January 2025 Activities

Important news for 2025!  Beginning with our January 13th meeting, RSFF general meetings will now be held at the Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library (9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge).  When you arrive please enter through the main entrance, the club will have signs up directing you where to go.

For our members needing to view remotely, a separate email will be sent the morning of each meeting with a link and log-in instructions.

RSFF General Meeting
Monday, January 13th
7:00pm
Bluebonnet Regional Library
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge

We’ll be kicking off our 2025 calendar year with a presentation on urban fishing opportunities around Baton Rouge presented by 2024 Jambalaya Challenge co-champion, Brad Dunne.  Brad spent a significant portion of his angling time in 2024 focused on learning our local waters and will be sharing some tips and tricks on where, when and how to target a variety of species here in Baton Rouge.  This presentation is a can’t miss event for anyone interested in competing in the 2025 Jambalaya Challenge!

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, January 15th
7:00pm
Rally Cap Brewing
11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA
Pattern: a few BREC Rainbeaux Trout favorites

Join us at Rally Cap Brewing on Wednesday, January 15th for this month’s Flies & Flights brewery night.  With the BREC ponds recently stocked with Rainbow Trout, we’ll be focusing on a few quick and easy patterns for targeting stockers.

F&F is an independent collective of tiers just looking to tie and enjoy a social gathering with some fine brews as an alternative to a traditional meeting environment. Everyone is welcome!

As always, tools, vises and materials will be provided for those interested in learning.

RSFF SackUp for Clean Water
Saturday, January 25th, 9am to 3pm
Where: intersection of Florida Ave & Bartolo St, Meraux, LA

This month the RSFF #SackUp crew will be teaming up with CRCL for a tree planting event in Meraux, LA.  Contact Robinson at the email below for more details!

"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

3rd biennial New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, January 25th
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
St. Christopher School Gym, 3900 Derbigny St
Metairie, LA

The New Orleans Fly Fishers Club will be hosting their biennial Fly Fishing Expo at St. Christopher School Gymnasium on Saturday, January 25th.  

The expo includes:

•     Fly Casting Seminars, Demonstration and Instruction
•     Fly Fishing & Destination Seminars
•     Fly Tying Instruction & Demonstration
•     An Iron Fly Tyer Competition
•     Auctions & Raffles including top end rods, reels & flies
•     Kid’s Casting & Fishing Programs

Be sure to come enjoy the fun!

For more info, visit www.neworleansflyfishers.com .

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, January 27th
7:00 pm
Orvis Baton Rouge, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge LA
Featured Patterns: Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph

Join us Monday, January 27th, as RSFF Fly Tying Chair, David Rogers, ties up the Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph - an essential fly for any fly box. This fly imitates a mayfly nymph, and the flash material resembles the air pocket created when the nymph rises to the surface during pre-hatch.

As usual, beginners and guests are welcome.  Tools, vises and materials available for use during this session for those looking to learn.  Come early and get some retail therapy in at our Orvis sponsor!

Membership fee structure changes for 2025

New for 2025, there is a new membership structure for Red Stick Fly Fishers. In addition to the $25 basic membership, a new $50 Premium membership has been introduced. Members opting for the Premium level will receive benefits which include, but not limited to, an annual swag item.  The item might be a pint glass, t-shirt, tumbler, tote or duffel bag, sling pack, etc, with the RSFF logo.

According to president Brian Roberts, the RSFF Team is hard at work on creating some cool swag items to have for Premium members in 2025. They are also working on purchase discounts as a benefit as well.

As always, dues can be accepted through the end of March, as many members choose to pay at Red Stick Day. 

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed Christmas!  Hopefully Santa will put something under the tree that helps us catch more fish - or at least make the trip more enjoyable!

At the same time, 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.

Look for details of the 2025 Jambalaya Challenge in the next week as it kicks off on January 1st.

Mark your calendars for these 2025 events!

It's that time of year when we break out the new calendars and start marking them for those special dates.  Here's a few that will be of interest.  Events with an '*' indicate club activities.

* Jan. 1 (Wed) - Our annual JAMBALAYA CHALLENGE kicks off.  In addition to the top spots, we have great consolation prizes - so every entry counts! Check out the Jambalaya Challenge page for details starting Dec. 28th.

Jan. 25 (Sat) – 3rd biennial NEW ORLEANS FLY FISHING EXPO, St. Christopher School Gymnasium, 3900 Derbigny Street, Metairie, LA.   Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm. Free Admission. Casting Seminars and instruction, fly tying demos, fishing & destination seminars, Iron Fly Tyer contest, outdoor equipment & displays, artists & vendors, raffles, auction, Kids programs.  Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club. www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

Jan. 31- Feb 2 (Fri-Sun) – 2nd annual HOME WATERS 2025 - a celebration of the Little Missouri River, Municipal Building, Murfreesboro, AR. Fri: noon-7pm, Sat: 9am - 5pm. No cost. Hosted by ArkLaTexOma Fly Tiers. Fly tying demos, fishing seminars, biologist reports, vendors, raffles and door prizes, food available. For details, see Calendar page or go to ArkLaTexOma Facebook page.

* Mar. 8 (Sat) – 27th Annual RED STICK DAY, Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA. 8:30am – 3:30pm. Free admission. Seminars, tying demos, kayak demos, casting clinics, food, refreshments. Hosted by Red Stick Fly Fishers. Website: www.rsff.org.

* Apr. 25-27 (Fri-Sun) - LAKE CONCORDIA SPRING WEEKEND club freshwater trip, Lakeview Lodge, Ferriday, LA.  Fly fishing for bass, bream, crappie, other species. Culminates with Saturday evening fish fry.

May 2-3 (Fri-Sat) – 3rd annual FFI GULF COAST CLASSIC, Learning Campus, Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL.  Seminars, fly tying demos, casting clinics, raffles, Mixed Bag Challenge fishing contest. Fly Fishing film event on Saturday 4pm. Hosted by the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International. Website: www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com or www.ffigcc.org.

* May 30 - June 1 (Fri-Sat) -  SPRING CATCH & EAT annual club marsh fishing trip, Boudreaux Motel Leeville.  Saturday evening gathering and fish/shrimp/veggie fry.  Details coming via email. 

July 18-19 (Fri-Sat) - CADDO FLY FISHING EXPO, Jefferson County Civic Center, Jefferson, TX.  Seminars, fly tying demos, casting demos and instruction, raffles, silent auction, and more. Hosted by North Louisiana Fly Fishers. Website: www.northlaflyfishers.org.

December Activities

RSFF annual Christmas Banquet
Monday, December 9th

* If you are an active member of Red Stick Fly Fishers and did -NOT- receive an email invite, please contact Chris Williams asap at thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com for RSVP and location info *

The December meeting is our annual Christmas Banquet and Club Awards presentation.  Setup is 6:30pm, with the banquet at 7:00pm.  This is a potluck menu, and Dan Weber has coordinated food items with members.  Spouses and significant others are welcome!

We'll also be recognizing the winners of the 2024 Jambalaya Challenge year-long fishing contest.  Even if you weren't at the top of the most species caught on fly rod, you can still come away a winner from the drawing of consolation prizes.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, December 18th
7:00pm
Rally Cap Brewing
11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA

F&F is an independent collective of tiers who gather to tie flies and enjoy brews, an alternative to a traditional meeting environment. While not affiliated with Red Stick, several members frequent. Everyone is welcome!

For December, we'll have our 2nd annual Holiday Box Swap. How to participate:
1. Buy a new fly box (great chance to support our local shops).
2. Tie up at least 6-12 of your favorite flies (i.e. 12 small flies or 6 large patterns)
3. wrap your box and bring to F&F
4. Participants will pick a box at random and open during F&F

November Activities

Great marsh fishing continues this month with the cooler weather. We'll take advantage of this nice weather to hold a much-awaited casting clinic.  We also have an important membership meeting lined up early this month.  This will be our last routine meeting of the year (December is our Christmas Party). 

RSFF Casting Clinic
Saturday, November 9th
8:00am
BREC Perkins Rd (Kennilworth) Park

We've had several new members express interest in getting some casting lessons lately, so we hope to see you all there!  We may also have some students from the St. Michael’s High School fly fishing club join us!  This clinic is free and open to anyone.

RSFF General Meeting
Monday, November 11th
7:00pm
LDWF Headquarters, 2000 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA

No guest speaker this month, but various club topics:
1) annual club elections
2) discussion on proposed change to the clubs dues structure.
3) we'll also go over the Jambalaya Challenge standings, and touch on some potential “new” sunfish species in our area for next year’s challenge.

Flies & Flights
Wednesday, November 20th
7:00pm
Rally Cap Brewing (11212 Pennywood Ave, Baton Rouge, LA)

Join us at Rally Cap Brewing 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 SackUp for Clean Water
Saturday, TBD
Where: TBD

While we have a date tentatively set for this month’s waterway cleanup event, the exact details are still to be determined.  We’ll send out a separate announcement as soon as we have more to share.

RSFF Fly Tying Meeting
Monday, November 25th
7:00 pm
Orvis Baton Rouge, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge LA
Featured Patterns: EP Baitfish

Join us Monday, November 25th, as RSFF Fly Tying Chair, David Rogers, ties up a simple, but effective, EP Baitfish Pattern.  Quick to tie and durable, these patterns produce a great baitfish silhouette and are effective on a variety of fresh and saltwater species.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how to tie this simple, yet deadly, pattern!

As usual, beginners and guests are welcome.  Tools, vises and materials available for use during this session for those looking to learn.  Come early and get some retail therapy in at our Orvis sponsor!