Sunday, December 20, 2020

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed holiday season. Hope everyone finds something under the Christmas tree they can use for their piscatorial pursuits in the coming year.

We also wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2021.  With much emphasis on healthy!  Hopefully, this time next year things will be back to normal, and we can enjoy the company of others and celebrate as we have in the past.

While Christmas is a season of festivity, let's not forget the reason for the season: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” John 1:14. Please be giving to those in need, and pray for those who are less fortunate, for those in suffering, and for those away from their families this season - especially our troops.  Love and peace to everyone!

Saturday, December 12, 2020

December 14th general meeting (Zoom)

RSFF general meeting (Zoom)
Monday, December 14, 2020

6:00pm
www.zoom.us (see email for meeting id)

Join us for an online general membership meeting this Monday.  We will be meeting using the Zoom app. Zoom meetings can be attended on a computer (PC or Mac), smartphone, tablet, or other device with internet access.  From a participant standpoint, Zoom is free, and fairly simple to use.

In order to join in, members will need to enter the meeting ID and password for that session. This will be new for us.  Catch has set up the meeting for 7:00 Monday night and you are invited to join in.  Joe's email has meeting id and passcode plus other Zoom information.

We will focus on business first and then have time to "visit".  Committee chairs may want to have dates, info ready for events for 2021.  Hopefully, this pandemic will be past us soon and we can get back to doing normal things.

The Kisatchie Fly Fishers club has been using Zoom for bi-weekly fly tying sessions, as well as occasional meetings, since March.  The following are YouTube tutorials put together by Bill Morrison of KFF. You may find these helpful.
 
YouTube on joining and using Zoom with an iPhone for meetings:
https://youtu.be/b3wX9yLXtr0

YouTube on joining meetings using a computer:
https://youtu.be/IPzpI4jRmrQ 

Short YouTube of Zoom’s basic features:
https://youtu.be/OoUVKETpejM
 

Thursday, October 22, 2020

October 26th fly tying

RSFF monthly fly tying
Monday, October 26, 2020

7:00p
Adult Education Building
Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

* Please note: due to social distance requirements, our fly tying sessions have been moved from the Independence Park library to our general meeting location at BUMC on Goodwood *

Bring your tools - if none, the club has tools for use during the session.  Materials are provided.

With the moveable tables, we can socially distance in the room. Please wear your mask.  We'll have sanitizer for use.

Friday, October 9, 2020

Live meetings return October 19th

RSFF monthly meeting
Monday, October 19, 2020

7:00pm
Adult Education Building
Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

* This month's meeting has been moved from October 12th to the 19th due to possible effects of Hurricane Delta *

Welcome back! With the governor's Phase 3 guidelines, we're now able to get back to holding our monthly meetings at the Broadmoor UMC. Not everyone may be able to make it - or willing to make it - for good reason. But if you do, please wear your masks, practice social distancing, use hand sanitizer, etc.. Look forward to your attending but understand if you can't.

As in the past, we'll discuss fishing reports, opportunities for fall and winter fishing, and items of club interest.

Sunday, September 27, 2020

12th annual Rio Grande Rodeo this Saturday

12th annual Rio Grande Rodeo
Saturday, October 3, 2020

7:00am to 8:00am - registration
8:00am to 12 noon - fishing
Shelter #2, LaFreniere Park, Metairie
$15 entry fee includes lunch & refreshments

A reminder that this Saturday, it's the annual Rio Grande Rodeo sponsored by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club. This is a fly fishing only tournament for the Rio Grande cichlid that inhabits the waters of Orleans and Jefferson parishes. Two categories will be awarded: Longest Rio and Most Rios.

While most fishing events have been cancelled since March due to Covid-19 or more recently, tropical storms, the Rio Rodeo is set to go on. Weather should be ideal, and participants are asked to wear masks when gathering and maintain proper distancing.

Although the early registration is passed, onsite registration is available from 7:00am to 8:00am at tourney headquarters at LaFreniere Park. Look for the NOFF signs at Shelter #2. To speed up registration, please print and fill out the registration form below and bring it with you that morning.

Registration Form

After registration, you may branch out to any PUBLIC accessible fishing waters in the boundary area (Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines parishes). Just make sure to be back for the 12 noon weigh-in deadline.  

Raffle.  We'll be holding a raffle to help Casting For Recovery. The prize is a TFO fly rod. Tickets are $10 each, or $20 for 3 tickets.
 

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Sept 29th Virtual Tying Tuesday - Countach Plus

Virtual Tying Tuesday
Tuesday, September 29th
6:00pm 

www.zoom.us (see email for meeting id)

VTT is open to all members of recognized fly fishing clubs. Join the meeting at www.zoom.us using meeting ID and password. Members of Kisatchie Fly Fishers, Acadiana Fly Rodders, and Red Stick Fly Fishers should receive this by email.If you did not receive the ID and password, email Bill Morrison.

For this session, Catch Cormier will lead us in tying the "Countach Nymph Plus".  Or "Knuckle Dragger Plus".  The story is that Clark "Cheech" Pierce created the Countach Nymph while John Newbury created an almost identical fly called the Knuckle Dragger. When the two were both named to the Fulling Mill Pro Staff, they learned of each other's fly. And had a good laugh. Great minds think alike!

Whatever you decide to call it, definitely include the "Plus".  The plus is the addition of antron in the abdomen and a tiny marabou tail. Catch says the original is a killer for trout and bream, but the "Plus" version is 🔥

Materials to be used:
- hook: barbless jig, size 12 (Gamakatsu J20-B, Fulling Mill 5045)
- bead: 1/8" tungsten, black nickel
- legs: grizzly flutter legs, rootbeer (1 strand)
- abdomen: antron dubbing, color Rust or March Brown
- thorax: micro pine squirrel zonker, color Rust
- ribbing: midge diamond braid (twisted), color tan or pearl or rootbeer

* To request a bag of sample materials (ties 2-3 flies) please fill out the form link. We will mail out on Thursday prior to the meeting. Future tying sessions are included. Materials Request Form

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Red Stick joins Virtual Tying Tuesday

Members of Red Stick Fly Fishers are now invited to participate in "Virtual Tying Tuesday", an online fly tying session held every other Tuesday.  VTT was started by the Kisatchie Fly Fishers of Alexandria back in April. In July, VTT was expanded to members of the Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette.  Since then, individuals from other areas have requested and joined in on occasion.

The sessions are conducted using the Zoom video conferencing application. Zoom meetings can be attended on a computer (PC or Mac), smartphone, tablet, or other device with internet access.  From a participant standpoint, Zoom is free, and fairly simple to use.  

The Kisatchie club purchased the Zoom Pro Plan, which has unlimited number of sessions, unlimited time duration, and can accept up to 100 participants.  Participants can go directly via the web to the Zoom site at www.zoom.us.  However, it's recommended that they download the Zoom app to whatever device they will use (again, it's free).  The Zoom app gives a better user experience.

To join in a meeting, members of clubs are sent an email with the meeting ID and password.

Bill Morrison, VTT Coordinator, has created a couple of videos on using the Zoom application for this meeting. He then created a document with links to the videos as well as other helpful information. You should receive a copy of this document by email, if not already, soon!

Tying sessions are held every other Tuesday at 6:00pm or 7:00pm, depending on the best time for the lead tier.  Anyone wishing to lead the group in tying a particular pattern, are strongly encouraged to submit their suggestion to Bill Morrison. As you will see, we need about 4 weeks notice before the session is held.

Because in-person tying allows materials to be handed out, going online presented a challenge to the KFF Tying Committee.  The solution has been to mail out sample materials for each tying session, enough to tie 2-3 flies.  Bill created a "Materials Request Form" that allows participants to request materials for future sessions. If you would like to recieve a sample bag of materials for an upcoming fly, please click on the Form link and enter your name and mailing address no later than Wednesday 11:59pm before the session.

Bill states that it was their hopeful intention to invite other clubs, other tiers, once most of the technical issues were resolved and a few learning curves were overcome. One of those "curves" was videography. Bill and Catch Cormier have adapted some simple setups to provide a clearer, closer view of the fly during the sessions. Anyone wanting to learn of these setups, Catch has a video on YouTube.

Another "curve" was recording. The Zoom Pro allows recording of the session. At first, the tying sessions were split into two segments. One with a quick tie that was recorded, and the second segment where everyone followed along and asked questions.  It was soon realized that many of the questions were important enough to have been included in the recorded segment.  So now, it's back to one session where everyone ties along, and then later, the tier records a video of the fly separate from the session.

The video is then placed on each website. Bill notes it's importance. Prior to Covid-19, Kisatchie was averaging around 30 participants at their monthly tying sessions. The Zoom sessions are only averaging about half that many club members, around 15. However, the videos are getting dozens of hits a week. Many members have acknowledged that, while they've missed the Zoom meetings, the videos have been extremely helpful.

Again, if there are any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We look forward to seeing many of you online.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Fall Concordia, Catch-n-Eat club trips cancelled

Warmwater Chair Emmitt Simmons has announced that the club's annual Fall weekend outing to Lake Concordia, scheduled for September 25-27, has been cancelled due to low number of members willing to attend.  With Covid-19 still a major concern for some members,  the prospect of sharing the lodge with several other participants caused them to opt out of this trip.

Lakeview Lodge was notified of the cancellation.  According to Emmitt, we are still booked for Spring of 2021 for the annual Spring weekend trip to Concordia.

Shortly after, Saltwater Chairman Randy Leonpacher announced that the club's annual Fall Catch-n-Eat marsh fishing weekend, scheduled for the last weekend in October, was also cancelled. 

Thursday, August 6, 2020

National Hunting & Fishing Day festivities cancelled

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has canceled National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) events across the state.

Established by Congress in 1972, NHFD occurs on the 4th Saturday of September, and recognizes the contributions of hunters, anglers and other outdoors persons to conservation. In Louisiana, free events are held at four venues statewide, including here at the Waddill Education Center off Flannery Road.  RSFF has been an annual participant since 1992, teaching fly casting, demonstrating fly tying, and educating the public about fly fishing in Louisiana.

Jack Montoucet, Secretary of LDWF, explained that it was not worth the increased risk to the public's health to hold NHFD events during this pandemic.

Monday, March 23, 2020

COVID-19 update and cancellations

President Trump, the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Governor John Bel Edwards and state and local governments and agencies have issued strict guidelines to help protect Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result has been closure of numerous facilities to public use, and strong advisement against social gatherings of more than 10 people.

Out of concern for our members and the public in general, the Red Stick Fly Fishers have cancelled our fly tying and general meetings until further notice.

We are also re-evaluating our upcoming trips. Some of the facilities we plan to stay at, or use for our gatherings, are closed until further notice.

We wish the best for all our members, friends, and their families during this crisis. We pray for all who are stricken and for a swift end to this pandemic.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Inaugural Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic this weekend!

Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 2020
Percy Quin State Park, McComb, MS
FREE admission to park & festival
Entry fee for tournament: $25

The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Gulf Coast Council (GCC) will host their first-ever "Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic" fly fishing tournament and festival this Friday and Saturday at Percy Quin State Park just five miles from McComb, Mississippi.

The event marks a departure from the routine conclaves of past years, and joins the growing number of fly fishing tournaments, or events with a tournament component, that have become popular across the country.  Lake Tangipahoa inside Percy Quin offers fly anglers an opportunity for a trophy bass, as well as crappie over 2 pounds during March and April. 

Classic activities include: casting instruction and casting skills challenge, fly tying demos, Big Bream Contest (Friday afternoon) and the Sweetwater Classic Tournament (Saturday morning). The festival is FREE and admission to the park is free for attendees.

The Big Bream Contest entry fee is $5 cash (winner take all), and the Classic Tournament entry fee is $25 (register via iAngler). There’s also a “One Feather Fly Tying Contest” on Friday evening, and an “Iron Fly Tying” contest on Saturday afternoon.  Also, there's a fundraiser on Saturday with many great and one-of-a-kind items!

Anyone who registers for the tournament before Wednesday 11:59pm via the iAngler links is eligible for a drawing for $100 cash, to be drawn at the weigh-in. Must be present to win!

For complete details, including schedule, tournament rules, local lodging and restaurants, go to www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org and click on the “Classic” page or any of the submenu items.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

March 9th general meeting

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly meeting
Monday, March 9, 2020
7:00pm
Adult Education Building, Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

For this month, our guest speaker will be Harry Blanchet, Marine Fisheries Director for Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Blanchet will address the club on the current speckled trout status, as well as the process for gathering public response to proposed management plans to help stocks recover.

Also on the agenda, recap of this past Saturday's Red Stick Day, upcoming trips to Lake Concordia and Golden Meadow. As always, the public is welcome!

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

February 24th fly tying

RSFF monthly fly tying
Monday, February 24, 2020
7:00pm
Independence Park Library, Room 2D
7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge

The public is invited, beginners are welcome.  Bring your tools - if none, the club has tools for use during the session.  Materials are provided.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Kirk Dietrich highlights Red Stick Day March 7th

26th annual Red Stick Day
Saturday, March 7, 2020

8:30am - 3:00pm
Waddill Wildlife Refuge
4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA
FREE admission!!

Every first Saturday in March, our club hosts our annual "Red Stick Day" - a celebration of fly fishing. Whether beginner or expert, there's something for everyone! Activities include fly tying demonstrations, seminars, casting demonstrations and lessons, fishing on premises, and our giant fundraiser that goes to support our club's conservation and education initiatives.

Our special guest this year is Louisiana's own Kirk Dietrich. Kirk is recognized as one of the top fly tiers in the country, having been featured in numerous books and magazines either as a writer or as a subject. His flies have been sold by Orvis for over two decades. Last year, his first book, "Tying Bugs: The Complete Book of Poppers, Sliders, and Divers" was released to rave reviews. Kirk will tie as well as give a presentation on making bugs.  He'll also have copies of his book for sale and to autograph.

Former world casting competitor Jay Clark, a Fly Fishers International Master Certified Instructor, will give a presentation on "Improving Casting Skills" on one of Waddill's ponds. Regardless of experience, Jay's presentation is a must-watch!

Other presentations cover topics such as "Preparation and Strategies for Coldwater Trout" and "Kayak Fishing Strategies".  We highly encourage those new to fly fishing or kayak fishing to come and learn from the experts.

To help make this event free, we'll have our raffle and Gamblers Draw.  We bequest members to make donations of used equipment, or boxes of flies. Once again, we'll have our Big Bundle for those who join the club or renew their membership.

We also have delicious jambalaya cooked by one of our great "Bayou Chefs" for a nominal fee.

For complete details, including schedule, list of fly tiers and jig makers, exhibitors, speakers, and much more, click on "2020 Red Stick Day" on the menu above.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

February 10th general meeting

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly meeting
Monday, February 10, 2020
7:00pm
Adult Education Building, Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

On the agenda:
  • Update by Pete Sturgis on the club's upcoming Red Stick Day March 7th at Waddill.
  • Update by Dugan Sabins on LDWF public meetings on future speckled trout management. The Baton Rouge meeting is Wednesday, March 12th at LDWF headquarters.  At our March meeting, LDWF biologists will reveal results of their meetings.
  • Fishing reports
  • Upcoming club trips
  • Instruction: how to build a leader and connect leader to fly line using speed nail knot.
As always, the public is welcome!

Thursday, January 23, 2020

LDWF announces public meetings on seatrout management

* Please note updated times and locations *

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced dates for public meetings to be held on spotted seatrout (speckled trout) management. The most recent stock assessment indicated spotted seatrout are overfished and undergoing overfishing and changes are necessary in order to recover the stock.

The slide to the left was part of the presentation given by LDWF biologists at the January meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. It shows that speckled trout spawning stocks have been on the decline since 2010, and below both the conservation target (yellow line) of 14 percent since 2012, and the recruitment threshold (magenta line) of 10.2 percent since 2013.  It also shows what various savings in the spawning biomass or potential ratio (both had similiar graphs) would result in.  CLICK on the images to enlarge.

No action is being taken at this time.  The Commission indicated it would like to hear public input before considering management changes.  LDWF’s biological opinion is that a 20% reduction in harvest is needed in order to recover the stock by 2025 or sooner, but there are a range of options that can achieve that goal.  From the standpoint of Fly Fishers International Gulf Coast Council (FFI-GCC),  the best management goal is one that takes us above the conservation target in the least amount of time.

Management change options recently presented to the LWFC in early January 2020 included:
- creel limit only changes
- minimum size limit changes only
- combined creel and minimum size limit changes
- slot limit only changes
- combined slot limit and creel changes.

Below is a list of meeting dates and locations.  All meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m., except the meeting in Ruston, which will begin at 1:00 p.m.

- Monday, February 10 – North Branch Library, 4130 West Park Ave, Gray
- Wednesday, February 12 – LDWF HQ, Herring Room, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge
- Thursday, February 13 – Lafayette Council Chambers, 705 West University Avenue,  Lafayette
- Wednesday, February 19 – East Bank Regional Library, 4747 West Napoleon Avenue, Metairie
- Thursday, February 20 – Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 Second Street, Slidell
- Wednesday, February 26 – Calcasieu Parish Extension Office, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles
- Thursday, February 27 – Rapides Parish Extension Office, 300 Grady Britt Drive, Alexandria
- Saturday, February 29 – Lincoln Parish Library, 910 North Trenton Street, Ruston

LDWF is partnering with Louisiana Sea Grant to use interactive voting technology at these public hearings in response to a survey that will be given at the meetings.  LDWF will also be sending out an email survey identical to the survey that will be administered at public meetings.

For more information, please contact Jason Adriance at 504-284-2032 or jadriance@wlf.la.gov.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

January 27th fly tying

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly fly tying
Monday, January 27, 2020
7:00pm
Independence Park Library, Room 2D
7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge

The public is invited, beginners are welcome.  Bring your tools - if none, the club has tools for use during the session.  Materials are provided.

Friday, January 10, 2020

January meeting moved to the 20th

Red Stick Fly Fishers monthly meeting
Monday, January 20, 2020
7:00pm
Adult Education Building, Broadmoor United Methodist Church
10230 Mollylea Drive, Baton Rouge, LA

Our regular 2nd Monday general meeting has been moved a week back due to the BCS National Championship game being held on January 13th.  Our hometown LSU Tigers led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will be facing off against the daunted defense of Clemson.  Geaux Bayou Bengals!

At the January 20th meeting, we'll be taking nominations and holding elections for the following positions:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications, Fly Tying, Education, Events, Warmwater, Saltwater, Conservation, Membership, Past President.

Also on the agenda: Rainbeaux trout reports, updates on our upcoming Red Stick Day, and a proposed Casting 101 Clinic.