Saturday, October 3, 2025
Start: 7:00am (first light for pre-registered)
End: 12:30pm (weigh-in)
Event site: Lafreniere Park, Metairie, LA
$25 entry fee, includes lunch and refreshments
The 2026 edition of the Rio Grande Rumble has just been announced. Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, the Rumble is the longest running freshwater fly fishing tournament in the South. Target species is the Rio Grande cichlid. This species is native of south Texas but has become widespread in extreme southeast Louisiana. For fly anglers, it’s an opportunity to put their skills up against a very wary species that when hooked, “fights like a wet cat”.
All entry fish must be caught on flies and fly tackle. Categories are “Longest Rio” and “Most Rios Caught”. Net proceeds from the tournament go to Casting For Recovery.
The rodeo is open to all fly anglers. Registration deadline is 8:00am on October 4th. Both onsite registration and weigh-in will be at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. There will also be a Zoom seminar on fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid. Date and time of the online seminar will be announced shortly.
For complete details, including tournament rules, and to register online, go to the NOFFC website at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.