When it comes to fly fishing, Spring is event season across the deep South. There's a wide range of events from commercial shows like the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show to smaller club events like the Red Stick Fly Fishers "Red Stick Day". For 2025, we lose one regional event, but gain a new one come July.
In the past, we referred to these club and FFI regional events as "conclaves". There was some resistance to that name by some because Webster, Cambridge and other dictionaries define "conclave" as "a private meeting". When in fact, these events are open to the public.
However, we made a strong case to the folks at Webster and Cambridge to add "a fly fishing festival" as a definition. And to include it as a verb as well. So you can say "He went conclaving" which means a man went to a fly fishing festival. Or if they're gender fluid, "Ze went conclaving". Or if your group went to a conclave, "They conclaved last week". We've not heard back yet from Webster or Cambridge, but certain our proposal will be adopted soon enough.
In the meantime, check out the list of Spring 2025 events here in Louisiana or within a short drive from our state... and "Happy Conclaving!".
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. 25 (Sat) – 32nd annual Dr. ED RIZZOLO FLY TYING FESTIVAL, Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Rd, Houston, TX. 8:30am – 4:30pm. Fly tying demos, seminars, raffles. Hosted by the Texas Fly Fishers club. Website: texasflyfishers.org.
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.
Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 (Fri-Sun) – ATLANTA FLY FISHING SHOW, GA South Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA. 9am – 6pm. Largest fly fishing show in the South featuring nationally-renown speakers, tiers. Workshops, seminars, destination seminars, exhibitors, and more. FFI will host the Learning Center, with casting and fly tying instruction free to show attendees. Website: www.flyfishingshow.com.
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.
Mar. 27-29 (Thu-Sat) – 28th annual SOWBUG ROUNDUP, Baxter County Fairgrounds, Mountain Home, AR. 9am – 4pm, each day. Admission $10 for all 3 days, adults with kids under 12 free. Largest fly tying event in the country, over 120 tiers. Seminars, fly tying clinics, vendors. Special guests Pat Dorsey, Tim Flagler. Hosted by North Arkansas Fly Fishers. Website: www.sowbugroundup.org.
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.
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.