Sunday, January 4, 2026

January 2026 activities

Here’s a look ahead at what the RSFF crew has in store for the first month of 2026.

RSFF Casting Clinic
Saturday, January 10th

9:00 am - till
Perkins Road Community Park
7122 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA

Interested in improving your casting before that next big trip?  Join the RSFF gang for this month’s RSFF Casting Clinic at Perkins Road Community Park led by RSFF Casting Chair, Felipe Martinez.  The clinic begins Saturday, January 10th at 9:00 AM and is a great opportunity to learn some basics or bring you casting game to the next level.

With easy access to the Perkins Road Park pond and nearby Dawson Creek, you’ll even have the opportunity to wet a line once you have your casting stroke down!

RSFF General Meeting
Monday, January 12th

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA
Topic: Fly Fishing Tips & Tricks with Phil Monahan

This month’s speaker is Editor-in-Chief of MidCurrent, Phil Monahan.  A former guide, Phil’s fly fishing resume boasts more than a decade as Editor-in-Chief at American Angler as well as a 15 year stretch overseeing the Orvis Fly Fishing blog.  

Phil is also the author of the recently released book,  The Orvis Quick-Start Guide to Fly Fishing.  Phil’s talk will touch on his new book as well as some additional tips and tricks he’s picked up during a career in fly fishing.

Remote viewing information: For those wishing to attend remotely, a separate email will be sent the morning of meeting with log-in instructions.

Meet & Greet with The Fly Hair Co
Saturday, January 17th

12pm - 5pm
No Wake Outfitters, 1926 Airline Dr, Metairie, LA

No Wake Outfitters and the FFI Gulf Coast Council will be hosting a special event on Saturday, January 17th featuring Jeff Preddy, owner of The Fly Hair Company.  Jeff will be displaying his fly-tying materials and will be presenting on all things fly-tying fur related, from procurement to curing to application.  He will also be demonstrating some fly patterns using his materials.

Fly Hair Co. has quickly gained a reputation among some of the nations top tiers as a source for premium materials.  Jeff has been a sponsor and exhibitor for the Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival, and will be returning for this year’s Classic May 1st and 2nd at Gulf shores.

This will be an opportunity for you to see – and purchase – some really unique and top-quality natural fly-tying materials. Jeff will be offering a 20% discount on any materials purchased at the festival as well as online through January 24th.

There will be a food vendor onsite as well as beverages.

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, January 21st

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rally Cap Brewing
11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA
Featured Pattern: TBD

While we haven’t settled on a featured pattern as of yet, you can be sure the beer will be cold, pizza will be hot and delicious, and plenty of fish stories will be shared.  As always, we’ll have materials on hand for anyone interested in participating.

Everyone is welcome! Come enjoy some great brews, subs, and/or pizza at Rally Cap. We’ll have tools, vises, and materials available, so don’t hesitate to join us if you’re looking to learn!

F&F is an independent collective of tiers just looking to tie and enjoy a social gathering with some fine brews. While not affiliated with Red Stick, it was hatched by a few club members as an alternative to a traditional meeting environment. Everyone is welcome!

Sack Up for Clean Water x BREC
Saturday, January 24th

9:00am - 12 noon
Monte Sano Park 
2727 Greenwell St, Baton Rouge, LA

Join RSFF Conservation Chair, Robinson Almeida, and the #SackUp crew on Saturday, January 24th as we put out support behind BREC’s Tire Stack Attack at Monte Sano Park.  An effort to remediate the site of illegal tire dumping in the park, this event not only gives you the opportunity to help clean up Baton Rouge, but also provides a chance to fish beautiful Monte Sano Bayou.

All participants must register with BREC no later than January 18th, so be sure to click the link below if you’re interested in participating.

More details about the event can be found at:   BREC’s Tire Stack Attack

Cenla Fly Fishing Festival
Saturday, January 24th

8:30am - 4pm
Kees Park Civic Center
2450 Hwy 28 E, Pineville, LA

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, this event is focused on instruction, education, and community.  

The Cenla Fest features over two dozen of the region's top fly tiers, expert seminars, and casting sessions from FFI Certified Casting Instructors.  Special guest is renown Arkansas guide and professional fly tier Keith Reeves.  A jambalaya lunch is available for a nominal fee.  There's also a giant raffle and gamblers draw with most of the net proceeds going to the Greater Food Bank of Central Louisiana.  

For more details, go to www.kisatchiefly.org.

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, January 26th

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library 
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA
Featured Patterns: Rainbow Warrior

Join us Monday, January 26th, as RSFF Fly Tying Chair, David Rogers, introduces the group to the Rainbow Warrior.  A flashy, high-confidence nymph, the Rainbow Warrior imitates a wide range of aquatic insects. Its hot spot, iridescent body, and slim profile grab attention in fast or pressured water, making it a go-to pattern when fish need a little extra trigger.  

Whether you’re chasing Rainbow Trout in the BREC ponds or prepping to make a run at the GCC Suncatch Challenge in 2026, the Rainbow Warrior is a great addition to your nymph box.

As usual, beginners and guests are welcome!  Tools, vises and materials are available for use during this session for those looking to learn. 

... and coming soon!

31st annual Red Stick Day fly fishing festival
Saturday, March 7th

Waddill Outdoors Education Center
4142 N. Flannery Rd,  Baton Rouge, LA

Details to be posted on our RED STICK DAY page.  Check back often!

Friday, January 2, 2026

A New Year, and new contests

Happy New Year! And with the start of 2026 means the start of our clubs annual Jambalaya Challenge. And new for this year, the Big Stick Contest! The website rules and entry forms are all updated and ready for your entries! Click on the menu above for details.

One species that all members should be targeting rignt now is rainbeaux trout. While nearly half of the fish that BREC stocked before Christmas have been harvested (based on tagged results), there's still plenty of trout left. The hot flies have been beadhead nymphs with rubber legs like the RL Hares Ear and the Rio Bandito, as well as minnow patterns like the old reliable Woolybugger in either black or olive. 

If you're on Facebook, remember to share your catches on the Red Stick Fly Fishers group page.

Friday, December 19, 2025

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed Christmas! This year, let's remember the reason for the season.  Please be generous to those in need, and pray for those in suffering or distress, and for those away from their families this season - especially our service men and women.

We spoke to Santa and he said he's seen some of our fish photos and many of us are getting rulers for Christmas. Okay, so we exaggerate on our fish sizes. But those rulers will come in handy for the new Big Stick Contest starting January 1st. 

Details on the Big Stick Contest have been posted, and before New Year's we'll post details on the 2026 Jambalaya Challenge. 

Monday, December 1, 2025

December 2025 activities

RSFF Annual Christmas Banquet
Monday, December 8th

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Our annual RSFF Christmas Gathering will be Monday, December 8th, at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in the Adult Education Building. Bring your spouse or special person.

Volunteers are needed for room set up at 6:30 pm. The banquet will start at 7:00 pm. RSFF will furnish table cloths, silverware, napkins, cups, ice and water. The meat dishes are covered thanks to Dan Weber and Joe Conachen. Dan will also be providing bread. Members are welcomed to bring a hot or cold dish to share - salads, vegetables and desserts are needed. 

We'll also announce the awards for our annual Jambalaya Challenge during dinner. Plan to attend and enjoy the food and fellowship.

Flies & Flights 
3rd Annual Holiday Box Swap
Wednesday, December 17th

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rally Cap Brewing
11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s time for our 3rd Annual Flies & Flights Holiday Box Swap! The swap is open to tyers of all skill levels and is a great opportunity to share some of your favorite patterns with other group members.

Last year’s Swap drew 20 participants from RSFF & NOFFC and included boxes containing everything from panfish and trout flies to articulated streamers, marsh patterns, and deer hair bass bugs.

Click here to see some of last year’s highlights

All you need to do to participate is:

  1. Purchase a New Fly Box (great chance to support our local Fly Shops!)
  2. Tie up a batch of your favorite patterns (i.e. minimum of 12 panfish flies or 6 saltwater patterns for example)
  3. Wrap your Flies & Box in Christmas wrap and bring it to  F&F on 12/18.
  4. Once everyone has added their wrapped box to the pile, we'll draw straws and open as a White Elephant style gift exchange

Come enjoy some great brews, subs, and/or pizza at Rally Cap. While we don’t have a featured pattern for this month, we’ll have tools, vises, and materials available for anyone interested in learning. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

F&F is an independent collective of tiers just looking to tie and enjoy a social gathering with some fine brews. While not affiliated with Red Stick, it was hatched by a few club members as an alternative to a traditional meeting environment. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

November 2025 activities

RSFF “Fall Fling” Casting Event
Saturday, November 8th

8:00 am - mid-afternoon
Perkins Road Community Park
7122 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA

Be sure to join the RSFF crew for a special Casting Clinic at Perkins Road Community Park on Saturday, November 8th.  

Dubbed the “Fall Fling”, the event will feature FFI Casting Instructors ready to help you up your fly casting game.  There will be beginner casting topics as well as topics on improving distance and accuracy.

Food and drinks will be provided. Join us at the pavilion near the pond.

RSFF General Meeting
Monday, November 10th

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA

There will be no guest speaker at the November meeting, as we will be having a business meeting to hold the board member elections for 2026, as well as begin our formal planning for our annual Red Stick Day, which will be held at Waddill Wildlife Refuge on Saturday March 7, 2026.

Reminder that when you arrive at the Bluebonnet Library, please enter through the main entrance, the club will have signs up directing you where to go.

For those wishing to attend remotely, a separate email will be sent the morning of meeting with log-in instructions.
 

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, November 19th

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rally Cap Brewing
11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA
Featured Pattern: TBD

While we haven’t settled on a featured pattern as of yet, you can be sure the beer will be cold, pizza will be hot and delicious, and plenty of fish stories will be shared.  As always, we’ll have materials on hand for anyone interested in participating.

Everyone is welcome! Come enjoy some great brews, subs, and/or pizza at Rally Cap. We’ll have tools, vises, and materials available, so don’t hesitate to join us if you’re looking to learn!

F&F is an independent collective of tiers just looking to tie and enjoy a social gathering with some fine brews. While not affiliated with Red Stick, it was hatched by a few club members as an alternative to a traditional meeting environment. Everyone is welcome!

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, November 24th

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library  
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA
Featured Patterns: Rougarou Fly

Join us November 24th as Dirk Burton teaches how to tie his Rougarou Fly. This pattern was developed to entice various panfish species among cypress stumps and weed lines. Cast it out, let it sink a bit, then twitch it forward. The rubber legs, hackle and woven body pattern make it irresistible!

As usual, beginners and guests are welcome!  Tools, vises and materials are available for use during this session for those looking to learn. 

RSFF Sack Up for Clean Water
When: TBD
Where: TBD

Still waiting on details for this month’s Sack Up event.  Expect a separate email with that info once it’s available.

"Our love of fly fishing is not just about uncovering amazing locations; it’s also about taking responsibility for our environment. As our consumption increase so does the litter that finds its way onto our streets, into our infrastructure, ending in our waterways. RSFF is committed to educating and advocating for responsible practices to keep all of our favorite spots pristine.” 
- Robinson Almeida, Conservation Chair

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Jambalaya Challenge enters final month!

Southern Flounder caught by 
Mike McGhee on a Matty Ice at PAC
Our annual Jambalaya Challenge isn't a cooking contest, but a fishing contest. But like a good jambalaya which has many diverse ingredients, the goal of this contest is to catch as many diverse species as possible on fly rod. Click on "Jambalaya Challenge" menu above for complete details.

We're now into the final month of the 2025 Challenge, and the entries have been pouring in. If you haven't entered a species yet, don't fret that you're way behind in the standings. Every entry gets a ticket into the Consolation Drawing.  For example, enter 4 species in the Challenge and you get 4 tickets in the drawing. More entries = greater chances to win!
 
The contest ends November 30th, so there's plenty of time to add entries.

Here are the current standings in the ADULT Division:

Brad Dunne  -32
Brian Roberts -32
Ben Roussel  -23
Chris Williams -19
Carlos Adams  -18
Murray Neames -18

Redspotted sunfish caught by Mike Myers
 on a Concordia Special
Also:  Stephen Wolf -15, David Rogers -13, Joe Conachen -13, Sydney Dobson -13, Mike McGhee -11, Mike Myers -9, Cole Miller -7, Duane McMullin -6, Emmitt Simmons -6, Randy Leonpacher -6, Felipe Martinez -5, Glen Cormier -3, Kevin Andry -3, Skeeter Dixon -3, Will Rolfe -3, Joe Tudor -1

In the YOUTH Division, Noah Roussel leads with 1 species.

Remember: the Jambalaya Challenge is as much an educational tool as it is a contest. The spreadsheet database - which is available online - let's fellow members know what species can be caught where and what times of year, and on what flies. So get busy and get those entries in!