RSFF July Activities

A new month is upon us.  Here’s a look ahead at what Red Stick Fly Fishers has on the docket for July.

RSFF General Meeting
Monday, July 8th, 7:00pm
Where: LDWF Headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA
Topic: Tenkara fishing with Dustin Flint

Join us as RSFF Member, Dustin Flint, will be sharing his experience with Tenkara rods.  A 400-year old japanese style of fly fishing, Tenkara has grown in popularity among American anglers in recent years as a means of targeting trout, warmwater and, even, saltwater species of gamefish.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn more about this unique style of angling.

**For those unable to attend in person, be on the lookout for a link to the virtual meeting as the date approaches**

RSFF Casting Clinic x  Sack Up for Clean Water
Saturday, July 13th, 8:00 am - til
Where: Bayou Manchac Park (19010 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge)

Join RSFF Casting Chair, Felipe Martinez, and RSFF Conservation Chair, Robinson Almeida, as they lead the RSFF crew through a morning of casting and conservation at BREC’s Bayou Manchac Park.  The park boasts a brand new kayak launch, so consider bringing along your canoe, kayak or pirogue if you have one.

"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.” -Conservation Chair, Robinson Almeida

Volunteer Sign-up form

July Flies & Flights
Wednesday, July 17th, 6:30pm
Where: Rally Cap Brewing (11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA)
Featured Pattern: TBD

Join us at Rally Cap Brewing on Wednesday, July 17th, for this month’s brewery night.  We haven’t settled on a featured pattern as of yet, but keep an eye out for updates as the date approaches.

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!

Keep an eye out for a follow up email with more details.

**Tools, vises and materials available for those looking to learn**

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, July 22nd, 7:00 pm
Where: Orvis Baton Rouge, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge LA
Featured Pattern: Clouser’s Swimming Nymph

Join us Monday, July 22nd, as RSFF Communications Chair, Chris Williams, ties up one of his favorite warmwater patterns.  Originally designed to target smallmouth bass on Clouser’s home waters (the Susquehanna River), the pattern has proven effective on a wide variety of warmwater species ranging including common and grass carp.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how to tie this simple, yet deadly, patterns!  Tools, vises and materials available for those looking to learn.

June 2024 Casting Clinic recap

From the desk of RSFF Casting Chair, Felipe Martinez:

“We had a small group show up yesterday to cast (Mike, Pete and I). We had a surprise visit from Jeff Ferguson who worked with us on distance casting. It was a terrific time. Probably learned more about casting, rod dynamics and lines in one morning than I had in 40 years.”

Thanks for the update, Felipe!  Reminder that our casting clinics are open to the public, beginning, intermediate, or advanced casters can all improve their skills.  Keep an eye on the website for the next casting clinic date.

Brian

RSFF June Activities

A new month is upon us.  Here’s a look ahead at what Red Stick Fly Fishers has on the docket for June.

RSFF Casting Clinic
Saturday, June 8th, 8:30 am - 10:30am
Where: Kenilworth BREC Park

Join RSFF Casting Chair, Felipe Martinez, for a morning of casting at Kenilworth Park.  This month’s event will focus on distance casting, so come prepared to work on that double haul!

RSFF General Meeting

Monday, June 10th, 7:00pm
Where: LDWF Headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA
Topic: Jambalaya Challenge Update

Join us as RSFF President, Brian Roberts, provides us with a mid-year update on the 2024 Jambalaya Challenge.  With over 230 records submitted to date, there’s going to be plenty to talk about!!

**For those unable to attend in person, be on the lookout for a link to the virtual meeting as the date approaches**

June Flies & Flights
Wednesday, June 19th, 6:30pm
Where: Rally Cap Brewing (11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA)
Featured Pattern: TBD

Join us at Rally Cap Brewing on Wednesday, April 17th, for this month’s brewery night.  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!

Keep an eye out for a follow up email with more details.

**Tools, vises and materials available for those looking to learn**

RSFF Sack Up for Clean Water
Saturday, June 22nd, 8:00am until
Where: Black Water Conservation Area , 9385 Blackwater Rd, Baker, LA

Join Conservation Chair, Robinson Almeida, and the rest of the RSFF gang as we head to the Blackwater Conservation Area for a morning of waterway cleanup and fly fishing.  With multiple ponds and access to the Comite River, there should be plenty of opportunities to wet a line along the way.

"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.” -Conservation Chair, Robinson Almeida

Volunteer Sign-up form

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, June 24th, 7:00pm
Where: Orvis Baton Rouge, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge LA
Featured Patterns: Fun with Foam! (The Triangle Bug & Ol’ Mr. Wiggly)

This month RSFF Tying Chair, David Rogers, will be walking us through a pair of foam attractor patterns perfect for summer fishing.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stock your box with some quick and effective summer patterns for bass and panfish.

May 28th fly tying - Expo Cicada

RSFF monthly fly tying
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 *

7:00 pm
Orvis Perkins-Rowe
7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA

With this Spring's Brood XiX Cicada emergence still in occurence, we've decided to postpone tying the Murdich Minnow until later this summer.  Instead, Brian Roberts will walk us through tying the Expo Cicada.  

Created by Colorado fly tier Marty Staab, the Expo Cicada is a great imitator of both annual and periodic cicadas. The crew plans to tie up the pattern in two colors, green (annual) and black/orange (periodic).

* Please note: due to the Memorial Day holiday, this month’s fly tying has been moved to Tuesday the 28th.

Our fly tying sessions are open to the public, and beginners are welcome. Bring your vise and tools, or just watch. For those without tying tools, the club has some for use during these sessions. 

May 13th meeting - Summertime in the Louisiana Marsh

RSFF monthly general meeting
Monday, May 13, 2024

7:00 pm
LDWF Headquarters
2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

This month, we have guest speaker Connor Voss.  Connor is a saltwater fishing guide who is also two-time winner of "The Sheepy" a prestigious fly fishing sheepshead tournament held each Spring out of Hopedale.  He will share his secrets for successful marsh fishing trips during the hotter months of the year, including his specialty - the sheepshead.  Much of this info may come in handy with the Spring Catch-and-Eat coming up in a few weeks.

As always, meetings are open to the public. For RSFF members unable to attend in person, we broadcast the meeting on Zoom. Be on the lookout for the virtual meeting link in your email.

April Flies & Flights

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, April 17th
7pm - 9pm
Rally Cap Brewing (11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge)

Join us at Rally Cap Brewing as Brian Roberts will demo some of the finer points of tying soft hackle flies. These are great for many sunfish species around the Baton Rouge area, either for the RSFF Jambalaya Challenge or the FFI Gulf Coast Council "Suncatch Challenge". All are invited! As always, tools, vises and materials are available for those looking to learn.

As mentioned last month, Rally Cap's new pizza oven is officially up and running. In addition to pizza, Kevin and the crew have a full menu available including calzones and subs. So be sure to come hungry and help support our friends at Rally Cap.

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!

April 11th meeting - Dave Zielinski

RSFF monthly general meeting
Monday, April 11, 2024

7:00 pm
LDWF Headquarters
2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

This month, we have a very special guest that will be joining us remotely. Dave Zielinski is owner of Down Home Boatworks, and is author of "Cicada Madness" subtitled "Timing, Fishing Techniques, and Patterns for Cracking the Code of Epic Cicada Emergences". It's the first book every dedicated to fly fishing using patterns based on this group of insects.

Cicadas are large, loud insects that spend their nymphal stages underground until they crawl out, climb a tree trunk, and emerge as winged insects. The adult insects emerge on a 1-year (annual) and 13- or 17-year (periodical) cadence. Yearly emergences are consistent and plentiful in certain places and are a dependable “hatch.”

But in years - like 2024 - when periodical cicadas emerge in certain places, their numbers can be staggering. Even species that don't normally feed on these insects will do so out of sheer abundance of bugs hitting the water. Dave will give insight on where to find these large hatches, which imitations work best, and what techniques to use.

Members in attendance will be able to ask Dave questions. Come and learn about a very rare opportunity this current year offers for great dry fly fishing on many streams and lakes!

As always, meetings are open to the public.

March 25th tying - Carp Flies

RSFF monthly fly tying
Monday, March 25, 2024
7:00 pm
Orvis Perkins-Rowe
7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA

Featured Patterns: Admiral Ackbar, The Hammerhead

Join us as David Rogers leads us through two unique and effective Carp Patterns, the Admiral Akbar (created by Jean-Paul Lipton) and The Hammerhead (created by Ian Anderson).  With warmer weather and The Dirty Carp tournament approaching, this is a great opportunity to begin stocking up flies for one of the most overlooked and challenging freshwater species our region offers.

Our fly tying sessions are open to the public, and beginners are welcome. Bring your vise and tools, or just watch. For those without tying tools, the club has some for use during these sessions.