October 16th fly tying - Redfish Crack

KFF monthly fly tying session
* Monday, October 16, 2023

6:30 pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Casting prior to meeting beginning at 5:30pm

* Please note that our October tying session is on the 3rd Monday instead of 2nd Monday, since the latter is a holiday

This month's fly is the Redfish Crack, created by Andy Packmore of Houston, and then popularized by Port O' Connor fishing guide, Capt. Scott Null.  It's gone through several iterations, and there are numerous variations, so it's more of a style than an exact pattern.  Regardless, the Redfish Crack uses a variety of synthetic materials to create a impressionitic form of shrimp or other crustacean that rides hook up.

Newcomers are welcome to participate or watch. As always, all materials other than thread will be provided, and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The livestream will be posted to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.  

September 25th meeting - Science of the Cast

KFF general meeting
Monday, September 25, 2023
6:00pm - casting outside (weather permitting)
6:30pm - meeting & program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

This month, Catch Cormier and Chris Perkins will talk on the "Science of the Cast" with emphasis on the Pick Up and Lay Down (PULD) cast. The PULD is the basis of nearly all casts, and mastering it allows the angler a much easier path to becoming skilled at more advanced casts. To master it requires some understanding of how and why it works. Catch and Chris will go into detail, and give some examples of their own experiences.   

Come early around 6:00pm for some demonstration on the lawn back of the library. Bring your rod, or use a club rod, and get some casting coaching from our members.

As always, the public is welcome. For Zoom connection, email Mike or Bill for meeting number and password. For the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos - http://bit.ly/3oBk106  

September 11 fly tying - Seaducer

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, September 11, 2023

6:30 pm - tying session begins
5:30 pm - casting outside, weather permitting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month's fly is the Seaducer. Originally created as a saltwater pattern by Homer Rhodes in the 1940s, when it was called the Homer Rhodes Streamer, it was popularized and renamed the Seaducer by Chico Fernandez in the 80s. It has proven very effective on bass, pike, pickerel and many other warmwater targets, so it's not just for saltwater species.

Come and join us for tying this pattern. Or just come hang out and watch. Other than the hook, the Seaducer uses only 2 materials, making it a great fly on which to learn or practice basic skills.

So that we can better plan materials, please RSVP by clicking THIS LINK if you plan or think you might attend.

As always, all materials other than thread will be provided, and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own. This fly uses 140 denier thread in white, red, olive, or purple depending on your color choice of feathers. Of course, black always works.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The livestream will be posted to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.  

KFF to again participate in Cenla NHF Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day
Saturday, September 23, 2023
LDWF Woodworth Education Center
660 Robinson Rd, Woodworth, LA
8:30am to 2:00pm
Free admission!

Established by Congress in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the 4th Saturday of September.  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries celebrates NHF Day at four venues across the state, including here in Baton Rouge at Waddill.

Admission  is free. Activities including archery, fishing, target shooting, outdoor games, live animal exhibits, educational displays, and more. There's even food and soft drinks provided at no cost.   Here is a printable poster with more details for the Cenla NHF Day poster - CLICK HERE.

Kisatchie Fly Fishers will again be on hand to demonstrate fly tying and fly casting, along with hands-on teaching of tying and casting.  We also talk about fly fishing and opportunities for doing so here in Louisiana and elsewhere.   As always, we need volunteers for fly tying, fly casting.  Or to just talk fly fishing.  Volunteers get a free t-shirt (size of their choice) and a lunch ticket.  To register, click on THIS LINK. 

August 28th meeting - Poverty Point

KFF general meeting
Monday, August 28, 2023
6:30pm

Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
* fly casting prior to meeting starting at 5:30pm

This month we'll have a guest speaker, Darin Lee, of the Acadiana Fly Rodders.  His presentation will focus on fishing Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. A little over 2 hours from Alexandria, this lake offers some great fishing opportunities for a wide variety of warmwater species.

Topics will include lodging on the water, boat and kayak access, good areas to fish, various types of gear and flies to use. Mike Carlin attended this presentation at an AFR meeting and describes it as useful to just about any warmwater fishing situation. Darin is an excellent speaker, instructor and fly tier.

As always, the public is welcome. For Zoom connection, email Mike or Bill for meeting number and password. For the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos - http://bit.ly/3oBk106 

August 14th fly tying - Cats Whisker

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, August 14, 2023

6:30 pm - tying session begins
5:30 pm - casting outside, weather permitting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month's fly is the Cats Whisker, created by David Train of England in 1985. Like it's first cousin the Fluff Butt, the Whisker consists of a chenille body and marabou tail but with the addition of a marabou underwing. The original pattern didn't have bead chain or lead eyes, and had a tendency for the underwing to foul. To solve this, Train added four stiff whiskers from his cat to keep the underwing in place. Thus the name!

There are many variations of this fly over the years, and a wide range of species that eats this fly. If it has fins and gills and swims, it'll eat a Cats Whisker.  Many different colors can be used for the body, tail and underwing as well.

Because it's an easy-to-tie pattern, we encourage all novices or those interested in getting into fly tying to attend this session. The club has spare tools for use during meetings, and all materials are provided.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The sessions are later posted on YouTube for future reference on the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YT channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.  

July 24th meeting - ICAST report, Redfish Regs

KFF general meeting
Monday, July 24, 2023
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
* fly casting prior to meeting starting at 5:30pm

Our own Glen 'Catch' Cormier has had a busy month this July. First he represented the FFI Gulf Coast Council at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting, where changes in speckled trout and redfish management were discussed.  The next week he attended ICAST - the world's largest fishing trade show - and in addition to taking part in a series of conservation seminars, he once again sought out the most interesting new fishing products.

Catch will fill us in on:

• State of the Sport - Latest stats on fishing & fly fishing
• Most interesting products from ICAST
• Background and latest on redfish & speck management

As always, the public is welcome. For Zoom connection, email Mike or Bill for meeting number and password. For the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos - http://bit.ly/3oBk106

July 10th fly tying - Extended Body Hopper

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, July 10, 2023 

6:30 pm - tying session begins
5:30 pm - casting outside, weather permitting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month, Chris Williams will be on hand to tie the Extended Body Hopper. This fly is very interesting as it uses a needle to extend the body of a terrestrial fly.  There are several variations of this fly, here is a video of one by renown tier Jerry Coviello as shown in the photo above.   CLICK HERE.   Like the variation we will tie, it uses a needle for the extension.

This extended body technique will be new to many of our tiers. So come out and learn another method of enhancing the flies you tie!  As always, materials other than thread will be provided and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom and YouTube for those who cannot attend. The YouTube sessions remain for future reference on the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YT channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.