March 9th meeting - Fly Fishing the Little Missouri River

KFF monthly general meeting
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
6:00pm
Zoom meeting

Our annual club "March Brown" trip to the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas is coming up March 25-28. A record number of newbies will be joining our group for this trip. For them, and anyone else interested in fishing this year-round coldwater trout fishery just over 4 hours from Alexandria, we strongly advise you attend this virtual meeting!

Our resident Little Mo expert, Carlton Townsend, will lead the presentation. Among the many topics that he will cover include: tackle, leaders, packs or vests, boots and waders, accessories, flies, river access points and possibly the most important - river safety!

There are two ways to join in:

1)  Active participants can join via Zoom app 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.  Go to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube Channel:  http://bit.ly/3oBk106 and click on "Live" videos.

March Virtual Tying Tuesday sessions

Tuesday, March 2nd
6:00pm
Christmas Tree, Green Weenie
Deadline for materials request:  Monday, Feb.  22nd

For March, we'll be tying patterns that are effective for rainbow and brown trout on the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas. These are also good for bream.  We'll start the month with Carlton leading us in tying the Olive Christmas Tree and the Green Weenie.

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/j2AAJyE2zkr3LSSFA

Tuesday, March 16th
6:00pm
Squirm Worm, Ruby Midge
Deadline for materials request:  Monday, March 8th

Bill Morrison will lead the group in tying the Squirm Worm (Umpqua version using two sections of material) and the Ruby Midge (a small #18 pattern). 

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/j2AAJyE2zkr3LSSFA

Tuesday, March 30th
6:00pm
Frenchie
Deadline for materials request:  Monday, March 22nd

This is a favorite of Robert Hughes, though he ties it in a size #18.  For the ease of tying in our session, we will tie a size 14.

Link to request sample materials:
https://forms.gle/j2AAJyE2zkr3LSSFA

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!

• Go to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube Channel:  http://bit.ly/3oBk106
  and click on "Live" videos.

 

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!