January 10th fly tying - Parachute Adams

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, January 10, 2022
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

From Bill Morrison: we will tie the #14 Parachute Adams in a March Brown color as shown in the photo. This color should be especially good for those early morning or just-before-dark risers on the Little Missouri during our club March Brown trip (March 31-April 3). It is identical to the “regular” grey Parachute Adams, so the skills learned in tying this version will directly apply to the regular Parachute Adams.

 

The Parachute Adams is sort of the “gumbo” of fly tying. It seems that everyone has their own recipe and methods - though tiers may not be as passionate about their recipes as gumbo cooks! To many, the most challenging piece of the fly is tying the parachute post and there seems to be an almost infinite number of methods posted on the Internet. I struggled with this for a long time as well until I discovered an easy method to hold the post and wrap the thread.

 

As always, beginners and guests are welcome!  All materials will be provided, and we will have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own.  For more information, email me at kffcpr@gmail.com.

On-site attendees should bring a mask as the library requires masks when indoors. For Zoom participants, enter the meeting number and password sent by email.

2022 Mixed Bag Contest goes Live!

Our Mixed Bag Contest is back for a sixth year! The MBC kicks off tomorrow Saturday, January 1st at 12:01am.

Mixed Bag is a members-only, months-long tournament where the goal is to catch as many different species on fly rod. It's CPRE which means catch-photo-release encouraged. And best of all, there is no entry fee!

Are you ready?  Here's what you need to compete:

• Be a 2022 member of KFF
• Go to the Mixed Bag Contest page and review the rules
• Have your camera or smartphone available when fishing
• Take photos of your catch and include either the fly rod or fly, or both
• Log them in using the links on the Mixed Bag page.
• Bring your enthusiasm!  Remember, while the members who catch the most different species win prizes, all other participants are eligible for several consolation prizes.  Each entry gets you one ticket into the consolation drawing.  

Check out our website and Facebook page during the year for frequent updates.

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.

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.

We also wish everyone a prosperous and healthy New Year.  With much emphasis on healthy!  The new year brings many traditional club activities, in addition to our monthly meetings. Those include our 4th biennial Cenla Fly & Light Tackle Festival (Jan. 29), our Spring Picnic (Mar. 28), Fly Fishing 101 (Apr. 23), Summer Workshop (TBA), and several club fishing trips. Check out our Calendar page for these and other regional events and activities coming in 2022. 

Club honorees, Mixed Bag winners recognized at banquet

At our annual Christmas banquet on December 6th, the club honored those members who have had an outstanding year, either in service to the club, in their accomplishment and/or contribution as fly tiers, or with individual achievement. Each received a custom-designed coffee mug with their recognition, featuring artwork by famed fly fishing artist James Lady.  

The club also recognized the winners of our 4th annual Mixed Bag Contest.

Member of the Year - Bruce Shockley
Awarded to that member who has made great individual strides in our sport, and/or whose efforts have benefitted the membership, or furthered the mission of the club. Bruce participated in nearly every meeting and activity the club had, and personally made great strides as a fly angler in 2021.

Fly Tier of the Year - Flip Siragusa
Awarded to that club member who has dedicated themselves to the art of fly tying, either through significant improvement in their tying skills, or in enhanding the education of others. Flip has helped lead a couple of our tying sessions, as well as individual tying instruction to a couple of our members. He also teaches tying clinics for our friends at Pack & Paddle.

Presidents Award - Chris Williams
This award is chosen by the president. It goes to someone that he or she believes has helped the club internally. Chris participated in just about every meeting, and helped lead a couple of our tying sessions.  He also has been a great ambassador for our club, promoting our events and activities.

Mixed Bag Contest

Our annual Mixed Bag Contest is a months-long CPRE (catch-photo-release encouraged) tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. This year, six places were awarded. In addition, every member who made at least one entry had their name placed in a drawing for several prizes.

Bill Morrison, MBC Chairman, provided statistics for this year's contest at our recent Christmas Party. We had 22 participants (slightly up from 2020), a record number of entries (164) and a record number of entries by a single participant (30).

Among the most common species registered were rainbow trout (16), bluegill (12), longear sunfish (11), largemouth bass (10). New species registered for 2021 included carp, mangrove5) snapper, hardhead catfish, whiting, atlantic croaker, striped mullet, flier, wiper, redfin pickerel, silver perch, and jack crevalle.

By state, Louisiana had the most entries (90) followed by Arkansas (41) and northwest Florida (13), Texas (13) and Oklahoma (6). The most common waters for entries were the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas (20), White River in north Arkansas (14), and Cotile Lake (10).  

The most common fly patterns were Clouser Minnow (20), Squirmy Wormy (13), EP Shrimp (10), Woolybugger (7) and Bully Bluegill Spider (5).

Here's the final standings for the 2021 Mixed Bag:
1st - Jerry Patton (30 entries)
2nd - Chris Williams (27)
3rd - Bill Morrison (18)
4th - Jim Johnson (10)
5th - Carlton Townsend (9)
6th - Robert Hughes (9)

The 2022 Mixed Bag will kickoff on January 1st. The form will go active shortly after midnight. There are a few rule changes for next year, so be sure to read them (changes in red text).

KFF Holiday Gathering - December 6th

In lieu of our December meetings, the club will again gather for a holiday evening of food, fun, and prizes.

Date: Monday, December 6, 2021
Location:  Brocato's at 5515 Coliseum Blvd in Alexandria
Time:  6:00pm social,  6:30 dinner
Cost:  $20 per person *
Dinner includes entree, sides, dessert, tea or soft drinks.  No alcohol served, but you may bring your own (BYOB).

*  Taxes and gratuities (tips) will be paid by the club.  So it's a flat $20 per person... no extra charges!

Here is the link to the Christmas Party Attendance Form (online):  CLICK HERE

IMPORTANT!  Please submit this form for you and each guest you plan to bring.

You can bring a guest, sibling, friend.  Dress is casual, but no waders!  We will recognize outstanding members, participants in the annual Mixed Bag Contest (and draw for MBC entries), and also draw for door prizes. Members are encouraged to bring items to submit as door prizes (see Rich Hudson's email).

KFF November meeting - White River Fall fishing

KFF monthly meeting
Monday, November 22, 2021
4:30pm - casting prior to meeting
6:30pm - meeting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

We'll start with our regular business meeting including details on the Christmas Party.  This will be followed by a presentation from our members who made the recent club trip to the White River in Arkansas for trout. Most of the fishing was done from boats with guides, but there was also some self-guided wade fishing for smallmouth. This should be a very informative presentation for facts, figures and techniques used.

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

As always, our meetings are open to the public!

November 16th fly tying - Red Tail Fly

KFF monthly fly tying session
Tuesday, November 16, 2021  *note change*
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Casting on back lawn starting 4:30pm

* Please note! This session has been moved from it's usual 2nd Monday to Tuesday, November 16th due to conflict with a club trip *

For this session, Bill Morrison will lead us in tying two versions of the Red A$$ (or which we will properly refer to as "Red Tail").  This fly was highly recommended to Bill by Calton Townsend as one of the more effective early winter patterns for trout on the Little Missouri. Although it also works well for bluegill and panfish. We will tie two versions – one with a wire body for fishing deeper or under an indicator, and one with a thread body that can be stripped under the surface as an emerger.

Materials list:

• Nymph hook, standard or 1x long in size 14 or 16 (Carlton uses 16)
• Red Ultra Wire in small for the wire body version, red thread in 70 or 140 denier for both versions.
• Peacock herl
• Partridge feather sized for hook (hen saddle will also work)
• Head cement

As always, beginners and guests are welcome!  On-site attendees should bring a mask as the library requires masks when indoors.  

Remote members can participate via the Zoom app on any PC, tablet, or smartphone.  Enter the meeting ID and password to join in.  Email Bill Morrison to request.  Non-members are welcome to watch via YouTube Live. Go to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers Youtube Channel to watch.

For Zoom participants, materials will be mailed out in advance. For those in attendance, materials will be distributed.  For those who don't have vises and tools, the club has sets for use during the session.

KFF October meeting - Leader building

KFF monthly meeting
Monday, October 25, 2021
5:00pm - casting
6:30pm - meeting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

 * Due to the latest Covid outbreak, masks are required at all times inside the library meeting rooms *

Carlton Townsend will lead the group in a hands-on session of leader building.  He'll cover all aspects of leaders, including the concept of tapered materials, various knots and when to use them.  Bring some nippers or scissors.  Also on the agenda:  fishing reports, upcoming club trips, Christmas Party in December, Cenla Fly Fishing Festival in January.

Link to KFF YouTube Channel – go to Live videos - http://bit.ly/3oBk106

Zoom meeting also available, email Mike or Bill for meeting number and password.

With great fall weather, now is an excellent time to come out and practice casting.  Every Monday at 5:00pm. On meeting days, we meet behind the library. Otherwise, at Big Island Field in Alexandria City Park.