Cenla Fly Fishing Festival
Saturday, January 24, 2026
8:30am - 3:30pm
Kees Park Civic Center
2450 Hwy 28 E, Pineville, LA
FREE admission!
Hosted by the Kisatchie Fly Fishers, this biennial festival - held in even years - is a celebration of fly fishing and kayak fishing. Unlike typical outdoor shows, our event is focused on instruction, education, and community.
The Cenla Fest brings anglers of similiar interests together
to exchange their expertise, share fishing stories, and educate the public about fishing and conservation. It's family friendly and free to the
public.
Activities include:
- Seminars
- Fly tying demonstrations
- Fly casting clinics
- Beginners instruction
- Kayak rigging
- Exhibitors
- Raffles
- and more!
See the Schedule below for more details!
GOOGLE MAP LOCATION - CLICK HERE!
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Event Details
Fly tying begins around 8:30am and continues until 3:00pm. Many of the
region's top fly tiers will be on hand tying flies for bream, bass,
trout, and redfish. See the list below (keep checking back as our list grows each day).
Seminars covering a variety of fishing topics will be presented by local
and regional experts. Seminars start at 9:30am and continue through the
day.
Need to improve your fly casting skills? Jeff Ferguson - one of the nation's top fly casting instructors - will be on hand giving casting presentations and casting coaching. Jeff is an award-winning casting instructor, certified Master Level by the Fly Fishers International. We'll also have two FFI Certified instructors on hand to help with beginners and intermediate instruction.
Lunch and choice of lemonade or tea will be available for a nominal cost. Bottled water will be available free during the day. Canned soft drinks will be $1.
There's also a raffle, a silent auction and a Gamblers Draw. Items include tackle, flies, lures, accessories, homemade goods, and many other
items. Net proceeds to benefit The Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
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2026 Schedule9:00 am - Fly Tying & Exhibitors - Main Room
9:30 am - Smallmouth Bass in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains - Meeting Room
10:30 am - Using CCS to determine your true rod weight - Meeting Room
11:30 am - Lunch ($) includes pastalaya, lemonade or tea.
1:00 pm - Tying realistic flies for Smallmouth Bass- Meeting Room
1:00 pm - Advanced Fly Casting Skills - Outdoors
3:30 pm - Adieu and see ya'll in 2028!
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2026 Presenters
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Keith Reeves is owner of Ozark Mountain Fly guide service, a commercial fly tier, instructor, frequent podcast guest and a rising star in the world of smallmouth bass fly fishing. For more than 25 years, he's fished the rivers and streams of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. HIs love of wild places and solitude has led to exploration of many smaller and lesser known streams in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. He also enjoys studying and tying flies that match the food sources in these waters. Keith is also a protege of Duane Hada, and has joined his team for the Smallmouth Tour. Keith is currently in his 16th year as a licensed educator in the state of Arkansas. He and his wife currently lead the Alma Middle School Choir program. Keith will be giving the following seminars: (1) Locating and Catching Smallmouth Bass in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. (2) Feed Them Don’t Fool Them: Tying realistic flies that mimic the natural food sources of Smallmouth Bass. |
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Rush Clay is a member of the North Louisiana Fly Fishers, an active angler and an active rod builder. He gives workshops and demonstrations on the Common Cents System (CCS), a method developed by Dr. William Hanneman that uses post-1985 pennies to determine a fly rod's true weight and action. This system has been used by numerous rod builders and others to accurately match fly lines to rods. Rush will talk on "CCS and how to determine your rod's true weight". Please bring one or two of your rods and Rush will measure what the effective weight of your rod is! |
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Jeff Ferguson is Casting Director for the FFI Gulf Coast Council, has served on the FFI Casting Board of Governors, is a Master Certified Casting Instructor (MCI) and a Level-2 Examinar, as well as a member of the FFI North American Events Committee and the FFI Awards Committee. Jeff himself has been the recipient of various awards, including the prestigious Mel Krieger Casting Award. He has been a fixture at club events, regional events, and several national events. He’s helped organize the largest casting certification event in U.S. history, and conducts casting clinics at all levels from beginning to advanced. Jeff is a member of both the Acadiana Fly Rodders and the Kisatchie Fly Fishers.
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2026 Featured Fly Tiers
We are delighted to have some of the top regional fly tiers and lure craftsmen on hand to demonstrate their craftsmanship.
Each will be tying their own creations as well as their personal favorites throughout the day.
The following is a list of committed tier so far. Keep checking back for updates.
| Name | Location | Bio |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin 'Doc' Andry | Baton Rouge, LA | Kevin is a nationally-recognized music director for St. Micheal High School in Baton Rouge. A lifelong angler, his passion for fly fishing began around 2006 when one of his "band dads" picked up his daughter from band practice with a kayak on his car and fly rods in the back. When asked where he one fishes with kayaks and fly rods in south Louisiana, the gentleman answered, "Anywhere I want to." A couple of fly rods and attendance to the local club tying sessions and Doc was hooked. In the near two decades since, Kevin has caught hundreds of fish on creations he has tied himself. While he ties a variety of flies with great detail and precision, he is best known for his work spinning Deer Hair. He has taught classes on deer hair and other patterns, and in 2022 was recognized with the FFI-GCC Lifetime Excellence in Tying Award. When he isn't fishing or tying, Doc enjoys spending time with his wife of 40 years, Lisa, his two children, and his four beautiful grandchildren. |
| Matt Bennett | DeRidder, LA | Matt Bennett is a previous full-time commercial fly tyer and the owner of Fly Geek Custom Flies. Matt enjoys many types of fly fishing, but most enjoys both tying flies and fishing for the native bass species of the Texas Hill Country and exploring the Southwest Louisiana waterways. Most of Matt's patterns have a universal appeal to fish species all over, and he very much enjoys sharing his tying and fishing knowledge with others. Matt has fished the waters of southwestern Colorado since he was a teenager and especially enjoys chasing native Cutthroat trout in creeks throughout the San Juans. Matt is a member of the Ahrex Hooks, Dr. Slick and Raidzap Pro Team, and a member of Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer program and has three patterns available in fly shops all over the world, with more to follow. Matt has previously served as the Education Director and VP of the Texas Council FFI, as well as President of the Austin Fly Fishers. He was awarded the 2015 Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award by FFI. You can often find him behind the vise at many fly fishing events and shows across the South and beyond. Matt resides in DeRidder, LA with his wife, Amanda, and has tied nearly 100,000 flies during his time as a commercial fly tyer. You can view more of his work on Instagram @flygeekmatt. |
| Ray Boudreaux | New Iberia, LA | |
| Ronald Braud | Prairieville, LA | I became interested in Fly Fishing during a visit to Montana when my daughter lived there for a year. Along the way I discovered that my primary interest was in tying flies and incorporated into it my earlier artistic work. |
| Kenneth 'Redbird' Breaux | DeQuincy, LA | Member of Contraband Fly Casters. Tie and fly fish mostly warm water. fish cold and salt water some, and I tie some cold water and salter flies but mostly I tie a coyote fly. |
| Mac Colvin | Metairie, LA | Mac is not only an excellent tier of many flies, but he does it with one hand! An ambassador for adaptive fly tying, Mac serves at Fly Tying Coordinator for the New Orleans Fly Fishers, and is organizing of the popular Dirty Carp Flyfishing Tournament. |
| Bill deCastro | Gretna,LA | Member of the New Orleans Fly Fishing Club, and FFI. I've been fly tying for over 45 years. |
| Ronnie Foreman | Lake Charles, LA | Ron is a member and current Treasurer of the Contraband Fly Casters in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a member and supporter of the Fly Fishers International, and a member of the FFI Fly Tying Group. Ron has also served on the Gulf Coast Council as a former Treasurer and Fly Tying Chair. Ron has been involved in fly fishing since his high school days. He grew up fishing small streams and creeks in Louisiana. He is an avid bass fisherman having fished numerous lakes throughout the midsouth. After moving to the Lake Charles area, he began saltwater fishing. His passion now is fly fishing for reds, specks, and flounder. Ron also enjoys trips to cold water fisheries to try for rainbow and brown trout. He has tied at Sowbug on many occasions, and has tied at other fly shows throughout the south. Ron enjoys tying flies and teaching a newcomer to tie. Ron is always looking for ways to promote fly fishing, fly tying, his local club, the GCC, and FFI. |
| Jamie Franklin | Dubberly, LA | |
| Tina Franklin | Dubberly, LA | |
| Darin Lee | Opelousas, LA | Darin is a biologist and south Louisiana native, who is an active member of the of Acadiana Fly Rodders in Lafayette, LA. He began his fly fishing and tying journey over 20 years ago sight casting to redfish, and quickly expanded to warmwater and coldwater opportunities. |
| Steve Oliver | Marshall, TX | I am the current president of the North Louisiana Fly Fishers. Retired from RadioShack after 22 years. Currently drive an oversize load pilot car. I'm an avid fly fisherman, motorcyclist, kayaker, and camper and look for ways to combine all of these activities together. |
| Lance Renoux | Lockport, LA | I tie saltwater and freshwater predator flies and utilize natural materials to mimic natural prey items |
| Brian Roberts | Baton Rouge, LA | Brian is President of the Red Stick Fly Fishers and in 2024, was awarded the FFI Gulf Coast Council Flyfisher of the Year for his dedication to the sport. He has been a trailblazer in pursuing sunfish on fly rod, currently the only recipient of the GCC Suncatch Challenge Master Award for catching 16 of the 19 eligible species. Brian ties patterns for many species, but enjoys tying flies for - and chasing - the several species of gar. |
| AJ Rosenbohm | River Ridge, LA | AJ currently serves as president of the Gulf Coast Council of FFI. He has been tying flies for 12 years. He teaches fly tying and coordinates fly tying classes for the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club. AJ ties commercially for a number of fly shops along the Northern Gulf Coast and is a pro staffer with Finatics Fly Co. |
| Wayne Schnell | Metairie, LA | New Orleans native, with a life-long passion for fishing in any gear, Wayne has waited a long time to become a fly fisher, but now is completely immersed in the sport and anxious to bring his talents to the greater fly fishing community. |
| Bill White | Lake Charles, LA | Bill is a member of the Contrabad Flycasters and has tied at various conclaves |
| Rex White | Stonewall, LA | Former Quality Control manager for military construction on military bases. I was introduced to fly fishing while working at Ft Drum, NY. On my return to Louisiana I found my flyfishing mentor, Mr. John Fatherree with the NLFF. We fished and tied flies together. Former NLFF newsletter publisher/editor, NLFF Boatd member, NLFF President and served as a board member of GCC/FFI. |
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2024 Exhibitors (to be updated shortly for 2026)
| No Wake Outfitters Metairie, LA www.nowakeoutfitters.com  |
Rivertown Gallery Mountain Home, AR www.rivertowngallery.com  |
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| Jim Johnson Photography Lecompte, LA www.jimejohnsonphotos.com  |
2 Sisters 4 Christ Deville, LA kathylynne1960@gmail.com  | |
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If you wish to exhibit or tie flies, email Glen Cormier at catch@laflyfish.com
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