4, Frank Coe -4, Phillip Cole -4, Tom Zabasky -4, Barbara Carlin -3, Carlton Townsend -3, Rich Hudson -3, James Guillory -2, Isaac Hoof -1, Ronnie Richmond -1.

Remember - the Mixed Bag is as much an educational tool as it is a contest. The spreadsheet database, which is available online to anyone, can tell you:
- how many different species can be caught on fly
- the best places to catch a certain fish at a certain time
- what flies work best on certain fish

So get busy and get some entries in! 

October / early November activities

KFF monthly fly tying session
* Tuesday, October 14th
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: LaFleur's Charlie

* Please note: this month's tying is on Tuesday due to library closure on Monday for the holiday *

This month Catch Cormier will lead us in tying the LaFleurs Charlie. Created by Mike LaFleur of Baton Rouge, this easy-to-tie variation of the popular Crazy Charlie is great for beginners. It's one of several similar patterns that uses a flashy chenille for the body.  

Mike's version is unique in that it uses a high modacrylic fiber for the wing.  This European-produced synthetic has been resold by one fly shop for over three decades as "craft fur",  but in recent years has been sold by brands under the name "polar fiber".  It differs from craft fur in that it has amazing shimmer.  The LaFleur Charlie been featured in a couple of books and several magazine articles, and is a great pattern for all inshore species as well as crappie and white bass.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

KFF general meeting
Monday, October 27th
6:30 pm 
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Topic: Smallmouth Bass in the Ouachitas

This month KFF members Robert Hughes and Bill Morrison will give us a presentation on the club's smallmouth fishing trip in the Ouachita Mountains last May. They'll share the key points they learned and what flies and techniques worked best for this hard-fighting species.

Casting practice starts at 5:30 pm. With Daylight Savings Time ending early next month, this will be our last casting prior to meetings for 2025. So if you need to tune up your casting, show up before 6:30pm and get a few lessons in.

 

As always our meeting is open to the public. Remote members can join in via Zoom, while all others can watch via the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube Channel at http://bit.ly/3oBk106  

 

North Toledo Bend Rendezvous
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2025
North Toledo Bend State Park, Zwolle, LA

Entering it's 36th year, Rendezvous is a casual gathering for fly tiers and other fly fishing enthusiasts from across several states – along with their families – for a weekend of fly tying and fishing with only a minimal fee to cover lodging and meals. Some are members of clubs, some are not. Rendezvous is open to all!

There are no organized activities. Everyone is welcome to come fish, tie flies, watch some of the region's top tiers, or tie themselves. You can come for the day or the entire weekend. If you come as a family, the rate for the entire weekend for the whole family or individual is just $40 which includes lodging. For one night lodging, the fee is $20 and for day only the fee is $10.

The excellent facilities at North Toledo Bend State Park are ideal for a Fall weekend fly tying retreat. Activities take place at the park’s group facility, which features a commercial kitchen and dining hall, and lodging available for up to 150 people in 5 heated log bunkhouses (30 beds each). There’s also a heated central shower and restroom building with nice night lighting on all the sidewalks.

For complete details,  CLICK HERE . 

Sugar Day Festival
Saturday, November 8th
9:00am - 5:00pm
Kent Plantation House
3601 Bayou Rapides Rd, Alexandria, LA

The 32nd Annual Kent House Sugar Day features live music, house tours, demonstrations of blacksmithing, corn grinding, woodcrafting, and FLY TYING.  As well as vendors selling handmade arts & crafts items, and plenty of children’s activities! 

KFF members wishing to demo tie should fill out the form below so we can tell them how many tables to set up for us.  You’re welcome to tie any pattern you wish.  FORM:  https://forms.gle/wgmcELdBbhXYiVUS8

 

September 22nd meeting - Invasives in Louisiana

KFF general meeting
Monday, September 22, 2025

5:30 pm - casting on back lawn
6:30 pm - meeting begins
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom & YouTube

* For remote members, this meeting will be livestreamed on our ALTERNATE Zoom channel. Please use the link /ID / password sent to your email *

Join us this month as Rob Bourgeois, LDWF’s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, joins us via ZOOM. Rob will present on aquatic invasive species in Louisiana - how they spread, their impact on native fish, and what we as anglers can do to protect our waters. He will also talk about his work on the LA Invasive Carp Management Program.

As always, the public is welcome! Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF Alternate YouTube Channel - use this link and go to Live videos:  www.youtube.com/@kisatchieflyfishersalt   

Make plans now for Flies & Pies

ALTO Fly Fishing Fair
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
First Baptist Church of Natchitoches Gym
508 Second St., Natchitoches, LA
FREE admission

Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tiers group (ALTO) is holding their 2nd annual "Flies & Pies" tying event in conjunction with the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival.  This year, the event will be held in a new location  just a couple blocks from the heart of the Festival - which is an attraction all to itself.

Along with some of the best fly tiers from across the region, the festival will have presentations including: Jerald Lewis on Fly Fishing for Bream, Burley Johnson on Creating Bass Poppers, and Mike Hawkins on Making Furled Leaders.  The new location has an outdoor casting area as well. So if you need a free casting lesson, or tune up, there will be two FFI Certified Casting Instructors on hand.

While this event is FREE to attend, the group will be taking up a Love Offering to present to First Baptist Church for the use of their facilities.

For more details, go to the ALTO website at www.arklatexomaflytyers.com .  Or check them out on their Facebook page (link)  

September 8th fly tying - Neon Icon

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, September 8, 2025
5:30 pm - casting practice 
6:30 pm - tying session begins
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month we'll tie the Neon Icon. This is one of the Space Coast Designer flies, and a top producer for the SCF folks for pompano and other surf species. The version we'll tie is adaptable to bass fishing. It should be noted that this fly has had good success on speckled trout in the Electric Chicken color, and on bass in the Tan color.   The heavy eyes get it down, and paired with the craft fur tail, give it great jigging action. It uses a very cool wireless brush for the body that makes is super-quick and easy to tie. The picture is of the pattern in the Pompano colors. 

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

* Note: casting practice returns this month prior to the meetings, and continues until Daylight Savings Time ends * 

Register now for the Rio Rumble

16th annual Rio Grande Rumble
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Start: 7:00am (first light for pre-registered)
End: 12:30pm (weigh-in)
Event site: No Wake Outfitters
1926 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA
$25 entry fee, includes lunch and refreshments

Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, the Rumble is the longest running freshwater fly fishing tournament on the Gulf Coast. Target species is the Rio Grande cichlid. This native of south Texas has become widespread in extreme southeast Louisiana and is considered invasive. For fly anglers, it’s an opportunity to put their skills up against a wary species that “fights like a wet cat”.

All entry fish must be caught on flies and fly tackle. Categories are “Longest Rio” and “Most Rios Caught”. Net proceeds from the tournament go to Casting For Recovery.

The rodeo is open to all fly anglers. Registration deadline is 8:00am on October 4th. Both onsite registration and weigh-in will be at No Wake Outfitters in Metairie. There will also be a Zoom seminar on fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid. Date and time of the online seminar will be announced shortly.

For complete details, including tournament rules, and to register online, go to the NOFFC website at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

August 2025 activities

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, August 11, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: Tullis Wiggle Bug

This month we'll tie the Tullis Wiggle Bug, created by Larry Tullis. It's basically a woolybugger with a foam back and swim lip.  It's action has been described as "pops, spits water, dives, and moves side-to-side".  We learned of this foam pattern from biologist Darin Lee in his presentation to KFF on creek
fishing. It is one of his favorite patterns and effective on bass in creeks and lakes.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel. Click this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

August 16th - Summer Workshop

Check the post below for details. 

KFF general meeting
Monday, August 25, 2025
6:30 pm 
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Meeting topic: Casting for Recovery

This month we have a very special guest and program. Susan Brooks is Program Manager for Casting for Recovery - Southeast Region. CfR is a national program for women in treatment or recovery from breast cancer. These retreats connect women to each other and to nature using the therapeutic sport of fly fishing, and are offered at no cost to participants. 

Susan will give a presentation on CFR, and the work they are doing across the Southeast. Susan - who lives in Starkville with her family - is herself is a breast cancer survivor who began volunteering with CFR after attending a Southeast Regional fly fishing retreat in 2018. She fell in love with fly tying and turned that passion into a business, Damselflies, where she sells (impressive) hand-tied flies. She is also a published author.

Please join us for this special program!  As always, this meeting is open to the public.  Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email.