Deadline for Summer Workshop approaching

KFF Summer Workshop 
Tying the Matt Bennett Originals - with Matt Bennett

Saturday, August 16, 2025
9:30 am to 1:00 pm
135 Riverfront St, Pineville, LA
Cost $40 participant  (limited to 12 tiers)

* If you are a 2025 paid member of KFF and did not receive an email with info on the workshop - and the link for registration - please email catchcoma@gmail.com asap! *

We are excited for the return of a club tradition - our Summer Workshop.  On August 16th, we welcome nationally renown fly tier Matt Bennett.  Matt is a member of the Umpqua Feathers Signature Fly Designer program, and the creator of such patterns as the Lunch Money, Carp-It Bomb, Rio Getter, and Jungle Lunch. Matt travels across the country sharing his patterns, and in 2015, was awarded the prestigious Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award by Fly Fishers International.

The workshop is currently open only to 2025 paid KFF members. Cost is $40 per student, with a maximum of 12 students. If more than 12 register, up to 8 more registrants can still attend and watch only with a reduced cost of $10.  If a tying seat opens up due to cancellation, the next person on the list can take their place and will be responsible for paying the full cost.  After August 11th, if any seats are still available, we'll open up to members of other FFI clubs. 

Materials and instruction will be provided to students. Students should bring their own vise, tools, and thread. Matt will let us know what color and denier thread we'll be using.  Refreshments will be provided.

July 28th meeting - Menhaden bycatch in Louisiana

KFF general meeting
Monday, July 28, 2025

5:30 pm - casting practice
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

For our July meeting, we welcome Dr. Scott Raborn as our guest speaker.  Scott is Vice-President and Senior Fisheries Biologist with LGL Limited - an employee-owned environmental research and consulting firm. A graduate of Louisiana College (biology), and Mississippi State (Ph.D in Fisheries Science), Scott has been with LGL since 2007, where he has provided biometric support for several high profile fisheries research projects across the country.

LGL was selected by the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to conduct research on the extent of bycatch by the commercial menhaden fleet. At the July meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Scott gave details to the scope of their research and the final results.  Of significance to the recreational community was the mortality rate of mature redfish. Many sports anglers believe that, in order for reduced stocks of redfish to make a rapid recovery, this mortality rate needs to be near zero.

Scott will give a shorter version of his LDWF presentation to the club. There will be plenty of time allotted for questions and answers.

As always, this meeting is open to the public.  Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. 
 

July 14th fly tying - Basic Bass Popper

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, July 14, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: Basic Bass Popper

We have tied various poppers in the past, but for our July session, we will use a pre-made soft-head popper body to explore the various elements and options for bass poppers that you can employ in your own flies. We will tie a size #4 that is similar to the picture.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106 
 

June 23rd meeting - Micropterus in Louisiana and beyond

KFF general meeting
Monday, June 23, 2025

5:30 pm - casting practice
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

For our June meeting, Ben Roussel of Baton Rouge will join us via Zoom to present on native Black Bass species in Louisiana and across the Southeast USA. He will also share new research on this topic.

Ben is an active member of Red Stick Fly Fishers and a board member of the Fly Fishers International Gulf Coast Council (GCC).  He serves on the GCC Conservation Committee, and is Director of the council's very popular "Suncatch Challenge".  He has spent most of his adult life researching various species of centrachids (black basses, sunfishes) and the watersheds they are found.  We are very excited to have Ben share his expertise about various species of black bass and where to find them. You can also follow Ben on his "Mountains to Marsh" website.  Click here.

Weather permitting, we'll have casting practice on the back lawn.  

As always, the public is welcome! Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

June 9th fly tying - GFA Hopper

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, June 9, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: GFA Hopper

For our June tying session, we'll tie the GFA Hopper. Created by Walter Wiese of Montana, this easy-to-tie foam hopper is the perfect pattern for hopper-dropper rigs or for fishing alone as a terrestrial pattern. Hopper patterns are very effective in summer on a wide variety of waters for trout, sunfish, spotted and smallmouth bass. While most hoppers are complex to tie, this one is not – simple but still potent!

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106 

Mixed Bag standings - June 1st

We're now at the halfway mark of our 8th annual Mixed Bag Contest. The MBC is our members-only, online tournament where size doesn't matter, but diversity does. The objective is to catch as many different species on fly rod and flies over the course of 11 months, over a limited geographical area. Click on "Mixed Bag" menu above for complete details.

Proof that you can catch just about anything on flies - check this photo of an Ozark Shiner caught by Jerry Patton on a Zebra Midge!

So far, 21 members have contributed 156 total entries - a record pace! While Bill Morrison is the clear frontrunner, don't let that deter you from submitting entries.  Remember that under the new format we started a couple of years ago, there are many more consolation drawings - and some really nice prizes too!  Every entry gets one ticket in the drawing. For example, enter 4 species in the Mixed Bag and you get 4 tickets in the drawing. More entries = greater chances to win!

Here are the current leaders:

Bill Morrison - 24
Eron Borne - 17
Jim Johnson - 14
Ed Jones - 13
Jerry Patton - 13
Chris Williams - 12
Noah Hoyt - 11

Remember - the Mixed Bag is as much an educational tool as it is a contest. The spreadsheet database, which is available online to anyone, can tell you:
- how many different species can be caught on fly
- the best places to catch a certain fish at a certain time
- what flies work best on certain fish

So to all KFF members - get on the water and make some entries!

Make plans for the Caddo Expo on July 19th

Caddo Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
9:00am – 5:00pm
Jefferson Tourism & Visitors Center
Jefferson, TX
hosted by North Louisiana Fly Fishers

On Saturday, July 19th, our neighboring club to the north, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers, will hold their  inaugural Caddo Fly Fishing Expo. This event will be held in historic downtown Jefferson, TX. The event will feature fly tying demonstrations, seminars, fly casting, exhibitors, raffles, and more. Held on the banks of Cypress Bayou which feeds Caddo Lake, there is fishing available as well as kayak rentals available locally.

KFF encourages all our members to attend this event.  NLFF has been very supportive of our Cenla Festival, and we need to be supportive of theirs.  The documents below should have enough information, but let us know if you need more.

Tiers wanted!  Included in the documents linked below are applications for tyers and vendors.  We have a good number of excellent tiers here in the Kisatchie club, so if you consider yourself one, please feel free to sign up.  Even if you're not as talented as Bill Morrison, Fred Hannie or Matt Bennett, sharing the skills of tying with all skill levels is what encourages others to take up the art of tying!  Spots are limited, so please don't delay.

Click on these links for Caddo Expo documents:

Caddo Event Flyer (pdf)

Caddo Expo Tiers Invite (pdf)

Caddo Expo Vendor Tyer Flyer (pdf)

Caddo Expo Vendor Invite (pdf)

May 2025 activities

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, May 12, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Featured pattern: Rubber Leg Fox Squirrel Nymph

This month we'll tie the Rubber Legged Fox Squirrel Nymph, a variation of Dave Whitlock's popular Fox Squirrel Nymph that we tied last year. Unlike the original, this version has a bead head and rubber legs. These additions make the fly somewhat buggier, and more likely to be a better bluegill and panfish pattern.  We will tie a version similar to the one in the picture.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

KFF general meeting
Monday, May 19, 2025  *

5:30 pm - casting practice
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
Meeting topic: Crawfish!

* Please note the date. We're meeting on 3rd Monday since the 4th Monday is the Memorial Day holiday *

Everything eats crawfish, not just Cajuns! Many fish species, especially bass, find great nutritional value in mudbugs. That's why every fly box should have crawfish, or crawfish-like, patterns. What color works best for the flies we choose depends on many factors, including species, time of year, and even some genetic factors.

This month, our guest speaker is Jay Huner, retired biology professor and former Director of the ULL Crawfish Research Center. Jay has written several books on crayfish, and served as co-chair for the International Association of Astacology (crawfish studies). Jay will share the many facets of our favorite crustacean.

Come early for casting practice on the back lawn.  

As always, the public is welcome! Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

Spring Picnic Updates

Monday, April 28th is our annual Spring Picnic.  Below are updates to the email sent out earlier to members. 

Side dish commitments:

Rich Hudson - Mexican Casserole with chips (it's actually a dip) 

Dessert commitments:

Debbie Coe - TBD 

Other:

Carlton Townsend - will bring paper plates and towels, and plastic utilities.
Rich Dewees - sliced tomatos, sliced lettuce, onions.

April 14th fly tying - Goober Bug

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, April 14, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

Moving into our warm-water season, this month we'll be tying the Goober Bug - another throwback pattern from about 6 years ago. Like the Rio Bandito, it's a very effective pattern and also a creation of a Texas fly tier. Creator Bruce Sublett says that any fish that will eat a Wooly Bugger will eat the Goober Bug and it’s also easier to tie.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

Registration now open for 2025 Gulf Coast Classic

3rd annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival
Friday & Saturday, May 2-3, 2025
Gulf State Park
20249A State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

Click on the image for full size poster

Registration is now open for the 3rd annual Gulf Coast Classic on Friday May 2nd and Saturday May 3rd at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL.  The Classic is the largest fly fishing event on the Gulf Coast, and features seminars, fly tying demonstrations, casting and tying workshops, a fishing contest, a film festival, and much more!  Many of the tiers are nationally-recognized and some are even professional tiers. Several of the tiers will be leading workshops as well.

Hosted by the Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI), it's a fundraiser and community gathering for the council.  The GCC consists of clubs and members in Louisiana, Mississippi, south Alabama, and northwest Florida.  Kisatchie Fly Fishers is a proud member of the Gulf Coast Council.

On the registration pages, you can pay for admission, signup for a workshop, purchase film festival tickets, and even procure inexpensive onsite lodging on the campus. Or you can register for the Classic now, and register for the workshops later.  But don't wait too long...  workshops and lodging can book up in advance of the event!

Fly tier bios are currently available, and later this week schedules, seminar descriptions, and speaker bios will be posted. Seminar topics cover a wide range of fishing opportunities, from bluegill and bass to tarpon and speckled trout to Louisiana redfish and more.  In addition, there are speakers on conservation topics, including the Director of Alabama's Marine Fisheries Division, and Friday Keynote Speaker, William Strickland of Mobile Baykeepers.

There's also an incredible array of raffle and silent auction items courtesy of our amazing sponsors.  And our always popular "Mixed Bag" fishing contest - it's FREE entry with registration!

Again, to learn more about the Classic, and links to registration and workshops, go to: www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com. 

March 24th meeting - Little Mo report, Permit

KFF general meeting
Monday, March 24, 2025

5:30 pm - casting practice
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month, we'll have two presentations. First, Carlton Townsend will give us a recap of the club's "March Brown" trip to the Little Missouri River the weekend prior to the meeting. There's always some great stories from this trip!   Afterwards, Rob Ratcliff will give a slideshow presentation on a permit fishing trip he made recently. If you've never fished for permit, they are a wily adversary.  But once hooked, bolt like a small train! Should be a great talk as well.

Come early for casting practice on the back lawn.  

As always, the public is welcome! Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

March 10th fly tying - Rio Bandito

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, March 10, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

What was expected to be our February featured pattern is now our March featured pattern.  Jim Johnson will lead us in tying the Rio Bandito. It was created by Chris Johnson of Living Waters Fly Fishing for the Rio Grande Perch in the Hill Country waters of Texas. However being a small crawfish imitation, it's a great fly for many species.

We did this pattern back in 2020 as part of our "Virtual Tying Tuesday" during the pandemic.  So this is the first time we've done it in person, and given how effective it has proven and many new members who haven't tied it, we felt the need to bring it back.  In addition, Jim Johnson has developed a simpler way to tie the pattern, so this version will be slightly different than what we tied previously.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

February 24th fly tying - CDC Quill Nymph

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, February 24, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

* Due to the library closure on the 10th, we've moved fly tying to our regular meeting date. Also, we've swapped the February and March patterns.  Yep, it's complicated! *

We have never tied a quill-body fly, nor have we used CDC feathers, so this is a great pattern to learn these materials. This pattern is a size 14 euro-style jig nymph that should prove very effective on trout. Our version will be similar to that in the picture.

As always, the session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

February 10th fly tying cancelled

Sorry for the late notice, but due to roof repairs at the Rapides Westside Library, we're unable to hold our fly tying session scheduled for tonight.  However, we have rescheduled the session in lieu of our regular meeting program on February 24th.  Join us on the 24th as Jim Johnson will lead us in tying the Rio Bandito.

January 27th meeting - Creek Fishing SW Louisiana

KFF general meeting
Monday, January 27, 2025
6:30 pm - program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

For our first meeting of 2025, we welcome Darin Lee as our guest speaker.  Darin is a biologist and south Louisiana native and current president of Acadiana Fly Rodders. He began his fly fishing journey 23 years ago sightcasting to redfish, and quickly expanded to warmwater and coldwater opportunities.

Darin will present on "Creek Fishing Southwest Louisiana".  A great presentation you don't want to miss!

As always, the public is welcome. For those members joining us remotely, check your email for the Zoom meeting number and password. For livestreaming on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

NOFF Expo coming up January 25th

2025 New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, January 25th
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
St. Christopher the Martyr School Gymnasium
3900 Derbigny St, Metairie, LA
Free admission!

Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, this biennial event (every odd year) is a celebration of fly fishing, featuring all aspects of our sport. Whether you’re wanting to get into fly fishing, or a seasoned veteran, there’s a program or activity certainly to be of interest.

The expo includes:

•     Fly Casting demonstration and instruction by certified instructors
  
•     Fly Fishing & Destination seminars by experts
  
•     Fly Tying Instruction
•     Tying demonstrations by many of the region's top tiers
  
•     Iron Fly Tyer Competition
•     Auctions & Raffles including top end rods, reels & flies
•     Kid’s Casting & Fishing Programs

NOFFC is the second oldest club in Louisiana, having formed in 1984 by Ted Cabali and Tom Jindra. For nearly four decades, the club has been a major contributor to the growth of saltwater fly fishing and fly tying in Louisiana, with several members recognized in the regional and national fly tying community.  

Expo schedule coming soon.  Please keep checking the NOFF website at  www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

January 13th fly tying - Jig Rainbow Warrior

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, January 13, 2025
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

For our first session of 2025, we have a fun, easy-to-tie fly - the Jigged Rainbow Warrior. This pattern is a jig version of Lance Egan's  popular and effective Rainbow Warrior.  This pattern utilizes two thread colors - black for the rear portion of the body and red for the hot spot.   Both threads are 70 denier, and if you don’t have red thread, any bright color such as orange or pink will work.
 
The session is open to the public. All materials are provided, and we have several sets of tools for beginners to use during the session. For beginners, we can also pair you with someone who can help.

Remote members can participate using the Zoom meeting number and password sent by email. All others can watch on the KFF YouTube Channel, use this link and go to Live videos -
http://bit.ly/3oBk106

2025 Mixed Bag Contest is Live!

Our Mixed Bag Contest is back for an eighth year! The MBC kicked off yesterday, January 1st at 12:01 am. If you caught any fish on New Year's Day, don't worry, you still have 30 days to enter it in.  

The 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 2025 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 top 5 finishers get placement 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.