Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Rainbeaux trout have arrived!

Every year around Christmas, BREC does their annual stocking of rainbow trout in select ponds throughout East Baton Rouge Parish.  Last week, the trout arrived!  Stockings took place at Burbank, Perkins, Forest Park and Zachary Community Park.  Also new for this year, Ascension Parish has stocked their pond at Lamar-Dixon.

The best flies have been black or olive woolybuggers in sizes 10 and 12.  But once the trout get acclimated to the natural food items, a wide selection of flies will work, including parachute adams and black gnats.  Already the trout at Perkins Pond seem to be acclimating, as a good number have been caught-and-released on parachute adams sizes 14 and 16, mostly in the afternoon.

Rainbeaux trout are a coldwater species that can't survive our summer heat.  However, they provide terrific action - with lots of leaps - on winter days when native species are dormant.  As always, we recommend releasing these fish for now, and keeping them starting in February.  These trout can survive until late March or early April.  The more fish released now, the longer we can enjoy rainbeaux trout! 

Friday, December 20, 2013

2014 Calendar updated

There's lots of activities happening again in 2014.  We've already set the dates for most of our activities, and updated them on our CALENDAR page.  Also, other clubs and groups have set their dates thru summer, and those dates are also on our Calendar.  Here's a few Red Stickers might be most interested in:

- Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Fest (Houston, Feb 1)
- RSFF Fly Fishing 101  (Feb 8)
- Little Mo Fly Fishing Fest (Murfreesboro, Feb 14-16)
- Red Stick Day (Mar 8)
- Acadiana Conclave (Lafayette, Mar 15)
- RSFF March Brown trip (Murfreesboro, Mar 22)
- RSFF Spring Concordia weekend (Apr 11-13)
- Paddlepalooza (Apr 11-12)
- Natchitoches Fishing Expo (May 3)
- RSFF Spring Catch-n-Eat (May 16-17)
- Grand Isle Weekend (June 27-29)

And many others not on this list.  Check the Calendar for updates.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

December 16 Fly Tying at Orvis - Alex Beane

For December, the fly tying session is moved up a week to the 3rd Monday (due to the holidays).  The session will take place Monday, December 16, at the Orvis Company Store in Perkins-Rowe in Baton Rouge.  Time is 7:00pm.  The public is invited, and beginner tiers are welcome.  

Our featured tier will be Alex Beane, manager of the Orvis store. Alex started fly fishing at the age of 11 in upstate New York and never looked back. He spent nearly a decade managing a fly shop in Colorado and guiding there, then moved to Baton Rouge and worked for Backpacker.  He's a highly respected fly tier and an avid kayak angler.  We are blessed to have Alex as part of our club, and community!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Monday, December 9 meeting - Christmas banquet, Elections

The next meeting of the Red Stick Fly Fishers will be on Monday, December 9, at the LDWF building on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. Time is 7:00pm - 9:00pm.

The December meeting is our annual Christmas Banquet and BOD elections for 2014.  In keeping with club tradition, this is a pot luck event - everyone is encouraged to bring a dish or supplement.  You may bring anything you like, but please inform Greg Brignac of your intentions by sending him an email. 
For example, we certainly would welcome two members bringing turkey.  But we would like to avoid having everyone bring meat and no veggies and no desserts.  Please check the Red Stick Fly Fishers FORUM on warmfly.com for a list of committed items.  That should help your decision.

Also, in lieu of real food, snacks and soft drinks will suffice. 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Nominations for 2014 Board of Directors

Members interested in holding one of the 11 positions on the BOD should contact Greg Brignac with your interest.  Positions include: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Fly Tying, Education, Events, Warmwater, Coldwater, Saltwater, Membership.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

November 2013 Program - Fly Casting with Roger Del Rio

The November 11th RSFF program will present a unique fly casting training event for attending members and visitors thanks to our own Roger del Rio. Roger was one of the first RSFF members who showed me the casting ropes so I know personally that he is an excellent casting instructor. He is an IFFF Certified Casting Instructor and has given instruction at a variety of events for the RSFF including Hunting and Fishing Day, Fly Fishing 101, and the Red Stick Day Conclave.

For the November RSFF program event, Roger will introduce us to the Orvis casting/teaching tool uniquely designed for indoor use.  Roger will give an introduction for all meeting attendees to the Orvis teaching tool and discuss some casting pointers that the tool can help improve in everyone's casting.  Following this, Roger will open the program up to anyone who wants to try out the Orvis casting and teaching tool to help improve their casting.  Roger has said that the Orvis tool is a good way to both get started in fly casting and for the more experienced casters to correct errors and improve their casting stroke. For the program, we will move to the back of the room and clear some chairs so we have a straight corridor to do some indoor casting.  So if you need some help on your fly casting technique or just want to see what is new in fly casting instruction, you won't want to miss Roger del Rio's program.

--Dugan Sabins, RSFF Education Chair

Monday, October 14, 2013

2013 Fall Catch-n-Eat Marsh Outing Nov 8-10

by Randy Leonpacher, Saltwater Chair 

Once again it's time to begin getting your plans together for the RSFF Fall Saltwater Catch & Eat. Traditionally this trip has been the #1 trip of the year in terms of fish caught.

Most veteran members know the format.  For the new folks, fishing takes place along Highway 1 from Galliano south to Grand Isle.   Find a partner(s) then group with others who fish by your style - boat, off-road, puddle craft at your designated fishing spots.   Everyone handles their own reservations at a favorite place of stay. Popular places are Boudreaux's Condeauxs, Galliano Inn, Catfish Lake Cabins, Days Inn all of which are in Golden Meadow.  Also popular is Boudreaux's in Leeville and  Blue Dolphin Inn in Grand Isle.  Here is web link providing Lafourche parish accommodations:  http://www.visitlafourche.com/accomodations.php.

The location of the Saturday evening fish fry will likely be (as usual) Boudreaux's Condeaux's in Golden Meadow.  However, if we get more folks at another location then we will consider moving to that location.
The menu for Saturday evening fry... The main course will be fresh fried fish fillets, shrimp, potatoes.  We ask that everyone who catches enough fish make a fresh fish fillet contribution.  Folks often ask if they can bring something to the fry.  The answer is yes, but this is OPTIONAL!!!!  The main course is well covered.  I would instead suggest hors d'oeuvres, snacks, salad, cookies, dessert, etc.   But again, bringing something to share this is OPTIONAL.  However, please DO BRING your own softdrinks or alternative beverages.  You may also want to bring a couple of folding chairs as seating is limited.

This event is open to all current RSFF members.  Also, current members of other recognized fly fishing clubs (we do check). You can bring a guest.  There's more details in the October newsletter as well as the RSFF Forum.  Check it out, and if you wish to join us, send me an email to get on the mailing list.