An opportunity to learn or improve your knowledge and skill in all aspects of fly fishing. Topics covered include:
- equipment and fishing gear and accessories

There were 40 tagged trout released into the ponds. The hatchery administrators say that roughly half the tagged fish caught ever get reported.  That means that when 20 tagged fish are harvested, we can assume that 90% (or more) of the trout have been harvested from the ponds.

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH – BREC will host the "Geaux Fish Rainbow Trout Fishing Rodeo" at:
- Greenwood Community Park, 13350 Hwy. 19 in Baker, Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, and at
- Forest Community Park, 13900 S. Harrell’s Ferry Road, Dec. 18 from 1-4 p.m.
BREC will host both fishing rodeos rain or shine.

Bring your family for a fun day of fishing with family, adult and children’s divisions. Contests include a family contest for the most fish caught, children’s contests for the largest and smallest fish, and an adult contest for the largest fish. There will also be casting contests for children and adults. BREC will award prizes for first and second place. The event is free and open to all ages.

Activities at Greenwood Community Park also include a backyard bass casting area sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 4085 of Baker, a gyotaku printing station sponsored by the Main Street Pilot Club of Baker, and a hot chocolate and apple cider refreshment station sponsored by the Rotary Club of Baker. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will also have exhibits for viewing. Prizes donated by West Marine and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Patrons at Forest Community Park may also participate in the backyard bass casting area. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.

BREC also stocked Burbank Park, 12400 Burbank Drive, and Zachary Community Park, 20055 Old Scenic Hwy., ponds with Rainbow Trout. The lakes are accessible during the daylight hours seven days a week.

This year, BREC tagged 40 Rainbow Trout in an effort to gather more information about the fishing program. The Rainbow Trout Tagging Program last year reported that fishers caught more tagged rainbow trout with corn than any other bait.

BREC encourages anglers who catch a tagged Rainbow Trout to report the tag number from the trout along with the lake location, the date and time the angler caught the trout, the trout’s length to the nearest quarter-inch, the bait used and the angler’s name and address. Tag information can be emailed to ggrandy@brec.org or mailed to BREC, BREC Conservation Department, 6201 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

In addition, BREC encourages all who catch an untagged fish to take a picture and post it to the BREC facebook page, facebook.com/brecparks, or email the picture to ggrandy@brec.org.

A basic fishing license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is required for all persons taking or possessing fish, except for those younger than 16 years of age or state residents born before June 1, 1940. Anglers must follow state law regarding fishing licenses when fishing in BREC lakes. Anglers may take home up to four (4) fish per day, but can catch and release more than four. BREC asks that only bank fishing takes place and bans trout lines.

For more information, call 225-272-9200, ext. 435 or visit brec.org.

It is the BREC mission to provide parks and recreational opportunities for all the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish.

This year, BREC tagged 40 Rainbow Trout in an effort to gather more information about the fishing program. The Rainbow Trout Tagging Program last year reported that fishers caught more tagged rainbow trout with corn than any other bait.

BREC encourages anglers who catch a tagged Rainbow Trout to report the tag number from the trout along with the lake location, the date and time the angler caught the trout, the trout's length to the nearest quarter-inch, the bait used and the angler's name and address. Tag information can be emailed to ggrandy@brec.org or mailed to BREC, BREC Conservation Department, 6201 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

In addition, BREC encourages all who catch an untagged fish to take a picture and post it to the BREC facebook page, facebook.com/brecparks, or email the picture to ggrandy@brec.org.

A basic fishing license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is required for all persons taking or possessing fish, except for those younger than 16 years of age or state residents born before June 1, 1940. Anglers must follow state law regarding fishing licenses when fishing in BREC lakes. Anglers may take home up to four fish per day, but can catch and release more than four. BREC asks that only bank fishing takes place and bans trout lines.

Meats:
Joe Kahler            Pork shoulder roast done on the Old Smokey
Roger del Rio       4 links smoked pig sausage
Frank Genusa       Chicken Pot Pie

Veggies:
Jeff Denig            Mac & Cheese           
Bill Myrick            Glazed carrots
Ron Braud            Green bean casserole 
Glen Cormier       Veggie tray

Breads:
Dan Weber          Homemade bread, cream cheese, and pepper jelly

Desserts:
Sheldon Anderson           Cake
Emmitt Simmons             Pecan Pie
Emelise Cormier              Pie or Cake
Pete & Linda Bongiovanni  Dessert dish

Drinks, utensils, ice, etc:
Dugan Sabins       Plates utensils, paper towels
Rodney Ramsey    Drinks, ice
   
If anyone else wishes to add their contribution, please email me and I will add it to the list.

And to those members who can't make the December meeting, may You and Yours have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh, and Happy New Years!

The dates this year are January 13 thru 16.  I have two luxury cabins reserved for a group of 12.

The following people have committed:

Kirk and Paul Loup
Mark Pinsel
Jack Lithgoe
Dan Weber
Wade Cantrell
Jack Dial
Hogy Notzel
Emmitt Simmons
Bill Brown

Anyone else interested please contact me  jdial213@aol.com

I absolutely must know by December the 10th if you plan to back out. Of course, severe emergencies are understood. I can't cancel the reservations after the 10th without loosing our deposit.

Tight lines, Jack Dial

Map of facility

Activity room windows overlook lake

Back of building with piers and "boat dock" with kayak/canoe rental

Breezeway on front of facility

This is the cafe on the west side of the building, where they'll serve burgers, sandwiches, etc.. Next to the golf pro shop.  The activity room is on the east side of the building.

The Activity Room was closed but I was told 3,000 square feet.

As I modify and add to the document I'll edit my post to provide the new download link and provide a brief description of the changes made.

It is a free download.

-----------------------------

Painting Stippled Poppers:

Revision Date: March 16, 2010

Updated some images and added detailed images of the painting of two different poppers

Revision Date: October 1, 2011

Reformated the document and many many other textual and image changes.  Document is
now in three parts to simplify my file management.

Revision Date: October 2, 2011

Based on a suggestion on another board I looked for and found software to combine the
three parts into one.

The site changes from time to time.  If the button on the image below doesn't show up
on the first screen the link brings you to, choose the Regular Download button.
AND you may need to scroll down to see the Regular Download Button:

The SendSpace Button for downloading the document will look like this. You may also have
to scroll down to see it:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/y3sq1p

CCA STAR Fly Fishing Division - Bonus Drawing

Special thanks to laflyfish.com and Temple Fork Outfitters

"You really need live bait to catch big specks in late summer". 

How many times have we heard that?  For flyfishermen, those are discouraging words.  Especially when trying to catch a speckled trout to enter in the CCA Louisiana STAR rodeo during the last half of the tournament, which ends on Labor Day.  For fly anglers who haven't yet registered, some wonder if it's worth the effort. 



Well, Louisiana Fly Fishing (www.laflyfish.com) and Temple Fork Outfitters are teaming with CCA Louisiana to beat the late summer speckled trout challenges by giving everyone who enters a Fly Fish Division eligible fish a chance to be a winner! 

Effective immediately, any CCA Louisiana STAR-registered angler weighing in an eligible speckled trout, at an official weigh station, and taken in accordance with the rules of the CCA Louisiana STAR Fly Fish Division, will have their name placed in the "Fly Fishing Division Bonus Drawing". 

At the end of the contest, a name will be drawn from the entries and the winner will receive a Temple Fork Outfitters BVK fly rod valued at $250.     



Any speckled trout eligible by rules of the STAR Fly Division qualifies for the drawing.  It doesn't need to make the leaderboard. There will be only one prize for combined entries in the East and West divisions. Anglers who have previously registered trout in the Fly Division will have their names added to the drawing.  Any qualified entrant will be eligible for the TFO rod, with the exception being the winners of the Fly Fish East and West Divisions. This is because those winners will receive a substantial Cabela’s gift card, that can be used in part, to buy their own TFO BVK rod! 



To better help flycasters get their names in the drawing, laflyfish.com will be initiating a new forum dedicated to tips and techniques for catching larger speckled trout on the fly. During the remainder of the 2011 STAR tournament, we'll be sharing any success anglers have with fellow competitors.  After all, it's not about beating each other, it's about beating perception. 

Help us just say "Neaux" to live bait!

ABOUT THE TFO BVK ROD:  New for 2011. Lefty Kreh and Flip Pallot have joined forces to create a new series of ultra-lightweight fast-action fly rods that offer amazing performance and value for under $300. BVK utilizes new materials that dramatically reduce weight while creating an aggressive blend of power and strength, designed to excel in presentation and distance. They feature rich translucent Olive colored blanks, braided carbon fiber reelseats, REC Recoil stripping guides, ultra-lightweight chromium-impregnated stainless-steel snake guides and flor grade grips. For more information, go to www.templeforkflyrods.com.

Directions -- Blue Dolphin Inn is about 2 miles onto the island on the gulf side. The Blue Dolphin cottages are about 100 yards further on the inland side. The office for the Blue Dolphin is at the Inn. Blue Dolphin will have a copy of the room assignments in case anyone forgets. Check-in time is 12 to 1PM on Friday and check-out time is 12 to 1 PM on Sunday at Blue Dolphin.

Towels - While it is not required, you may want to bring your own shower towels and wash cloths. You definitely want to bring your own beach towel.

Fishing License - Be sure to bring your fishing basic + saltwater licenses.  If you don't have one, you can renew now and it's good from today thru June, 2012.

Disinfectant Soap/ Mild solution of chlorox -- This is vital if you happen to get a cut while in the surf. The soap cleans the wound and reduces the possibility of infection from the Vibrio vulnificus bacterium. A mild solution of chlorox and water in a small bottle is also recommended. Check out the web for more info on this bacterium.

General items:
- fly rod, suggested 6wt - 8wt, bring at least 2
- fly reels, saltwater proof
- leader material, recommended tippet 10-12 lbs, fluorocarbon for clear water spots 
- sink tip connector or intermediate line (if fishing deeper holes)
- speck flies: clousers, pencil poppers or skipping bugs, gurglers, baitfish patterns
- redfish flies: spoonflies, charlies, seaducers, tarpon flies, small poppers
- hat:  preferably quick-dry long-brimmed or wide-brimmed with strap
- shirts, shorts or pants that quick-dry (nylon or polyester)
- sunglasses, polarized 
- sunscreen, suggest minimum 30 SPF waterproof
- bug deet or Amber Romance or Swamp Swatter
- water shoes  (wading booties, pool shoes, clogs)
- ice chest
- beach towels (to dry off and cover seats)
- filet knife and knife glove
- gallon zip lock bags to put your filets in
- Gatorade, Powerade, bottled water to avoid dehydration
- fishing maps
- fishing license
- fish keeper: stringer susceptible to sharks, floating ring basket much better, floating ice chest best
- clothes (non-fishing)

Boat or canoe or kayak items:
- life preservers
- paddles
- seat
- anchor or Cajun anchor
- trolling motor / mount 
- battery / battery charger
- net
- fish stringer or fish bag or kayak-size ice chest
- lip gripper and/or fish pliers
- dry storage: dry bag or Pelican box or watertight box

Comfort items:
- lawn chair or portable chair    (BYOC)
- drinks / ice chest for drinks    (BYOD)
- fishing glove or tape (to protect stripping finger)
- fish towel
- camera 
- medical / health: bandages, aspirin, antiseptic. First aid kit helpful. 
- GMRS / FRS radios (channel 7 is the code)
- fly tying bag (bring only what you need)
- extra cash or check to buy shrimp to take home (some places don't accept credit cards)

Cooking items - provided by RSFF:
- fish fry, flour, corn meal   
- salt, pepper, favorite coating (milk, mustard, etc)
- oil (canola, corn)
- propane tanks provided by BDI
- batter bowl or mixer
- bowls / aluminum pans
- paper plates
- funnel (to capture grease after use)

Cooking items - Cooks provide:             
- pot
- burner / propane / lighter
- skimmer
- temperature gauge
- detergent / scrub pad
- portable table (optional)

For April, fellow RSFF member Jerome "Zee" Zeringue will discuss ongoing activities of Louisiana coastal restoration.  Zee is Deputy Director of the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration (OCPR).   In addition, Zee will talk about fly fishing activities in the Terrebonne waters.

For our May program, we are delighted to bring back one of our favorite speakers, Jerald Horst. Jerald is a retired fisheries biologist and popular outdoor writer. He writes articles and columns for Louisiana Sportsman and other magazines, is co-author of several popular books, including "Angler's Guide to Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico" (with Mike Lane),  and the "Seafood Bible" series ("Crawfish", "Shrimp", "Crab" with his wife Glenda) which contain the biology, history of the fishery, and of course, great recipes. He is also author of "Trout Masters" which taps into the secrets used by expert trout anglers to catch monster specks.

Named the 1997 Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Horst has also published articles for the Coastal Ecology Institute, the Coastal Fisheries Institute, the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, and Lagniappe Fisheries Newsletter.

Come on out and say "Hi" to Jerald and enjoy some of his interesting stories and books.

We will gather at Walk-Ons to enjoy boiled crawfish (3-4 lbs each) with potatos and corn. 

You pay for your own drinks.

The club will pick up tax and gratuity.

IF YOU PLAN TO COME, send email to catch@laflyfish.com titled "RSFF Crawfish". 

Deadline is May 12.  Pay to the club.  See the May newsletter for more details.

IF YOUR NAME IS LISTED IN THE NEXT POST BELOW - I have received an email that you are coming.  Please correct me if your name is missing.  Thanks.

From Randy Leonpacher:

Mark your calendar, the Spring Saltwater Catch & Eat is on target for the weekend of May 21st.  None have argued with our SOP, so back we go. Meaning we are headed back to what's known as the "Highway 1 Corridor". It’s the stretch of marsh between and including Galliano and Grand Isle.

In case you're a newcomer to the Saltwater C&E event format, everyone attending is responsible for making their own hotel reservations (or other accommodations) at their favorite place of stay. Folks are encouraged to solidify these plans ASAP since rooms sometimes have a tendency to book up as fishing improves and my guess would be that this is going to happen.

The approach is for bank fisherman, puddlers or boat fishermen, to partner up with others fishing by the same methodology. This format allows for those who've been-there-and-and-done-that to share secrets with those who haven't.

A high point of the C&E event (in addition to the great fishing) is the usual fish fry on Saturday afternoon / evening. It's the gathering to share the fresh-caught-and-cooked seafood, and tell fish stories that marked the day. Timing for the fish fry will be somewhere between late afternoon and early evening, and immediately following the fish cleaning. If history repeats itself, “feasters” can expect a few jumbo shrimp to spice up the fry. The fresh-caught seafood-fry is certainly something that you won't want to miss. I cannot recall anyone every going away hungry from a C&E fish fry.

The location of the C&E fish fry will be based on which site has the most attendance and on consensus of those attending the event. This will be published as the date approaches and as reservations begin to solidify. My guess is that the location will most likely be Boudreaux’s Condeauxs, as usual.

A C&E email list is circulating and a sign-up list will be available at the upcoming meeting for those not receiving the email. This list is not a commitment list. It simply will be used for keeping interested parties informed - who's attending, where they will be staying, what days the plan to fish, etc. Please put your name on the list (or send me an email) even if you think you might be interested in attending or knowing about the upcoming 2010 Spring Saltwater C&E.  At last count the “planning to attend” list included 18 named participants.

One more item, the full moon occurs 4 days before the weekend. The Caminada Pass tides look to be pretty good with highs at about 1 ft 3 inches on Friday, down to about 1 ft on Sunday. High tide occurs just after lunch time; low time around midnight. Weather-wise, who knows? I’m still searching for the calendar that shows future barometric pressures.

One more item, bring an extra ice chest. I was told by Seafood Shed that this is the time of year is when shrimp are at their lowest price.