Social Distance Casting on hold

Due to the impacts of Hurricane Laura, our weekly Monday afternoon casting clinic has been put on hold. In addition to a powerline down, there are numerous branches and other debris in the area that have forced Alexandria Parks and Recreation to close the area to the public.

We hope to resume casting in 2 or 3 weeks.

Tying the Jitterbee

At our August 4th fly tying session, Larry Offner led us in tying the Jitterbee, one of the best submergent flies for sunfish. Created by Randy Leonpacher of Baton Rouge in 1995, it was designed to be the fly version of a longtime favorite panfish lure. Catch Cormier has now filmed the tying instructions in HD video and uploaded to YouTube. It can be viewed by clicking below. At the end of the video, there's a list of materials, best color schemes, and other notes.

Aug. 17th Casting Monday, Aug. 18th Tying Tuesday

Social Distance Casting
Monday, August 17th
5:00pm starting
Big Island Field, City Park Alexandria

Big Island has lots of space and there is strict adherene to social distancing guidelines.  You're welcome to come join at any time starting at 5pm.

Improve on your casting skills with the help of our casting instructors, or participate in the Casting Skills Challenge program and earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold recognition.  Also, get a chance to win a fly rod donated by Roger!

Virtual Fly Tying
Tuesday, August 18th
6:00pm    
www.zoom.us (see email for meeting id)

VTT is open to all members of Kisatchie Fly Fishers & Acadiana Fly Rodders. Join the meeting at www.zoom.us using meeting ID and password. If you need the ID and password, email Bill Morrison.

For our next session, Jim Johnson will lead us in tying the Rio Bandito. It's also referred to as the Mardi Kraw, although there's another fly of that same name. It was created by Chris Johnson of Living Waters Fly Fishing, for the Rio Grande Perch in the Hill Country waters of Texas. However, it's also been a great fly for bream, crappie and even bass.

Materials:

• hook: Jig hook - size 12
• bead: tungsten beads - metallic red - size 1/8”
• tail: guard hairs of fur
• body/collar: fur dubbing in a loop (rabbit or squirrel strips), Crawfish Orange
• legs: silicone legs, matching color

* To request a bag of sample materials (ties 2-3 flies) please fill out the form link. We will mail out on Thursday prior to the meeting. Future tying sessions are included. Materials Request Form

Upcoming sessions:
- September 1 - 7:00pm - TBA, led by Tyler Wood
- September 15 - 6:00pm - Countach Plus Nymph, led by Catch Cormier

Tying the Slumpbuster

At our August 4th fly tying session, Bill Morrison led us in tying the Slumpbuster. Barr's Slumpbuster. Created by John Barr, this fly was intended to mimic a baitfish with materials that look alive in the water.

Mixed Bag Contest - update August 5th

We're now in the last full month of SweatFest 2020 - the festival no one likes to celebrate! Fishing has been real slow as of late, but there's still opportunities to land a few diverse species on fly rod for our annual Mixed Bag Contest.  With the rivers down and clear, white bass, catfish, spotted bass, and longear catches have been good.

Entry to the MBC is free to all members.  Just catch a fish, and submit it online via the Mixed Bag page. Even entering just one species insures your name in the drawing for the grand consolation prize!

There's been a big shakeup since our last report. Bill Morrison is well on his way to promoting diversity in the fly fishing species ranks. But it's now a very tight battle for the second place spot, with seven anglers in striking distance!

Here are the current standings (number is different species registered):

• Bill Morrison (16) - largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, longear, white crappie, redear, golden shiner, rainbow trout, speckled trout, ladyfish, redfish, spotted bass, warmouth, green sunfish, white bass, channel catfish
• Carlton Townsend (11) - black crappie, rainbow trout, longear, bluegill, redbreast, redear, smallmouth bass, green sunfish, spotted bass, white bass, channel catfish, cutthroat trout
• Glen Cormier (11) - bluegill, chain pickerel, channel catfish, redear, rainbow trout, yellow bass, largemouth bass, white crappie, warmouth, redbreast sunfish, longear sunfish
• Joel Dinnat (10) - warmouth, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, longear, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, white bass, catfish
• Jim Johnson (10) - bluegill, longear, redbreast, redear, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, green sunfish, warmouth, white bass, channel catfish
• Robert Hughes (9) - rainbow trout, longear, green sunfish, bluegill, brown trout, black crappie, spotted bass, tiger trout, cutthroat trout

Others - Jim Guillory (6),  Gene Taylor (6),  Terry Stafford (4),  Phil Havener (4),  Rich Hudson (3), Justin Wilson (2), Pitt Merryman (2), Mike Carlin (2), Eddie Quita (1),  Preston Keiser (1)