Friday, May 22, 2020

May 25th Casting Monday, May 26th Tying Tuesday

Social Distance Casting
Monday, May 25

5:00pm starting
Big Island Field, City Park Alexandria

Big Island has lots of space and there is strict adherene to social distancing guidelines.

Roger Breedlove will arrive at 5:00pm. You're welcome to come join at any time starting then or after. He and other club casting gurus will provide assistance to anyone looking to improve their casting, be it beginner or expert. Or come participate in the Casting Skills Challenge program and earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold recognition.

Virtual Fly Tying
Tuesday, May 26

6:00pm
www.zoom.us (see email for meeting id)

This week, Jim Johnson will lead us in tying the "Lunch Money", a pattern created by Matt Bennett. Matt grew up in southwest Louisiana, and currently lives in Austin. A professional tier, he's been recognized as one of the top fly designers in the country today, having created numerous patterns for warm, salt and coldwater fishing.

According to Matt, the Lunch Money was created out of need for a bite-sized baitfish streamer for the Texas Hill Country. However, it's been a great bass fly anywhere there is clear water and an abundance of small baitfish.

Here are the materials you will need:
  • #4 Stinger Hook, Gamakatsu B10s or equivalent stinger‐type hook (Sub: #4 or #6 stinger or Standard #4 saltwater hook)
  • 140 denier thread ‐ olive (Sub: black or different size or color)
  • Medium lead dumbell eyes ‐ red (Sub: different color or size)
  • Rabbit fur strip ‐ 1/8" green olive (Sub: different size or color)
  • Senyo laser dub ‐ yellow and olive (Sub: any long fiber dubbing such as EP fibers)
  • Rubber legs ‐ olive/black or any dark leg such as crazy, silli, loco legs (Sub: any rubber leg)
In preparation for tying this pattern, check out Matt's video on Youtube. In the Zoom session, Jim will add his own perspectives on this pattern, so you don't want to miss this!

Monday, May 18, 2020

May 19th online fly tying - T&T Tuesday

Kisatchie-Acadiana clubs online fly tying session
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
6:00pm
Zoom meeting at http://zoom.us

Please join us for another installment of Tips and Techniques Tuesday. Remember to enter the Zoom meeting ID and password before joining the session.  If you need the id and password, send an email to Bill Morrison.

Also, a reminder that on May 26, Jim Johnson will be leading us in tying Matt Bennett's Lunch Money streamer.  One of the best modern patterns for predatory fish.  If you need to order materials, please do so early this week.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

May 18th Social Distance Casting

Social Distance Casting
Monday, May 18, 2020

5:00pm until
Big Island Field
City Park, Alexandria

KFF President Mike Carlin would like to remind everyone that, if you're tired of too much "virtual", you're welcomed to come out and join us for our Social Distance Casting. Big Island has a lot of space and there is strict adherence to social distancing guidelines.

Roger Breedlove will arrive around 5:00pm and with help of other casting gurus in our club, provide assistance to anyone looking to improve their casting. Even an accomplished caster will pick up some valuable lessons. Or may be able to help someone else.

Also, we will continue our Casting Skills Challenge. As per the previous post, this has been a highly successful club venture. Several of those awarded are also FFI members and will be recognized on the regional and national level.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Members recognized for Casting Skills awards

FFI CSC Gold Level Pin
Last year, the club adopted the "Casting Skills Challenge", a Fly Fishers International (FFI) program designed for all casters, from beginner to advanced, to be a fun way to study, practice and challenge oneself to reach casting milestones while doing it at their own pace.  Chris Perkins has been our director of the club program, while Roger Breedlove, an FFI Certified Casting Instructor, has been chief facilitator.

The CSC consists of three levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold. Each level represents a more advanced achievement, that is, being able to master certain types of casts.  Details about the CSC can be found on our "Casting" page and on the FFI website at www.flyfishersinternational.org.

Members do not need to be FFI members to receive the KFF Casting Skills awards.  However, we strongly encourage them to consider joining FFI.  Since our program is an exact duplicate of the FFI program, club members who are FFI simply need to send in the paperwork and a small fee (which KFF will reimburse).  FFI members receive a pin as well as recognition on the national and regional level (see www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org).

Here's the latest list of KFF Casting Skills awards.  Please congratulation them on their achievement!

Bronze
Johnathon Bennett.  Richard Dewees.  Joel Dinnat. 
Chester Gatlin.  Phil Havener.  Rich Hudson. 
Robert Hughes.  Preston Keiser.  Lindsey Torbett. 
Carlton Townsend

Silver
Mike Carlin Frank Coe Jim Guillory
Jim Johnson Justin Wilson Tom Zabasky


Gold
Bill Morrison Chris Perkins Gene Taylor

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Mixed Bag Contest - update May 13th

Largemouth taken by Justin Wilson on Foam Stone Fly
Let's hope we never have another Spring like this one, ever again!  With so many businesses and schools on lockdown because of the Corona Virus, folks of all ages have taken to local waters in droves. It's like every day is a Saturday.  The big fish are staying deep, hoping to avoid getting run over by a bass boat or jet ski.

Fortunately, our Mixed Bag Contest is a CPRE tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does.  Any KFF member can participate, entry is free.  Just catch a fish, and submit it online via the MBC page.

We'll be awarding SIX places, but if you don't finish in the top 6, that's okay too. Because it means your name will be entered into the Consolation Drawing from all members who entered at least one fish. So get out and fish and put an entry in!

Here are the current standings (number is different species registered):
  • Glen Cormier (10) - bluegill, chain pickerel, channel catfish, redear, rainbow trout, yellow bass, largemouth bass, white crappie, warmouth, redbreast sunfish
  • Bill Morrison (7) - largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, longear, white crappie, redear, golden shiner
  • Carlton Townsend (6) - black crappie, rainbow trout, longear, bluegill, redbreast, redear
  • Jim Johnson (5) - bluegill, longear, redbreast, redear, chain pickerel
  • Joel Dinnat (5) - warmouth, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, longear
  • Robert Hughes (5) - rainbow trout, longear, green sunfish, bluegill, brown trout
Others - Rich Hudson (3), Terry Stafford (2), Justin Wilson (2), Pitt Merryman (2), Mike Carlin (1), Phil Havener (1), Eddie Quita (1), Gene Taylor (1)

Monday, May 11, 2020

May 12th tying session - Woolybugger

KFF online fly tying session
Tuesday, May 12, 2020

6:00pm
Zoom meeting at http://zoom.us

Remember to enter the Zoom meeting id and meeting password before joining session.  Instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting, and how to test for sound, are in the April 6th post.  If you do not have the Zoom access information, please email Bill Morrison and he will resend.

This week's pattern will be the Woolybugger, one of the most universal patterns of all time. Created by Russ Blessing, versions of the WB have been used for trout, salmon, bass, panfish, and even saltwater!  Here are the materials you will need (obviously, any substitutions will work as well).

- hook, 4x streamer or 3x long nymph hook, sizes 10 or 8
- thread, 140 denier (olive, or color to match fly)
- bead, 1/8" gold brass bead or substitute. Can omit bead.
- lead wire. Size .020 or bigger (wrap less) or smaller (wrap more)
- antron chenille or other chenille (color to match fly)
- strung marabou (olive, or other color, any feather will work for tail)
- saddle hackle (olive or matching color, schlappen feather substitute)

If you don't have these materials (or substitutes) you are still welcomed to join in and watch. In addition to tying a particular fly, we are using these online sessions to share fishing reports and other interesting discussion items.

Monday, May 4, 2020

May 5th tying session - whip finishes, half-hitches, and barbell eyes

KFF online fly tying session
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

6:00pm
Zoom meeting at http://zoom.us

Remember to enter the Zoom meeting id and meeting password before joining session.  Instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting, and how to test for sound, are in the April 6th post.  If you do not have the Zoom access information, please email Bill and he will resend.

Please join us for another installment of Tips and Techniques Tuesday. This week Bill Morrison will lead us in examining two methods for whip finishing by hand and using the half-hitch for ‘saving work’ and finishing. We will also look at various techniques for tying on barbell eyes. If there is anything else you would like to see covered, please let Bill know!