November 27th meeting - Mussel Mania

KFF general meeting
Monday, November 27, 2023
6:30pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

Our final club meeting of the year will feature guest speaker Lindsey Adams, biologist with the National Fish Hatchery in Natchitoches.  Lindsey has worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife since 2015, with a specialty in freshwater mussels. 

Lindsey will give a brief overview of the current operations at the Hatchery, then discuss the Louisiana Pearlshell Mussels. Mussels and clams are of great importance to our fisheries, and Lindsey will explain reasons why and projects NFH-N are undertaking for the recovery of a native species to Rapides and Grant parishes.

Also on the agenda:  Keith Breazeale will give details on the December 4th Christmas Party, and Catch Cormier will update us on the Cenla Fly Fishing Festival on Jan. 20th.

As always, the public is welcome. 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  

November 6th fly tying - Glades Minnow

KFF monthly fly tying session
* Monday, November 6, 2023
6:30 pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

* Please note that this month's tying session is on the 1st Monday instead of 2nd Monday, due to the Veterans Day holiday

For our last tying session of 2023, Chris Williams will be on hand to lead us in tying the Glades Minnow. This fly was created by Mike Connor, former south Florida guide and Conservation Editor of Florida Sportsman magazine. According to Chris, this pattern  imitates the abundant Mosquito Fish & Mollies that call the tanic waters of the Everglades home. These minute craft fur streamers are a quick and effective tie for targeting largemouth, snook, peacock bass, redfish and many other Florida (and Louisiana) species.

Chris will be making the 3 hour trip to join us in person.  He is an excellent tier and instructor and always a wealth of tying knowledge.  Please join us to welcome Chris!

Newcomers are welcome to participate or watch. As always, all materials other than thread will be provided, and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The livestream will be posted to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.   

October 23rd meeting - Fall speckled trout

KFF general meeting
Monday, October 23, 2023
6:00pm - casting outside (weather permitting)
6:30pm - meeting & program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

Fall is the best time for marsh fishing for speckled trout. This month, Catch Cormier will share the basics for marsh trout success including tackle, flies, techniques, what to look for and where to go.  For example, how to make and use the Vertically Oriented Strike Indicator (VOSI).  He will also discuss the new regulation proposals for specks and why they're necessary.   

Come early around 6:00pm for some demonstration on the lawn back of the library. Bring your rod, or use a club rod, and get some casting coaching from our members.

As always, the public is welcome. 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  

October 16th fly tying - Redfish Crack

KFF monthly fly tying session
* Monday, October 16, 2023

6:30 pm
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Casting prior to meeting beginning at 5:30pm

* Please note that our October tying session is on the 3rd Monday instead of 2nd Monday, since the latter is a holiday

This month's fly is the Redfish Crack, created by Andy Packmore of Houston, and then popularized by Port O' Connor fishing guide, Capt. Scott Null.  It's gone through several iterations, and there are numerous variations, so it's more of a style than an exact pattern.  Regardless, the Redfish Crack uses a variety of synthetic materials to create a impressionitic form of shrimp or other crustacean that rides hook up.

Newcomers are welcome to participate or watch. As always, all materials other than thread will be provided, and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The livestream will be posted to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.  

September 25th meeting - Science of the Cast

KFF general meeting
Monday, September 25, 2023
6:00pm - casting outside (weather permitting)
6:30pm - meeting & program
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria

This month, Catch Cormier and Chris Perkins will talk on the "Science of the Cast" with emphasis on the Pick Up and Lay Down (PULD) cast. The PULD is the basis of nearly all casts, and mastering it allows the angler a much easier path to becoming skilled at more advanced casts. To master it requires some understanding of how and why it works. Catch and Chris will go into detail, and give some examples of their own experiences.   

Come early around 6:00pm for some demonstration on the lawn back of the library. Bring your rod, or use a club rod, and get some casting coaching from our members.

As always, the public is welcome. 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  

September 11 fly tying - Seaducer

KFF monthly fly tying session
Monday, September 11, 2023

6:30 pm - tying session begins
5:30 pm - casting outside, weather permitting
Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube

This month's fly is the Seaducer. Originally created as a saltwater pattern by Homer Rhodes in the 1940s, when it was called the Homer Rhodes Streamer, it was popularized and renamed the Seaducer by Chico Fernandez in the 80s. It has proven very effective on bass, pike, pickerel and many other warmwater targets, so it's not just for saltwater species.

Come and join us for tying this pattern. Or just come hang out and watch. Other than the hook, the Seaducer uses only 2 materials, making it a great fly on which to learn or practice basic skills.

So that we can better plan materials, please RSVP by clicking THIS LINK if you plan or think you might attend.

As always, all materials other than thread will be provided, and we have several sets of tools for any who do not have their own. This fly uses 140 denier thread in white, red, olive, or purple depending on your color choice of feathers. Of course, black always works.

As always, we broadcast the sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend. The livestream will be posted to the Kisatchie Fly Fishers YouTube channel. If you would like to join the Zoom but do not have the link, please email Bill Morrison.  

KFF to again participate in Cenla NHF Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day
Saturday, September 23, 2023
LDWF Woodworth Education Center
660 Robinson Rd, Woodworth, LA
8:30am to 2:00pm
Free admission!

Established by Congress in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the 4th Saturday of September.  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries celebrates NHF Day at four venues across the state, including here in Baton Rouge at Waddill.

Admission  is free. Activities including archery, fishing, target shooting, outdoor games, live animal exhibits, educational displays, and more. There's even food and soft drinks provided at no cost.   Here is a printable poster with more details for the Cenla NHF Day poster - CLICK HERE.

Kisatchie Fly Fishers will again be on hand to demonstrate fly tying and fly casting, along with hands-on teaching of tying and casting.  We also talk about fly fishing and opportunities for doing so here in Louisiana and elsewhere.   As always, we need volunteers for fly tying, fly casting.  Or to just talk fly fishing.  Volunteers get a free t-shirt (size of their choice) and a lunch ticket.  To register, click on THIS LINK. 

August 28th meeting - Poverty Point

KFF general meeting
Monday, August 28, 2023
6:30pm

Rapides Westside Library, 5416 Provine, Alexandria
Also livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube
* fly casting prior to meeting starting at 5:30pm

This month we'll have a guest speaker, Darin Lee, of the Acadiana Fly Rodders.  His presentation will focus on fishing Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. A little over 2 hours from Alexandria, this lake offers some great fishing opportunities for a wide variety of warmwater species.

Topics will include lodging on the water, boat and kayak access, good areas to fish, various types of gear and flies to use. Mike Carlin attended this presentation at an AFR meeting and describes it as useful to just about any warmwater fishing situation. Darin is an excellent speaker, instructor and fly tier.

As always, the public is welcome. 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