What's happening this week 9/24

On Monday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting at Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria. Meeting time is a half-hour ealier this month, 6:00pm. This is their annual "Fall Casting Session". The meeting is open to the public. Bring your rods, if none, the club has a few outfits for use during the session. For more info, go to www.kisatchiefly.org.

Also on Monday, the Red Stick Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at the Orvis store on 7656 Bluebonnet in Perkins-Rowe. Time is 7:00pm. Bring your tying tools, if none, the club has sets for use during the session. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome.

On Tuesday, the Bass Pro Shops in Denham Springs holds their monthly fly tying clinic. Time is 6:00pm. Bring your tying tools. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome.

On Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers holds their monthly meeting at Lakeshore Marina and Fuel, on 7840 Lakeshore Drive across from Blue Crab Restaurant. Time is 7:00pm. This month, Sean Gilthorpe will give his presentation on "Fly Fishing for Rio Grande Perch" as a primer for the club's upcoming "Rio Grande Fly Fishing Rodeo" on October 7. The public is welcome.

Friday and Saturday, it's the Red Stick Fly Fishers annual fall outing to Lake Concordia for freshwater species. The event culiminates with the Saturday night fish fry. For more info, go to www.rsff.org.

On Saturday, it's the Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club's annual "PAC Attack" tournament out of Eddies Kayak Rentals in Pointe-aux-Chenes. The  tournament is open to the public. Entry fee is $20. Heaviest bag of three (3) slot reds wins. For rules and registration, go to www.bckfc.org.

LDWF adds new pond to Get Out and Fish!

The Get Out and Fish! program of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries seeks to increase participation by providing quality fishing and recruit new anglers. The program has added several ponds statewide to the program. The latest is Purple Heart Memorial Park in Ragley, at the intersection of highways 171 and 190. On Saturday, October 21st, LDWF will hold a tournament at the park. Time is 7:00am to 11:00am, with lunch and awards following. Prior to the event, 800 pounds of channel catfish will be stocked into the pond. Categories include Little Angler, Junior Angler and Adult Angler. Entry is free. The first 100 youth registrants (15 and under) will receive a goody bag. For more info, go to www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

2017 FFI Gulf Coast Council award winners

Stephen Robert with FFI-GCC President Mike Jackson

At this past weekend's 4th annual Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair, the Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI) recognized several Louisiana clubs and individuals for their outstanding achievements this past year. The awards were presented by GCC Past President Kyle Moppert at Friday night's banquet.

Fly Tyer of the Year - Stephen Robert of Houma - awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the art of fly tying, through any combination of innovation, enhancement of the art, or education of others.

Club Community Award - Contraband Fly Casters - awarded to a club that has been very active outside its own membership, and as such, has made outstanding contributions to the community at large.

Club Fellowship Award - North Louisiana Fly Fishers - awarded to a club that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to its members through activities, and effective communication..

Education Award - New Orleans Fly Fishers - awarded to an individual or club has made oustanding contributions to passing along the art of fly fishing to others.

In addition to these Louisiana winners, Cody Wells of Destin, Florida was awarded Man of the Year for unusual devotion to the sport of fly fishing and contributions to the FFI and/or his club. Also Corbin Bennetts was awarded the Robert J. Marriot Scholarship Grant. Corbin is a graduate student working on red drum research at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab.

Again, congratulations to all these clubs and individuals.

SweatFest 2017 makes an encore appearance

It was 94 degrees today in central Louisiana. Or about 6 degrees above normal. After two weeks of below average temperatures - upper 70s and low 80s, with upper 50s and low 60s at night - the last several days have reminded us that we're still officially in Summer. This heat spell will continue thru Saturday, then we'll see a slight cooling early next week.

Despite the hot air temperatures, radiative cooling of waters continues. The surface temperature on Cotile Lake is 81 degrees. As I tell my local fishing friends, when the water dips below 80, better have your rods rigged and lures (or flies) ready! The most frequent response is, "As long as it's before hunting season". If it isn't that's fine - more fish for me!

What's happening this week 9/17

When it comes to the events we support - fly fishing, kayak fishing, conservation and youth - probably one of the busiest weeks of the Fall!

On Monday, the Cane Country Fly Casters hold their monthly meeting at the Westside Baptist Community Center off old Highway 1 in Natchitoches. Casting at 6:00pm, meeting at 6:30pm.  Guests are welcome!  For more info, go to www.canecountry.blogspot.com

Also on Monday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at the Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria.  Time is 6:30pm.  Bring your tools, if none, the club has sets for use during these sessions. Materials are provided.  For more info, go to www.kisatchiefly.org.

On Tuesday, the Contraband Fly Casters hold their monthly meeting at St. Pius Community Center in Lake Charles.  Fly tying and discussion at 6:00pm, meeting at 7:00pm.  Guests are welcome.  For more info, go to www.contrabandflycasters.net.

Also on Tuesday, the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club holds their monthly meeting at Pack and Paddle in Lafayette. Time is 6:00pm.  Guests are welcome.  For more info, go to www.lafayettekayakfishing.com.

Also on Tuesday, the Backpacker of Baton Rouge will host a free seminar on "Fall Redfish Action" led by kayak fishing experts Eric Fey and Brock Miller.  Time is 6:00pm.  There is no cost, and there will be free beer from Tin Roof Brewing Company.  Eric and Brock will discuss tactics including sightcasting, scouting on Google Earth, bait and fly selection, fly fishing tactics and kayak setup.  For more info, go to www.backpacker.com.

On Wednesday, Pack and Paddle of Lafayette will host another of their "Fly Fishing Hangouts" at their store on 601 East Pinhook.  This one is titled the "Where to Go Edition".  Time is 6:00pm. There is no cost.  Lafayette area fly fishing experts will discuss the best spots for local anglers to fly fish including Calcasieu, Cameron marsh, Henderson, and Pointe-aux-Chenes.  For more info, go to www.packpaddle.com.

Also on Wednesday, Backpacker of Lafayette will host a free seminar on "Fall Kayak Fishing Slam" at their store on 1916 Kaliste Saloom Road.   Time is 6:00pm.  There is no cost, and free beer will be provided courtesy of Cajun Brewing.  Kayak fishing gurus Brendan Bayard and Lance Burgos will discuss where to catch big speckled trout and elusive flounder.  There's also a sneak preview of the new Hobie Compass and a chance to win a kayak fishing trip for two to Pointe-aux-Chenes. For more info, go to www.backpacker.com.

On Thursday, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying workshop at the Bass Pro Shops in Bossier City.  Time is 6:00pm.  Bud Bethea will be leading the group in tying the Parachute Adams - a classic trout fly.  Bring your tools, if none, sets are available for use during session. Materials are provided.  Beginners are welcome.  For more info, go to www.northlaflyfishers.org.

Also on Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers hold the second of their twice-monthly fly tying sessions at St. Frances Xavier Church Hall on 444 Metairie Road.  Time is 7:00pm.  Bring your tools, if none, a few sets are available for use during session. Materials are provided.

Also on Thursday, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) will host a "Pint Night" at the Ale on Oak on 8124 Oak Street in New Orleans.  Time is 5:30pm.  Land Tawney, CEO of BHA, will discuss hunting and fishing issues, and the very important topic of water access rights in Louisiana. For more info, go to www.backcountryhunters.org.

On Saturday, it's National Hunting and Fishing Day.  More on that later.

Also on Saturday, and continuing Sunday, Rob Woodruff will conduct his annual "Entomology for Fly Fishers" in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.  Cost is $75.  The course will cover various aquatic and terrestial insects of importance to fly anglers, with Sunday being an "on the water" collection and analysis, with matching to various types of flies.  For more info, contact Rob at 903-967-2665.

Also on Saturday,  Mission Six is hosting a bass fishing tournament to benefit the Holden Volunteer Fire Department whose funds were hit hard in the rescue operations of last August's great flood.  There's a kayak division, and entry fee for that division is $30.  Format is CPR (catch-photo-release).  Jambalaya plates will also be sold at the weigh-in.  Cash payouts for all divisions.  For more info, go to www.mission6.org.

This Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day

Established in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the contributions of America's hunters, anglers, and other outdoors enthusiasts and is celebrated on the last Saturday of September each year. Here in Louisiana, NHF Day is celebrated annually at four venues - Bodcau, Monroe, Baton Rouge, Woodworth - with close to 15,000 attendees. Making it one of the largest outdoors events in the state. Each venue has a long list of activities and exhibitors. Many of the activities are geared towards youth, and there's even food and soft drinks provided at no cost in an effort to get families to come out.  The Waddill, Bodcau and Woodworth venues will feature fly fishing, casting and tying thanks to the Red Stick Fly Fishers, North Louisiana Fly Fishers and Kistachie Fly Fishers. Admission to each venue is free for all ages. Time is 9:00am to 2:00pm. For more details, check out the post in our Events Forum or go to www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

Backpacker, Pack and Paddle seminars next week

As previously mentioned, Pack and Paddle has greatly expanded their fly fishing selection beyond TFO rods and reels to also include products from Sage, Redington, Rio and a wide variety of fly tying tools and materials. The Lafayette store has also been holding a series of events geared toward fly anglers known as "Fly Fishing Hangouts". The third edition of these will take place next Wednesday, September 20. The "Where To Go Edition" will focus on places to fly fish around the Acadiana area. Keith Richard will cover Henderson, Ron Begnaud on Calcasieu and Cameron Prarie Refuge, and the fourth location will be south of Houma. The event is free, and kicks off at 6:00pm. Refreshments will be served.

The previous evening, Tuesday, September 20, Backpacker of Baton Rouge will also be offering a free seminar at their store on Jefferson Highway. It starts at 6:00pm. Two of Louisiana's top kayak anglers - Eric Fey and Brock Miller - will be discussing fall marsh redfish tactics. Eric is also an accomplished fly angler and fly tier and will also talk about fly fishing for marsh reds. Other topics include: Kayak and gear setup, Sightcasting, Scouting on Google Earth, and more. There's also free beer from Tin Roof Brewing Company. Attendees can register to win a kayak fishing trip for two. Backpacker is also hoping to have the new Hobie Compass in store for this event. 

Complete details on these can be found on our Calendar page.

What's happening this week - 9/10

On Monday, the Red Stick Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting at the Wildlife and Fisheries building in Baton Rouge. Casting outside beginning at 6:30pm, meeting at 7:00pm.  The meeting is open to the public.

On Tuesday, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers hold their monthly general meeting at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge on Sunflower Road in Bossier City.  Time is 7:00pm. Guests are welcome.

On Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers hold the first of their twice-monthly fly tying sessions at St Frances Xavier Hall on 444 Metairie Road. Time is 7:00pm. Bring your tying tools, if none, the club has a few sets for use during the session. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome.

Also on Thursday, the Ponchartrain Basin Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at Olde Towne Fly Shop in Slidell. TIme is 6:30pm. Bring your tools, if none, sets are available for use during session. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome.

Starting Friday, and continuing thru Saturday, it's the 2017 Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair at the Civic Center in Ocean Springs, MS.  The event is free and open to the public.  Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International (FFI), the event will feature dozens of top fly tiers from across the region and beyond.  There are also free casting clinics and workshops.  Also, loads of raffle and auction items that help support GCC Conservation partners including the Gulf Coast Marine Research Lab.  The Friday evening dinner and auction will feature one-of-a-kind items and several guided trips.  For complete details, go to www.gulfcoastfff.org.  Or check out the Events Forum posting.

On Saturday, the Backpacker in Baton Rouge will hold a free Paddle Demo Day at BREC Wampold Park on Stanford near the LSU campus. Time is 10:00am to 2:00pm.  Models include Hobie, Wilderness, Perception, KC Kayak, Mad River, Yolo and others.

Wilsons honored by Fly Fishers International

At the 52nd annual Fly Fishers International (FFI) awards banquet on August 2nd, Terry and Roxanne Wilson of Bolivar, Missouri, were presented with the prestigious Dr. James A. Henshall Award.  This award represents extraordinary achievements in conservation of warm water fisheries.  Previous award winners have included Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh, Tom Nixon, Larry Dahlberg, Bob Clouser, Tim Holschlag and others.

The Wilsons have authored several books on warmwater fly fishing, have created several well-known flies, including the "Bass Bully", and have given, and continue to give, presentations across the country on their favorite realm of our sport. But they're not one dimensional - they also happen to be editors of Southern Trout Ozark Edition magazine.

Many Louisiana fly anglers have met Roxanne and Terry as they've presented to several state clubs as well as at a couple of the FFF Gulf Coast Expo events held in Lake Charles.  They've also been fixtures at the annual FFF (FFI) Southern Fly Fishing Fair each October in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

Hurricane Irma smashing south Florida

As of this writing, the eye of Irma - the 2nd major hurricane in a month to hit the Gulf Coast - is making landfall in Deer Key and approaching Marcos Island on it's path up the west coast of Florida.  Our prayers and wishes go to the those affected by this storm.  As the red lines on the image on left show, hurricane force and gale force winds will extend across all of Florida as it moves north, then northwest towards east Tennessee before changing to a northeasterly course.  While Irma won't bring nearly as much rainfall to the Southeast as Harvey brought to Texas, the tidal surge will do much more damage. Those who have frequently fished the southwest coast of Florida (as we have) know that most of the communities in Marcos, Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Charlotte, Venice, and Sarasota are built on canals just a few feet above sea level.  It's almost a given there'll be major saltwater flooding in these areas.  One of my guides in the area joked, "There's going to be a lot of good snook holding structure" after the storm.  I think that positive is going to be outweighed by a LOT of negatives!  As for effects on the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts... it doesn't appear there'll be any if projections hold true.  We're not out of hurricane season yet!

Next weekend is the Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair

The 4th annual Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair will be held Friday and Saturday, September 15-16, at the Ocean Springs Civic Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Council - Fly Fishers International (FFI), it features free presentations, casting lessons, beginner classes, tying demonstrations, auctions and raffles, and more. It's open to the public.  And best of all, it's FREE!

The GCC consists of FFI clubs and members in Louisiana, Mississippi, south Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.  While the majority of attendees are FFI members or members of FFI clubs, this family-friendly event is open to the public.  Beginners and youth are enouraged to attend.

For those looking to improve their fly casting skills, the GCC Fair offers the largest contingent of FFI Certified and Master Certified instructors of any event on the Gulf Coast.  Also, Boy and Girl Scouts have the opportunity to work on their Fly Fishing Merit Badge.

The Friday night casual buffet and Awards Dinner will be held also at the OSCC. It will feature an auction rich with prizes including art, fly tackle, guided trips, award winning fly plates, and much more. Along with the day raffles, proceeds will benefit the Gulf Coast Marine Research Lab, and conservation projects within the council boundaries of Louisiana, Mississippi, south Alabama and Florida panhandle.

This will be fourth GCC event named as the "Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair".  Prior to  Texas separating from the Council, the GCC held five events named as the "FFF Gulf Coast Expo".  It also should be noted that earlier this year, the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) changed their name to Fly Fishers International (FFI).


Complete details - including a schedule of events and programs - can be found on the GCC website at www.gulfcoastfff.org. 

Whats happening this week 9/3

On Tuesday, the Acadiana Fly Rodders will hold their monthly meeting at Grace Presbyterian Hall on 415 Roselawn in Lafayette. Time is 6:30pm.  Guests are welcome.

On Wednesday, the Pontchartrain Basin Fly Fishers will hold their monthly meeting at Abita Brew and Pub in Abita Springs. Conversation and dinner ordering (optional) at 6:00pm, meeting at 6:30pm.  Guests are welcome.

On Friday, Pack and Paddle will hold another of their "Fly Fishing Hangout". More on that later.

On Saturday, the Backpacker of Lafayette will hold a Paddle Demo Day at Sugar Mill Pond in Youngsville. Time is 10:00am to 2:00pm.  No cost.  Models include Hobie, Perception, Wilderness, KC Kayak, Yolo and more. Subject to weather, check their Facebook page or call 337-406-8754 to confirm.

Fly Fishing Hangout this Friday

This Friday, September 8th, Pack and Paddle will hold another of their "Fly Fishing Hangout" at their store on 601 East Pinhook in Lafayette. Time is 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The event is free. According to owner John Williams, this event will be part of the "Sage, Redington, and Rio Factory Tour".  The three companies are part of Far Bank Enterprises.  PnP recently expanded their fly fishing offerings to include all three product lines - plus fly tying materials.  Reps from the three companies will be on hand with rods loaded up for testing. There will also be fly tying, grilled hot dogs, and beer. As well as discounts and door prizes. The event is free.  For more info, go to www.packpaddle.com.

Weather news

This has been a very active tropical season.  Our continued prayers and wishes for our friends in southeast Texas in the aftermath of Harvey, but keep in mind that many folks in southwest Louisiana were also adversely affected by extremely heavy rainfall.  And now it appears that Hurricane Irma is headed for Florida and possibly may skirt into the western Gulf Coast.  It's been a hot and wet summer, but relief is on the way.  A cool front will move across the state tomorrow and bring more Fall like temperatures and humidity.  But even without the front, radiative cooling has begun - water temps are already down to the upper 70s.   This means more active feeding by bass (on schools of shad), crappie, and one of our favorites, redear (aka, chinquapin).  On the coast, this cooler water will accelerate the inshore migration of speckled trout and bring big reds back into the ponds.  Fall prime time is almost here!

What's happening this week - 8/27

Some of these activities may depend on what happens with Hurricane Harvey and whether it's trajectory takes it over Louisiana the early part of the week. Please check the websites listed.

On Monday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers will hold their monthly meeting at the Rapides Westside Library on 5416 Provine in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm. Guests are welcome. www.kisatchiefly.org

Also on Monday, the Red Stick Fly Fishers will hold their monthly fly tying session at the Bass Pro Shops in Denham Springs. Time is 7:00pm. Bring your tools, if none, the club has sets for use during the session. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome. www.rsff.org

On Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting. Time is 7:00pm. Location TBA. Guests are welcome. Check out their Facebook page.

Saturday is the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club's annual Speck-n-Redfish Cup. It's open to the public. Entry fee is $25. The format is as follows: you can fish anywhere in Louisiana public waters. Bring your fish to Pack and Paddle in Lafayette before 5:00pm Saturday. Food will be served. Heaviest stringer of 4 fish (max 2 slot reds, max 2 specks) wins. www.lafayettekayakfishing.com

Harvey continuing to wreak havoc

We're all tropically depressed for our friends along the Texas coast. Hurricane Harvey came in Friday morning as a Category 4 storm, the first  major hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 2008.  While the wind damage was significant, it's the extremely heavy rainfall that has captured the attention of the nation. Over 22 inches of rain has fallen in 3 days in some counties, with as much as 44 inches possible before Harvey moves on. That's more than Victoria gets in an average year!  The photos coming out in the media and on Facebook are awful reminders of previous flood related disasters here in Louisiana. Our experiences with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and the tropical depression of last August, will likely get repeated with folks from Beaumont to Baffin Bay and further inland. According to all the forecasts, Harvey is unlikely to move much over the next 3-4 days. The latest models seem to be divided - the remnants of Harvey will either move into northeast Texas / northwest Louisiana and into Arkansas, or move due west towards El Paso.

Pack and Paddle expands its fly fishing lines

Pack and Paddle in Lafayette is known for having the largest selection of fishing kayaks in Louisiana. They've also been carrying conventional and fly tackle for several years, although the fly tackle has been limited to TFO rods, reels, lines and locally tied flies.  Back in July, the store added a good selection of fly tying materials with emphasis on warmwater and saltwater patterns. Now, owner John Williams has announced that they'll be carrying Sage, Redington and Rio products. On Friday, September 8th, PnP will hold another of their "Fly Fishing Hangouts". Time is 5:00pm to 8:00pm. They'll have several activities planned, but the main theme will be the "2018 Sage, Redington, Rio Factory Tour". The Sage trailer will be on hand loaded with rods, reels, and lines - including the new Sage HD and Foundation rods - for folks to try out. Reps from all three companies will be on hand to answer questions. Fly tiers will also be on hand to demonstrate their favorite patterns for Louisiana waters.  The event is free. For more info, go to www.packpaddle.com.

The September issue of Louisiana Sportsman is out

LAS magazine is available at sporting good stores and convenience stores across the state and parts of southern Mississippi. This month's issue is highlighted by the new expanded coverage of kayak fishing. Paddles 'N Puddles columnist Chris Holmes states, "In keeping with the growth and interest in the sport, over the next few months Louisiana Sportsman is expanding it's coverage of everything kayak fishing related.". In addition to his monthly feature, Chris will tell readers the best places to go, what activities are happening, product feature highlights, and more. Needless to say, we're all very excited about this! 

Speaking of excitement, my Fly Lines column is the annual tackle review from the IFTD Show in July. Readers tell me this is one of their favorite articles each year. Once again, I list my "Best of the Best" in rods and reels in each price category. Other columns of interest: In "Creature Feature", Jerald Horst asks where all the pompano have gone; Jerald and his wife Glenda spotlight Liana Aspirion and her favorite dishes including a Crawfish Monica and Barbecue Shrimp. Jerald also has a couple of feature articles, one on finding and exploiting trout migration during September, and another on dock shooting for crappie. As always, there's also Solunar Tables, Tide Tables, and regional fishing forecasts.

What's happening this week 8/13

On Monday, the Red Stick Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting at the Wildlife and Fisheries building on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. Time is 7:00pm. Dirk Burton will give a presentation on fly fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin. Guests are welcome. On Tuesday, the Contraband Fly Casters will hold their monthly meeting at St Paul's Lutheran Center on East Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles. Fly tying and discussion at 6:00pm, meeting at 7:00pm. Among items on the agenda is this Saturday's Contraband Fly Fishing Expo. Guests are welcome. Also on Tuesday, the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club will hold their monthly meeting at Pack and Paddle on 601 East Pinhook Road. Time is 6:00pm. Guests are welcome! On Thursday, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers hold their monthly workshop at the Bass Pro Shops in Bossier City. Time is 6:00pm. Tom Bullock will be demonstrating a new way to tie an old favorite, the soft-hackled wet fly. Beginners are welcome. Also on Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers will hold the first of their twice-monthly fly tying sessions at St. Francis Xavier Hall on 444 Metairie Road. Time is 7:00pm. Beginners are welcome. Bring your tools, if none, the club has a few sets for use during these sessions. Materials are provided. Also on Thursday, the CCA Sugar Chapter will hold their annual banquet at the Cade Community Center in St. Martinville. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner 7:00pm, auction 8:00pm. Tickets are $65 per person ($35 spouse, $25 youth) and include dinner, open bar, one-year membership, more. For more info, go to www.ccalouisiana.com.

This Saturday is the 13th Contraband Fly Fishing Expo

Hosted by the Contraband Fly Fishers, Tom Nixon Chapter club of Lake Charles, the event will be held at the VFW Hall Post 7321 on Highway 171 north of Moss Bluff. Time is 8:30am to 4:00pm. Admission is free. Like most conclaves, there's fly tying demonstrations, seminars, casting clinics and demos, silent auction, raffles, exhibits, food and refreshments. This event always features two of the best realistic tiers in Louisiana - Fred Hannie and Lee Robinson. Well worth watching them tie their unique flies. For more on this event, go to www.contrabandflycasters.net.

Fishing during the solar eclipse

On August 21st, all of North America will observe an eclipse of the sun. A large swath of the United States will get to observe a phenomena that only happens a few times a century - a total solar eclipse. That swath will stretch from Charleston, South Carolina to Lincoln Beach, Oregon. Here in Louisiana, we'll be treated to an 80 percent shading of the sun (at max). Don Kirk of Southern Trout magazine is asking anglers who might be fishing during the eclipse to report back what effect it has on trout. Already on Facebook, there are anglers planning to fish reds and speckled trout that day and see what effect it has. Likewise, I'll probably be checking out the effects on bass and crappie during the eclipse. It'll be interesting to see what results are posted from all these varied sources.

Results of the 109th ACA Championships

The 109th American Casting Association Championships were held the last week of July in San Jose, California. The ACA consists of clubs and members throughout North America, and annually holds several casting competitions with categories for spin, fly, and spool. In the 1-Hand Fly Distance, Steve Rajeff once again won the Men's category edging out his longtime rival Henry Mittel, 227 feet to 219 feet. In the Senior Men, Keith Sharp set a new national record with 188 feet. In the 2-Hand Fly Distance, Mittel edged out Rajeff, 283 feet to 272 feet. Donna O'Sullivan won the Womens with 161 feet, while Keith Sharp won the Seniors Division with 204 feet. Perhaps the most presitigous fly category is Anglers Fly Distance. Here in the Men's Division, it was Mittel edging out Keith Pryor 179 feet to 154 feet, with Rajeff in 3rd place with 152 feet.  Youth casting sensation Maxine McCormick won the Intermediate Division with 127 feet. Donna O'Sullivan took Womens with 87 feet, while Elaine Gong took Senior Women with 99 feet. Keith Sharp edged out Ed Tamson in Senior Men, 135 feet to 125 feet. In Dry Fly Accuracy, Steve Rajeff won the Mens with a perfect 100 score, while Mike Miller took Senior Mens with 96, Beth Statt took Womens with 93, and Elaine Gong took Senior Women in a cast-off after tying with Alice Gillibert. Maxine McCormick took Intermediate with a 97 and Micheal Han took Juniors with a 90 score. For complete results, go to www.americancastingassoc.org.

Hardy Ultralight duo shines at ICAST/IFTD

Two new products from Hardy for 2018 received rave reviews at ICAST/IFTD. Their new Ultralight fly rod is made from their proprietary Sintrix 440 material. In the hand, their 4-weight was one of the lightest rods I've ever held, rivaling that of the Sage X. On the IFTD Demo Day casting pond, it made for a nice, delicate presentation up close, but surprisingly could boom out to 60 feet without much effort. Initial offerings will be in 2 to 5 weights with lengths from 8'8" to 9'9". MSRP will hover around the $700 mark. A rod that light needs a complimentary reel. The Hardy Ultralite MTX reel got my vote for Best Freshwater Reel in the New Product Showcase. It's stunning beauty aside, this reel uses a carbon fiber and machined aluminum frame to reduce weight, while maintaining a powerful carbon-fiber drag with 340-degree adjustable setting and no start-up inertia. This reel will match great with any of the new lightweight premium trout rods now taking the market. Sizes range from a 3-5 to 7-9 with MSRP from $429 to $499.

The Jackson Cruise FD is coming!

One of the surprises at this year's ICAST was a prototype of the new Jackson Cruise FD kayak.  It's sibling, the Jackson Coosa FD came into the trade show as a "new model" and was featured in the New Product Showcase even though it was unveiled at Outdoor Retailer last year.  The Coosa FD recently arrived at Jackson dealers everywhere and has been a smash at the demo days.  The "FD" stands for "Flex Drive", Jackson's patent-pending system that uses a unique articulating system for both deep and shallow navigation. A daggerboard protects the 3-blade propeller allowing for navigation among stumps and other underwater structures, and even into shallow water. While the propeller system is what makes this boat special, the Coosa FD has retained many of the features of the paddle version.  Likewise, in creating the Cruise FD, Jackson has opted to retain the cleaner layout design that fly anglers and less-hardcore conventional anglers loved so much about the paddle Cruise.  The Cruise FD will not be as long and wide as the Coosa FD, so likely not as stable.  And of course not as featured.  But it will be less expensive - likely $1999 compared to $2999.  That alone will likely make it a big seller.

What's happening this week 8/6

On Tuesday, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Bossier City. Time is 7:00pm. Guest speaker will be Jeff Guerin, guide on the Little Missouri River and other Ouachita Mountain streams in southwest Arkansas. Jeff will update the club on the current state of the fishery, plus other news regarding the Little Mo. Guests are welcome! On Thursday, the Pontchartrain Basin Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at Olde Towne Fly Shop on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell. Time is 6:30pm. Bring your tools, if none, the club has sets available for use during the session. Materials are provided. Beginners are welcome! On Saturday, the Backpacker store in Lafayette will conduct a "Paddle Demo Day" at Sugar Mill Pond in Youngsville. Time is 10:00am to 2:00pm. Brands include Hobie, Wilderness, Perception, KC Kayak, Yolo and others. Please confirm if weather arises by calling 337-406-8754 or checking the Backpacker Facebook page.

Updates on FFI Council Events

Mid September and early October are the times for a pair of fly fishing expos hosted by regional entities (councils) of Fly Fishers International (formerly Federation of Fly Fishers). The Gulf Coast Council - comprised of FFI clubs and members in Louisiana, Mississippi, south Alabama and northwest Florida - will hold their annual "Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Fair" on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16. Location will be the Ocean Springs Civic Center in Ocean Springs, MS. Admission is free, as well as casting lessons and programs. Many of the best fly tiers from across the region and even other parts of the country will be demonstrating their flies. Last week, FFI-GCC released an event poster to clubs and on Facebook (shown in image on left). The full size version can be seen on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Southern Council of FFI announced info on their annual expo - to be held October 6th and 7th at the Vada Sheid Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The Southern Council consists of clubs and members across Arkansas, Oklahoma, western Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Several Louisiana clubs were once part of this council, and a good number of state FFI members continue to attend "Southern Conclave". Unlike the GCC expo, Southern charges a $10 admission and certain workshops require a fee. For this reason, they have advanced registration forms on their website at www.ifffsoc.org. Banquet tickets, raffle tickets and conclave pins can also be purchased in advance.

August is here, and that means...

1. The last full month of SweatFest 2017 - the one festival no one likes to celebrate. We had a tiny taste of early fall weather over the weekend, but the heat and humidity are back. We had several days last August with heat index over 110. So stay hydrated and limit your time outdoors if possible. August is also the start of the peack of hurricane season. I know you all love to hear that! Remember it doesn't necessarily take a "hurricane" to inflict great damage. Last August's tropical depression caused the greatest flood damage in Louisiana history. Enough bad news, let's go good.

2. Football is here! Saints are practicing for their first pre-season game against the Browns on August 10th. College teams started practice yesterday. Several teams have their first game on August 26th. UL-Monroe starts the state schedule against Memphis on the 31st (Thursday night game).

3. The last full month for CCA STAR.  The summer-long tournament ends on Labor Day. Typically, August is a tough month to catch big trout on fly or from kayak, but with conditions around Vermillion Bay and Calcasieu improving from heavy freshwater influence this Spring, the Southwest and West Divisions are starting to produce bigger trout.

4. The Contraband Conclave.  Officially labeled as the "Contraband Fly Fishing Expo", it will be held Saturday, August 19, at the VFW Hall on Highway 171 north of Moss Bluff. Like most conclaves, there's casting clinics, fly tying demonstrations, seminars, exhibitors, and raffle and silent auction items. More details can be found at www.contrabandflycasters.net.

5. Ride the Bull.  The world's largest kayak fishing tournament, the 7th annual Ride The Bull will be held Saturday, August 26, out of Bridgeside Marina on Grand Isle.  Activities start on Friday afternoon with the Captains Dinner and meeting, followed by the Calmwater Film Festival and live music.  Then on Saturday at 7am, anywhere from 500 to 700 kayakers, canoeists, or whatever floats without a motor, will spread out in Caminada Pass in hopes of catching a redfish over 10 pounds.  For more details, go to www.ccalouisiana.com.

Jason Borger's new book

Jason Borger has a new book on casting, entitled "Nature of Fly Casting: A Modular Approach". For those who don't know, Jason was the fly casting advisor and double to Brad Pitt in the movie "A River Runs Through It". He's been a featured speaker in recent years at the Red Stick Fly Fishers "Red Stick Day" and at the FFI Southern Fly Fishing Fair (conclave). His latest work is "Single-Handed Fly Casting". According to Jason, if you buy his book you'll get "A bunch of paper. Some ink. Several decades of fly casting instruction experience and research (with actual scientist types). And lots of drawings of me.".  Joking aside, Jason's book has been anxiously awaited. According to a press release, the author uses concepts developed through years of observing the ways people learn about fly casting. MSRP will be $60.

What's happening this week 7/30

On Tuesday, the Acadiana Fly Rodders hold their monthly meeting at Grace Presbyterian Church on 415 Roselawn in Lafayette. Time is 6:30pm. Guests are welcome. On Wednesday, the Pontchartrain Basin Fly Fishers holds their monthly general meeting at Abita Brew Pub on 72011 Holly Street in Abita Springs. Time is 6:00pm. Guests are welcome. For more info, go to www.pbasinflyfishers.blogspot.com. On Saturday, Orvis of Baton Rouge will hold an "Advanced Casting Course". There are three (3) two-hour sessions: 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm. Each session has a limited class size so pre-registration is required. There is NO cost for each session. The class will focus on improving basic casting skills to the next level. To register, call 225-757-7286. Also on Saturday, the Backpacker of Baton Rouge will hold a free "Paddle Demo Day" at BREC's Wampold Park on Stanford Avenue adjacent to University Lake. Time is 10:00am to 2:00pm. Models include Hobie, Wilderness, Perception, Mad River, YOLO, and others. In case of inclimate weather, check their Facebook page to confirm, or call 225-925-2667.

The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide revised

One of the best new books at IFTD was "The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide" by Tom Rosenbauer. You're probably saying, "This isn't a new book". You're correct - it's the first revision in 10 years. Fly fishing is a dynamic sport. Much has changed since Dame Juliana Berners wrote the definitive book on our sport in 1496. But there have probably been more changes in our sport in the last decade than any decade previously and a lot of that has come from a combination of the internet, competitive angling, the rise of kayak fishing, and rod technology. The book is well illustrated, and includes sections on tackle selection, casting and presentation, flies and techniques for various fresh and saltwater species. The 408-page book is available thru the Orvis store in Baton Rouge and sells for $24.95.

What's happening this week 7/23

On Monday, the Red Stick Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at Cabelas in Gonzales. Time is 7:00pm. Beginners and public invited. Bring your tools, if none, the club has sets for use during these sessions. Materials are provided. For more info, go to www.rsff.org. Also on Monday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers hold their monthly general meeting at the Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm. This month, Catch Cormier will do a presentation "New Products for 2018" relative to fly fishing and kayak fishing from the recent Fly Tackle Dealer / ICAST trade show in Orlando. The public is invited. For more info, go to www.kisatchiefly.org. On Tuesday, the Bass Pro Shops in Denham Springs will hold their monthly fly tying clinic. Time is 6:00pm. Please bring your tying tools. If none, a few sets available for use during the session. Materials provided. On Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers hold their monthly meeting at Lakeshore Marina and Fuel across the lot from Blue Crab restaurant. Time is 7:00pm. Guests are welcome. On Saturday, the Orvis store in Baton Rouge will hold another of their "Fly Fishing 101" sessions. Time is 8:00am to 10:30am. There is no cost. FF101 is a free one-day, 2-hour clinic designed to introduce the basics of fly fishing and fly casting. For more info or to register, call 225-757-7286. Also on Saturday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers will hold their annual Summer Workshop at the LDWF Woodworth Education Center in Woodworth. Time is 8:30am to 1:00pm. For more info, go to www.kisatchiefly.org.

Kudos to the North Louisiana Fly Fishers!

Yesterday the North Louisiana Fly Fishers held their annual "Masters Series" event at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Bossier City. Approximately 60 folks showed up to listen to George Daniel, 2-time National Fly Fishing Champion and author of books on nymphing and streamers. George started with an excellent casting seminar before the heat set in. He followed up with a couple of slide presentations on his specialty areas. Then finished with a tying demonstration in which he tied five easy-to-tie but very effective nymph patterns. Congrats to Rex White who won a Cabelas CZN rod the club was raffling off for the event. According to organizers Scott Irwin and Tom Bullock, the 2018 Masters Series is already in discussion and a few names are being considered

National Hunting and Fishing Day in planning stage

National Hunting and Fishing Day is September 23rd. Although it's still two months away, planning has begun for Louisiana's celebration of this national event. Established by Congress in 1971, NHF Day - always the fourth Saturday in September - recognizes the many contributions that hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts have made towards sustainable use of fish and game, and towards conservation of waterways, forests, and other natural resources. In Louisiana, NHF Day is celebrated at four venues in Baton Rouge, Woodworth, Minden and Monroe, with average attendance nearly 10,000. Each venue has a wide range of activities and exhibitors. Fly fishing and kayaking are popular at the Baton Rouge, Woodworth, and Bodcau events thanks to the participation of local fly fishing and kayak fishing clubs.

What's happening this week 7/16

On Monday, the Kisatchie Fly Fishers hold their monthly fly tying session at the Rapides Westside Library in Alexandria. Time is 6:30pm. Beginners are welcome. On Tuesday, the Contraband Fly Casters will hold their monthly meeting at St Paul's Lutheran Center on East Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles. Fly tying and discussion at 6:00pm, meeting at 7:00pm. Among items on the agenda is next month's Contraband Fly Fishing Expo. Guests are welcome. Also on Tuesday, the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club will hold their monthly meeting at Pack and Paddle on 601 East Pinhook Road. Time is 6:00pm. Among the items on the agenda is this weekend's LA1 Slamboree. Guests are welcome! On Thursday, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers hold their monthly workshop at the Bass Pro Shops in Bossier City. Time is 6:00pm. Jerald Lewis will be leading the group in tying a Slow Sinking Spider. Beginners are welcome. Also on Thursday, the New Orleans Fly Fishers will hold the 2nd of their twice-monthly fly tying sessions at St. Francis Xavier Hall on 444 Metairie Road. Time is 7:00pm. Beginners are welcome. Bring your tools, if none, the club has a few sets for use during these sessions. Materials are provided. Starting Friday, and continuing thru Sunday, it's the Louisiana Sportsman Show - New Orleans edition. The state's largest and longest-running outdoors show has added a second venue. In addition to the March venue at Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales, the second show returns to it's roots at the New Orleans Convention Center. Times are 2:00pm to 9:00pm Friday, 9:00am to 9:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday. Numerous exhibitors and seminars. For complete details, go to www.louisianasportsmanshow.com. On Saturday, it's the 5th annual North Louisiana Fly Fishers Masters Series. More on that later. Also on Saturday, the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club will hold their annual "Highway 1 Slamboree" out of the Leeville Public Launch. Entry fee is $35. Categories include Cajun Slam (slot red, speck, flounder 12" or longer), and Leopard Red. For more info, go to www.lafayettekayakfishing.com. Also on Saturday, the Orvis store in Baton Rouge will hold a "Fly Fishing 101" clinic. Time is 8:00am to 10:30am. FF101 is a free, one-day course designed to introduce the basics of fly fishing and fly casting. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is requested. To register, call 225-757-7298.

5th annual Masters Series this Saturday

Hosted by the North Louisiana Fly Fishers, the "Masters Series" is an annual seminar which brings in one of the biggest names in our sport to share their knowledge and expertise. This year's event will be held at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge off Sunflower Road in Bossier City. Time is 9:00am to 4:00pm. Tickets are $40 and include presentation, lunch and refreshments. Seats are limited. As of this writing, only a few tickets were still available. This year's special guest is George Daniel, author of "Dynamic Nymphing" and 7-time member of the USA Fly Fishing Team. Having competed at a high level in international competition, Daniel is considered one of the best fly anglers in America. He will be doing a casting presentation, a fly tying demo, and a program on various fly fishing techniques designed to catch more, bigger trout. For more info, go to www.northlaflyfishers.org or contact Scott Irwin at 318-469-0854.

Another hectic IFTD / ICAST

This past week your intrepid reporter was in Orlando for International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (IFTD) held in conjunction with ICAST, the world's largest sportfishing trade show. While there were lots of new fly fishing products, as well as new fishing kayaks, it wasn't nearly as many as each of the last two years. But that's not to say it was a "down year" by any stretch. Readers will be delighted to hear that for 2018, the quality of rods and reels in the mid-priced range are stellar. With mid-range tackle so good, the rod companies had to up their game in the premium category to justify the higher prices - and they've done just that. It all keeps getting better! We tested over three dozen rods, took over 40 pages of notes, and collected over 60 publications on new and existing products!  Once again, we summarize our findings - and best products overall - in the Fly Lines column of the September and December issues of Louisiana Sportsman.

Black Boudreaux

Originator: Ray Boudreaux

Species: bream, crappie

Remarks by Catch Cormier:

One fly that has produced for me consistently under tough conditions, when fish are reluctant to eat surface bugs or larger food items, has been the Black Boudreaux and it's spinoffs, the Purple Boudreaux and Blue Boudreaux.

This pattern was created by Ray Boudreaux of New Iberia, a longtime member of Acadiana Fly Rodders. As Ray tells it, he had just joined AFR and participated in a fishing outing at a local pond. One of the members was having great success catching bream on a small fly.  Ray tried to recreate the fly and in the process, came up with something different. Fellow member Bob Boese was so impressed with the fly, he named it after Ray.

Bob's variation of this fly uses brown or black hackle for the tail, and tinsel instead of peacock for the body. I tie on Czech nymph hook in a slightly larger size, with the original body, but have adapted from Bob the use of hackle for the tail.

Materials:

• hook: size 12 Czech nymph, Hanak H333BL or similar thread: size 6/0 black
• tail: hackle feathers from near base of feather
• body: peacock herl (black, purple, blue)
• hackle: dry fly hackle (black, purple, blue)
• eyes: small bead chain black

Instructions:

• Tie in the bead chain eyes one eye length behind the hook eye
• Pull off 8-10 barbs off the pennaceous section of a hackle feather and tie in as a tail.
• Tie in a size 10-14 hackle feather... size not too important as you'll trim the feather down.
• Tie in a strand of peacock herl. For strength and bulk, I tie it in a dubbing loop then twist the loop.
• Wrap the peacock herl forward and tie off just behind the bead eyes. Then palmer the feather forward and tie off just behind the bead eyes.
• Bring the thread ahead of the bead eyes and make the final wraps. Add UV epoxy or similiar to the final wraps.

Notes:

This fly can be fished "straight" but also under a tiny football-style strike indicator.

Video:

Y2K Bugger

Originator: Kevin Cormier

Species: bass, brown trout, bream (size 8)

Remarks by Catch Cormier:

On a trip to Cody, Wyoming, my older son Kevin and I found ourselves chasing big browns on the Shoshone River below Buffalo Bill Dam. We were using a pattern called a Yukbugger, beefy variation of a woolybugger, recommended by the local shop.
 
The fish were 18 inches on up, and in the strong current, we had a couple of breakoffs. As well as a few lost to overhanging trees. I had my tying bag, and so Kevin decided to try his skill at tying this fly. It looked quite different from what we were fishing, but turned out to be just as effective.

Since it was 1999, and everyone was preoccupied with Y2K and possible end of the world, we named Kevin's fly the Y2K Bugger. For various species, it's been the end of their world (at least the ones we kept to eat).

Materials:

• Mustad 3366-BR size 4, or equivalent
• Brass eyes, medium, black
• Marabou
• Krystal Flash Chenille, medium
• Schlapplen
• Silli Legs - barred

Best color combos:

• olive marabou/ olive chenille / yellow-gold-black legging
• tan marabout / bonefish tan chenille / orange-orange-black legging

Preparation:

Fold a silicon skirt lengthwise in half, then cut the skirt in half. This is the exact length of legging that will be needed for this fly.

Instructions:

• tie thread from eye to just past the hook bend
• tie in eyes
• tie in marabou tail just where the hook starts to bend. When done right, the top of the marabou should be even with the hook shank.
• tie in two legs on top of marabou that extend to end of marabou. Wrap the thread over legs halfway to the eyes.
• tie in the chenille and begin wrapping to the front. When you get to the legging tag ends, pull the tag ends backward and wrap the chenille tight over the tags. This should set them about 45 degrees out from the body.
• Continue wrapping the chenille to just behind the eyes and lock down with thread.  Now tie in a another silicon strip just behind the eyes.  The strip will be tied in the middle – so you have a leg extending out on each side.  Use a cross wrap to get the legs angled back about 45 degrees.
• Now turn the fly over to tie in the wing.
• Two options for the wing, both tied in front of the eyes: (1) make a dubbing loop with the schlapplen fibers. Wrap the fibers once around the hook, then trim any fibers on the underside of the body. (2) strip off two short sections of schlapplen fibers and tie each section in at an angle, much like you would tail biots on a Prince Nymph.
• Finish the head wraps and apply UV epoxy or nail polish.

Other Notes:

This fly can be tied in a size 8, and with a shorter tail to body ratio, where it then becomes a terrific attractor for redear and large bluegill during the early Spring and Fall months.

Coma Crawfish

Originator: Catch Cormier

 

Species: warmwater

Remarks by Catch Cormier:

Having grown up on the outskirts of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, I knew everything that lived in the swamp ate crawfish - especially us Cajuns! So one of the first flies I set out to create was some sort of mudbug imitation.

Gary Borger believes the most effective submergent flies have subtle movements in water. I wholeheartedly agree! So I used a combination of natural materials to achieve this.  Consisting of feathers, marabou, rabbit fur, this fly has very good movement even if it isn't as realistic as some modern day patterns.

One thing I learned from my dad, and later affirmed as a successful tournament bass angler, is that bass much prefer small crawfish.  I’ve seen them munch on small mudbugs the way some kids eat chicken nuggets!  That's the reason this fly measures only 2-1/2 inches in length. Don't let the small size fool you... in 1995, it took a seven pound bass out of our neighborhood pond. The biggest largemouth I'd caught on any tackle up to that time!

It's best fished on a sinking tip line with a short leader. Originally I had to bend the front of the hook 60 degrees. When 90 degree jig hooks were available, I tied on those. Fortunately today we have a few options of 60 degree jig hooks available for tiers.

Materials:

• Hook: Daiichi 4660 jig hook, or 60 degree jig, size 2
• Eyes: Brass, large, black
• Carapace: Rabbit Zonker, Orange or Light Olive
• Claws: Indian hen hackle orange or olive
• Body: Medium chenille, brown or olive
• Legs: Strung marabou, Rusty Brown or Dark Olive
• Tailing: Rabbit zonker, Crawfish Orange (dark orange)

Best color combos: orange or olive

Instructions:

• tie thread from eye to just above hook point
• tie in eyes in front where the hook bends (60 or 90 degree)
• pull hen feather from each side of cape and tie on top of hook
• tie in the carapace. It should extend no further than halfway to end of feathers
• tie in chenille and make 2-3 wraps. Tie off the chenille.
• tie in a clump of marabou tips loosely, then allow to spin 180 degrees, then cinch tie the marabou.
• tie in another small piece of chenille and wrap to just behind the eyes and lock down.
• make a dubbing loop using the dark orange or dark olive rabbit, and wrap just behind the eyes.
• bring the thread to the just behind the hook eye and whip finish.

 

 

GBEP Spawning Shrimp

Originator: Enrico Puglisi

Variation: Justin Hanson

Species: inshore saltwater

Remarks by Catch Cormier

This fly is a hybrid of the wildly-popular EP Spawning Shrimp and the GB (Got Butter) Spawning Shrimp by Justin Hanson. The materials and techniques are identical to the GB version, except instead of artic fox (GB) I use EP fibers - but NOT the brush!  Ideally, the GB version would be ideal...artic fox is amazing material. But to do the GB fly proper requires 3" fur - difficult to find!

From May through October, when shrimp are prevalent throughout the marsh and nearshore waters, this fly rules!  You can fish it "straight", i.e., cast it out, let it sink, then retrieve along the bottom in short strips.  But the most effective method is suspended about 3 feet under a VOSI (the flyrodders popping cork).  The VOSI makes a popping sound that attracts specks, the strip/pause technique causes a vertical motion of the fly underneath.  

Materials:

• hook: Mustad 34007 or Tiemco 811s, size #2 or #1
• thread: Danville 210 denier flat waxed nylon
• weight: 1/50 ounce dumbbell eyes
• egg sack: McFly foam or craft fur (orange or pink)
• eyes:  EZ Shrimp eyes, or EP Shrimp eyes, or monofilament DIY
• antennae 1: Sili-Legs, or Loco Legs
• antennae 2: Krystal Flash
• carapace: EP fibers
• body: cactus chenille
• wing:  EP fibers

Best colors: olive, tan, light pink

NOTE:  The mono/EP Shrimp Eyes make a better looking fly, but aren't necessary as far as fish catching ability goes.  The fish seem to concentrate more on the action of the materials.

Instruction:

1. Tie in the dumbbell weight near the hook eye.
2. Tie in 6-8 strands of Krystal Flash at the bend of hook
3. Tie in 4 strands of Sili-Legs at the bend of hook
4. Tie in carapace of EP Fibers, trim to V-shape
5. Tie in shrimp eyes on bottom of hook extending out but not beyond the hook itself.
6. Tie in small, very short clump of pink craft fur (or McFly) on bottom side of bend.
7. Tie in Cactus Chenille and wrap forward, tie off behind dumbbell eyes.
8. Tie in strand of EP Fiber on bottom side of hook
9. Optionally, tie strand of EP Fiber on top side of hook, but not past carapace.
10. Whip finish head and apply sealant.
11. Trim antennae (Sili-Legs and Krystal Flash) such that fly length is twice that of hook length.

Notes: 

Here's a link to Justin's video on the GB Spawning Shrimp

 

Rio Bandito

Originator: Chris Johnson

Species: Rio Grande Perch, sunfish

Remarks by Jim Johnson

The Rio Bandito is sometimes referred to as the Mardi Kraw, although there's another fly of that same name. It was created by Chris Johnson of Living Waters Fly Fishing, for the Rio Grande Perch in the Hill Country waters of Texas.

I bought a couple while in the shop a couple of years ago and when I returned to Louisiana I found it to be my go to fly. I’ve caught nearly every species of sunfish we have here to include crappie, warmouth, and both spotted and largemouth bass. It’s murder on small creeks!

Materials:

• hook: Jig hook - size 12
• bead: tungsten beads - metallic red - size 1/8”
• tail: guard hairs of fur
• body/collar: fur dubbing in a loop (rabbit or squirrel strips)
• legs: silicone legs, matching color

Best colors:  crawfish orange, natural, olive

Instruction:

Video by Chris Johnson

Johnson's Rio Bandito from Living Waters Fly Fishing on Vimeo.

Other:

At the 2020 annual "Rio Grande Fly Fishing Rodeo" hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers, Glen 'Catch' Cormier won "Biggest Rio" category using a crawfish-colored Rio Bandito. 

Flip Flop Popper

Originator: ubiquitous

Version by: Roger del Rio

Species: reds, specks, bass, sunfish

Remarks by Roger del Rio:

Game fish love surface poppers. The noise attracts fish especially when the water is murky or the light level is low.  In fact, some of the biggest reds I've caught were on this fly in dirty water. It floats high and is very durable.

Materials:

• Hook (saltwater): - Mustad 34007 sizes 1 to 2/0, or Mustad 34011 long shank 2 to 2/0
• Hook (freshwater) - Mustad wide gap 37187 sizes 2 to 6
• Body: any color Shower Sandal or Flip Flop. Can be found at Wal-Mart, Walgreens or other general store.
• Tail: bucktail color to complement body. Also use a few strands of Flashabou in tail.
• Eyes: doll eyes sizes 5mm to 8mm depending on body size.

Instructions:

1.  Use a sharp knife or single edge razor blade. Toothpick used in applying glue.
2.  Cut the sandal into strips from left side to right side. Make strip wide enough to
3.  Fit your hook.Then cut smaller pieces to make each body.
4.  Shape this body with the knife or razor blade then fine tune the body with coarse sandpaper or emery board. The shape is up to you. They all catch fish.
5.  Now cut a groove on bottom of body for the hook. Wrap the shank where it will fit in the body groove. This keeps body from rolling.
6.  Now glue wraped hook into groove in body. Use plenty of Hosehold Goop on body. Cover entire bottom. Work hook deep into groove.
7.  Let set over night upside down wedged in a clothespin. The goop will smooth out when drying.
8.  Wrap bucktail on hook behind body add flashabou. Don't overdo it.
9.  Last step glue on doll eyes with same Goop.
10.  Let dry go fish. 

 

Amnesia Fly

Originator: unknown

Species: bass, panfish, pickerel

Remarks: by Catch Cormier

At the Acadiana Fly Rodders annual conclave in 2002, I won a posterboard of flies in a raffle. It contained over a hundred flies tied by members of the club, or by folks who had donated old flies to the club.

When I got it home, I started picking through the collection, seperating them into boxes for salt water, bream, bass and coldwater trout. Turns out there was one fly that had fallen from the posterboard the night I brought it home. When I discovered it, my wife claims I set a new record in the 400-meter dash. That’s about how far it was from my back door to the edge of the neighborhood pond.

Four of the five voices in my head told me this fly was going to be special. The instant I cast it out and it hit the water, the fish were over it like crawfish etouffee over rice!

I made every attempt to find out who tied this fly and what it's name was, but no one knew. I then perused the internet hoping to find the pattern somewhere, but again to no avail. Someone suggested I call it the "Amnesia Fly", because it doesn’t recall what it’s real name is, or who tied it.

I’ve done very well with this fly for bass, bream, crappie and pickerel. I’ve even tied a saltwater version for redfish, and it’s done well too.  I'm sharing this pattern recipe just in case I get amnesia myself and forget.

Materials:

• Hook: Mustad 9672 sizes 6 or 8 (larger sizes for bass)
• Tail: Marabou
• Body: Metallic braid wrapped around the shank, with one strand of flashabou on each side extending just past the tail
• Ribbing: monofilament or small diameter v-ribbing
• Head: Built up with thread then epoxied over
• Alternative head: 3/16" black bead brass (mid-depth) or tungsten (deep)

Best colors: black, olive, purple

Instructions:

1. Tie in the marabou tail. The length should be same as the hook shank length.
2. Tie in one flashabou strand each side, with the strands going forward (not towards the back).
3. Tie in the ribbing on top the hook, starting just behind the eye (or bead) and going back to just before the bend.
4. Tie in the metallic braid to just before the bend. Bring the thread to behind the eye.
5. Wrap the metallic braid going forward and tie off at the eye.
6. Pull the flashabou strands back toward the tail. Pinch in place while wrapping the ribbing forward.
7. Tie off the ribbing at the eye.
8. Trim the flashabou to just past the end of the tail.

 

 

Slow Sinking Spider

Originator: Stephen Robert

Species: panfish, bass

Remarks:

The Slow Sinking Spider is the creation of Stephen Robert of Houma, Louisiana, and has become one of the best bream (sunfish) flies anywhere. It's a replacement - and an improvement - to the legendary Accardo Ligon Spider, which is now discontinued.

Stephen says, "I use this pattern sight fishing to bluegill and bass. If you have bright sunny days and the fish will not hit poppers and you can see the fish let this fall slowly in their face or in their beds.".

In their presentation, "Magnificient Seven Panfish Flies", warmwater experts Glen 'Catch' Cormier and Larry Offner list it in the seven must-have flies. On many occasions, this fly has done the trick when popping bugs or deep nymphs have drawn few strikes. The SSS is not only a great pattern, but is fairly easy to tie. Making it a good choice for novice tiers.

Materials:

• Hook: Mustad dry fly hook-R50-94840, or equivalent, size 10
• Abdomen: ultra chenille (color 1)
• Thorax and backing: ultra chenille (color 2)
• Legs: barred sili-legs or centipede legs
• Thread: size 70 denier or 6/0 thread black

Best color combinations, thorax/abdomen: black/chartreuse, black/yellow, black/red, red/yellow, light blue/tan

Instruction:

Video by Bill Morrison

 

Ron's Redchaser

Originator:  Ron Begnaud

Species:  redfish, drum, other inshore species

Remarks: by Ron Begnaud

Ron's Redchaser is a fly I developed in the Spring of 2001. One of the things I find most rewarding about fly tying is the problem solving aspect of it. I was met with the challenges of the marsh being particularly muddy. I needed a fly that would be visible in bad water. I also wanted a fly that would push water and look like a mouthfull to big fish. Having already come to the conclusion that the mouth of redfish is on the bottom of their head for a reason (they feed down) I knew I wanted a fly with a little weight that would settle on the bottom. 

Combining these attributes, plus a desire to always have the fly ride hook up, and be fairly weedless, the redchaser was born. After first developing this fly it took me a long time to actually get a fish to refuse it. It produced agressive strikes in many varied conditions. Rons Redchaser is now my go to and signature redfish fly. I hope it catches as many fish for you as it has for me.

Materials:

• Hook - Eagle Claw EC413 60 degree jig hook, or Mustad 34007 with eye bent 60 degrees toward point, size 2 or 4
• Thread - Red Flat Waxed Nylon
• Eyes - Small or Xsmall dumbell or hourglass eyes
• Tail - Gold Braided Mylar piping, or prismatic gold polyester piping (pictured) available in sewing dept of Hobby Lobby.
• Body - 2 Wraps of red chenille
• Hackle - 2 red saltwater neck hackles, palmered.
• Head - 5 minute epoxy

Instructions:

1.  Sharpen hook
2.  If using Mustad 34007, place eye of hook in vice, and bend toward point at about 60 degrees to resemble a jig hook.
3.  Tie in dumbell or hourglass eyes on top of hook right behind 60 degree bend.
4.  Tie in a tail of gold mylar or prismatic polyester piping. If the piping is of a small/narrow size, e 2 or 3 peices of equal length.
5. When tying in piping begin less than 1/2 inch behind eyes.
6.  Fray piping to form tail.
7.  Tie in end of chenille in where mylar is tied in, make 2 or 3 wraps and tie off front end.
8.  Tie in 2 red saltwater hackles and palmer to just behind eyes.
9.  Apply 5 minute epoxy from dumbell or hourglass eyes to eye of hook and rotate to dry.

Cabali Worm

Originator:  Ted Cabali

Species:  Bass

Remarks: by Catch Cormier

Previously known as the Sqwirm Worm - until that name became associated with a trout fly tied from Squirmy toy material - the Cabali Worm is one of several innovative creations from fly tying genius Ted Cabali of River Ridge, LA.  

According to Cabali, the basis of this fly was "renewed interest in fly patterns that imitate spinning or casting rod lures rather than specific aquatic organisms".  The Cabali Worm isn't a specific set pattern, but a group of patterns that closely imitate the conventional angler's plastic lures, and which use silicon strip material (trade name: Sili-Legs).  For example, the original variation of this fly was a saltwater attractor that imitated soft plastic baits used for speckled trout and redfish.

The Cabali Worm was born of the same principle, except with bass the intended target. The instructions I list are for creating the worm body. What you do with it is up to your creativity. The original Cabali Worms (flies on the left) imitate more of a lizard or crawfish, and are deadly on spawning bass. The variation on the right resembles more the straight-tail plastic worm. Swim this fly by stripping it in small but steady pulls. It's light enough to cast with a 5 weight, and float thru grass mats like those found on many lakes, but still sinks without weight.

 

Materials:

Sillilegs, aka Silli Legs, come in many colors, patterns, and sizes. For an idea of what colors and patterns are available, check out the Barlow website. You can also find these same type skirts at most fly shops.

This fly calls for using the regular-size cut silicone skirt layers that are slit to the last 1/4" on each end. The layers are very easy to use because the ends are not slit. Other materials will include the hook of your choice, flat waxed thread, and possibly chenille and beads (a beadhead version of this fly, with a short, small hook, is a killer).

Instructions:

Each layer of sillilegs contains 20-22 strands. Depending on hook thick a worm you wish to make, 10 to 16 strands are needed. The thinner worms are more limp, have more action in the water, and are easier to cast with a light rod. This needs to be balanced by the fact that thicker worms can catch the bigger bass.

Let's make a 12 strand worm. Seperate each layer into two sets of strands, 6 each. Cut one end of the layer, but leave the other end intact. Grab the cut ends, seperate them, and begin twisting. After enough twists, poke a finger in the middle (where the layer end is), bring one end back to the other, and let the two ends slowly "bimini twist" on each other. If the worm comes up a bit crooked, pull and stretch the worm out a few times, and this will straighten it up. Use small paper clips to hold the worms in place until the tying process is ready.

I'll give two tying options here. The first calls for using a Mustad 37187 bass hook. Bend the top 1/4" in a bendback-style. Then tie the clipped end of your sqwirm body onto this bent section. The worm will fall right alongside the point. In fact, pass the hook between Sqwirm strands. Attaching a mono weedguard at this point also acts to keep the sqwirm from sliding off the hook point and doing crazy things. This pattern best represents the typical bass worm.

The second option - my favorite - is the beadhead worm. I've found that 4" plastic worms on a jighead can be as deadly on bigger bass as large worms with large hooks. Just not as snagproof. I use a 4mm beadhead, vernille, and size 4 or 6 jig style hook, 60 degree flat eye, usually black nickel.  Tie the worm body to the hook shaft, then tie in a matching vernille body and wrap up to the beadhead. Finish off on the beadhead. This fly has incredible motion when retrieved in small strips.

TYING TIP UPDATE 1 When twisting the split layer, the middle is where the layer remains joined. If this "joined end" breaks, take the two sections and merge them similar to a loop-to-loop connection. Then restart the twisting.

TYING TIP UPDATE 2 The "joined end" is unstable as is. It won't last but a few strikes from a fish, then the worm unravels. To prevent this, make a Duncan Loop with mono, and slip it over the worm above the joined end. Tighten the mono loop down firm around the tail, then trim. You can even apply a tiny amount of super glue or UV epoxy around the mono for durability.

Shiny Fon-Fon

Originator: Barry Dauphin

Species: inshore brackish

Remarks:

Redfish love charlies of all kinds, and this pattern by Barry Dauphin of Lafayette is a cousin to the charlie, but without the wing. The secret to the flies success, and to its name, is the shiny tail. Barry says the tail on the Shiny Fon-Fon is that little extra, or lagniappe, that gets Mr. Redfish on the fly like a hungry Cajun on french bread!

Materials:

•  Mustad 34007 hook size 2
•  Dyed yellow grizzly hackle feather
•  Large bead chain eyes
•  Pink chenille
•  Silver krystal flash
•  Silver flashabou, narrow in width

Instructions:

1. Tie in eyes and wrap thread toward bend of hook.
2.  Tie in 50/50 mix of krystal and flashabou for tail, length of tail should be length of hook
3. Tie in the hackle feather at bend, followed by the chenille.
4. Wrap the chenille toward the front, covering the hook and tying off behind the bead eye.
5. Palmer the feather towards the front, and tie off behind the bead eyes.
6. For added durability, use epoxy or clear nail polish on the threads between the eye of the hook and the bead chain.eyes.