How Cormier's 2nd and 6th Laws came to fruition

Today marks an anniversary of sorts. On this day 30 years ago, I passed the examination for the Fly Fishers International (FFI) Certified Casting Instructor (CCI) program at the FFI Southeastern Council conclave in Haines City, Florida.

The program was still in it's first full year, but had been well advertised.  As such, many folks tried and many failed the exam.  But I passed with flying colors as they say. My examiner was the legendary Chico Fernandez, a great caster, author, outdoor writer, fly tier, and who once held several world records including largest redfish on fly rod. What impressed Chico most about my field testing portion of the exam was that I did it using a 4-weight rod. Ask any flyfisher to execute an 80-foot cast,  or a 40-foot roll cast, or aeralize 60 feet of line, routinely using a 4-weight. With today's high-tech rods, probably not so difficult. With the rods back then... pretty tough!  I'll share that my secret was using a premium double-taper fly line.

My motive to become an FFI CCI was a bit misguided. It began in 1988. Our club in Baton Rouge - Red Stick Fly Fishers - was only months old. We had decided to relocate to St. Luke's Episcopal School where there was this big green lawn for casting. Shortly after the move, the club held its first "Distance Casting Contest". The winner threw for 82 feet, most of the members threw in the 60s and 70s. My best of three casts was a measly 48 feet. It wasn't last place, but it was in the bottom five - out of fifty!

Anyone who knows my competitive nature knows this was cause enough to get me going. But shortly after, a second incident occured that added fuel to the motivation. My buddy Dugan Sabins and I were out marsh fishing near Cocodrie. We came upon an island where small redfish were stacked on the shallow side - a couple dozen in the 16" to 18" size. Still great fun on fly rod! The closest we could get without grounding was 50 feet. Every cast I made with my fly rod was short. Meanwhile, Dugan - using spinning tackle - was hooking fish after fish.

The club had a pair of casting clinics the next two years with Dave Johnson and David Diaz, two of the best technical casting instructors I've ever known. I absorbed everything they said like a sponge! I also attended events at other clubs where there were casting demonstrations, and in 1991, my first FFI regional conclave where I took a casting class with my longtime mentor and soon after friend, Gary Borger. In 1992, I began scheduling my training trips to Atlanta and Philadelphia in conjunction with the same weeks prior to the large commercial fly fishing shows. There I took classes with the likes of Joe Humphries, Lefty Kreh and Ed Jaworoski. Also in 1992, I attended my first FFI National Conclave and took a casting workshop there.

On top of the in-person clinics and workshops, my VHS player probably overheated a few times with me watching casting videos by Mel Krieger, Doug Swisher, Gary Borger, Joan Wulff and others. I'd come home from work and head to the elementary school grounds just a block from the house and practice, practice, practice. By Spring 1993, I had become proficient at the following: roll cast, standard cast (pick up and lay down), wind cast, Belgian cast, elliptical cast, curve cast, reach mend cast, parachute cast, double haul, over-shoulder cast and more, as well as able to demonstrate "bad" casts: tailing loops (wind knot), open loops, drifting, and more.

So when I learned about this new CCI program, I took it as a personal challenge. I passed the exam and met my goal of being an excellent flycaster. And in addition, my fishing success greatly improved (Cormier's 2nd Law of Flyfishing: "Casting proficiency leads to fishing success").  

But personal success is not what the FFI Certification program was intended for. It was so those wanting to learn about our sport would be given a professional and enhanced level of instruction by CCIs. While I had given a few casting coaching lessons to other club members, I'd never taught a class prior to earning my CCI badge. It didn't take long before I was given that challenge.  

I was asked to teach a group of six students. I started with the basics of our sport: tackle, flies, terminology. Then I got into the casting part including hands-on instruction. Halfway into the session, my mind became euphoric... this experience was almost as much fun and gratifying as catching a tarpon, large trout, bull red, or big bass on fly rod. Like I said - almost!  The experience led me to draft Cormier's 6th Law of Fly Fishing: "Teaching others is as rewarding as catching fish".

Since 1993, I've probably taught close to a thousand folks - many of them youngsters - how to fly cast. All my kids are excellent flycasters themselves, but I can't take credit there. That lesson is one that I learned the hard way... don't ever teach your own kids. Thankfully once they learned the basics from others, then they were willing to listen to dad's advise.

New fly fishing film premieres this weekend

This weekend, "Mending the Line" premieres in select theaters nationwide. The movie is about a wounded Marine who meets a Vietnam vet at a VA facility and learns from him how to deal with the emotional and physical trauma through fly fishing.  It stars Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Perry Matfeld and Wes Studi.

The film has not received as much fanfare as the 1992 film, A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford and starring Brad Pitt in his first major role.  THE MOVIE, as it's sometimes referred to, sparked a surge of interest in fly fishing that lasted for 8 years. After which a steady decline in the sport took place until 2010.  Since 2010, fly fishing participation in the USA has increased to the point where we have the largest number of fly anglers in nearly 60 years (8.1 million).

Some believe the current trend began with the release of another fly fishing movie, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.  Much less heralded than "River Runs", the romantic drama (and sometimes funny) film became a cult classic with a younger audience.  Most of the showings were in college towns and college campuses. Starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, "Salmon" also received 3 Golden Globe nominations.

So will "Mending the Line" bring another surge in new folks to our sport?  Perhaps.   But perhaps the films message will be more important... that fly fishing can be a means of isolating the difficulties of life and establishing new friends and relationships.

As of now, only 2 theatres in Louisiana will have showings beginning this weekend.  AMC Elmwood Palace 20 (Harahan) and AMC Westbank Palace 16 (Harvey).

Orvis BR announces June Fly Fishing 101 classes

The learning curve to fly fishing can be steep if you don't have someone to help guide throught the tackle, terminology, and casting basics. Fortunately, there are several opportunities to get that assistance - and at no cost.

Orvis offers "Fly Fishing 101" classes through their stores. FF101 is a one-day, 2.5 hour clinic designed to introduce the basics of fly fishing and fly casting.  It includes hands-on rigging and casting instruction.  It's perfect for beginners of all ages (under 16 must be accompanied by an adult). There is NO cost, but pre-registration is required as class size is limited.

The Orvis store in Baton Rouge just announced three sessions:
- June 3rd
- June 10th
- June 17th

For more info, or to register, call (225) 757-7286.

Review: Lamson Velocity 7-weight fly rod

Yes, Virginia, there is a Summer Santa. He often comes disguised as a UPS delivery man. There's no celebratory anticipation.. no decorations.. no festivities and no fruitcake. But make no mistake, his gifts often bring joy to our hearts.

And boy, did I need some uplifting in my life. Ten days ago, I woke up from a short nap to a sharp pain radiating over my right abdomen. I felt pretty certain it was a kidneystone, having had one for the first time just 14 months ago.  My wife took me to the ER, where the diagnosis was confirmed. I was prescribed pain meds and told to see if it would pass over the weekend.

Well it didn't pass. And sometimes bad things can happen if you allow them to linger. A checkup on Monday revealed that my kidney was slightly swollen. So early Tuesday morning, I underwent something called "Lazer Lithotripsy". Rather than describe it, I suggest googling it. While this is considered a minimally invasive procedure, full recovery can take 2 to 4 weeks. During that time, body energy levels are low. Like taking a short walk can wear you out.

So here I was yesterday... feeling like Austin Powers after he lost his mojo. Donald Trump would describe me as a "low energy guy" and that would be optimistic. But then I heard the UPS truck pull up... I perked up and rushed outside. It was Summer Santa bringing me a brand new Lamson Velocity 7-weight fly rod, purchased from No Wake Outfitters in Metairie.

Some background here. At the New Orleans Fly Fishers annual Rio Rodeo in September, Tom Jindra told me of a new fly rod he thought I'd be excited about. Tom is a longtime friend and former president of Fly Fishers International, past chairman of the FFI's Casting Board of Directors, and someone long involved in the fly tackle industry.  He now reps for several brands. As with all reps, I tend to temper any such enthusiasm for new products.

But a few months later, at the NOFF biennial expo, I had the opportunity to test cast the Lamson Velocity - and I was blown away!  This was one of the best casting rods I'd ever put in my hand. I had a need at the time for a new 7-weight rod for bass fishing. But the need never presented itself... this has been a really bad Spring for me and fishing. Probably the fewest times I've fished in 40 years - and I live on a lake!

So for an early Father's Day present to myself, for putting up with pain and the lack of fishing time this year, I ordered the Velocity last week. When the package arrived, it took all of two minutes for me to setup. The paired reel was an Orvis Hydros I won in a gamblers draw at the FFI Gulf Coast Classic earlier in the month. The reel already had backing and an Orvis Pro Taper textured fly line (one of the best lines on the market and worth $120).

The only problem with the line was that it was a 6-weight. You'd think that might underpower a 7-weight on short casts (under 30 feet). WRONG! This combo casts like a dream. Whether the cast is 20 feet or 90 feet, everything was effortless. The rod balances with the reel so well, and there's little swing weight in the rod tip. After 30 minutes of casting - stopped short only because it was getting dark and mosquitos were joining the act - my impression was that this might be one of the very best rods I've ever owned!

So here's how Lamson describes the Velocity: These rods have a fast action and can punch tight loops into windy situations. The high modulus graphite gives a lightweight feel with enough power to throw large flies, cast heavy lines, and quickly fight the lunkers. The 7 and 8-weight models feature anodized aluminum seats with full wells grip and composite fighting butts. The flat-faced Lockdown Reel Seat is designed to ensure consistent locking of your reel and no rotational movement after a long day on the water. Velocity rods come with a tough cordura rod tube and rod sock, and lifetime warranty for defects. MSRP is $469. Repairs caused by misuse can be done for $50. Lamson offers a 2 week turnaround on repairs.

My thoughts on what Lamson says: I'd describe the action as slightly moderate than pure fast. As mentioned, it loads perfectly well at all ranges. That lockdown reel seat is one many of us rodbuilders are now using, and it's the cat's meow! As for price, at $469 it's in the lower end of the mid-priced rod range, nearly $100 less than our previous favorite, the Orvis Recon.

So the bass have had it easy this Spring without me around much to terrorize them. I've also missed out on several kayak bass tournaments. Those days are numbered!  Pretty soon, I'm going to attack the baskeens with a new weapon that will produce hundreds of sore lips. For now, the doctor says rest. I can patiently wait.

LDWF reports results of red drum survey

At the January monthly meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC), LDWF marine fisheries biologist Jason Adriance gave the most recent assessment on red drum stocks in the state.  The report summarized that, while spawning stocks of redfish are still above the conservation standard, the number has been declining since 2005 as fewer redfish escape to spawning size.  And unless management changes are initiated soon, we could see a situation where the fishery is unsustainable.

At the May meeting of the Commission, Adriance followed up with more details of the assessment as well as results of a public survey conducted among licensed anglers.

Stepping back for a moment, lets understand what's happening.  The reasons for redfish decline are much like those for the decline of speckled trout:
- loss of habitat (especially diverse habitat)
- decline of forage (yep, menhaden again)
- increased fishing pressure

Regarding the latter, it should be noted that the current regulations ( 5 fish per day, 16 to 27 inches only, with one exception over 27 inches)  were established 34 years ago in 1988.  The numbers of saltwater anglers in the state, the amount of fishing effort, and the expertise and technology to improve fishing success have all increased dramatically since then.

Red drum are unique in that the vast majority of harvest are juvenile fish.  These immature fish are typically under 4 to 5 years of age, under 27 inches in length, and under 10 pounds in weight.  When a redfish reaches 4 to 5 years of age, it usually migrates to nearshore or offshore waters to join the spawning population.  To protect these spawning stocks, recreational harvest of mature redfish in federal waters is not allowed and severely limited in state waters.  Current regulations for Louisiana are 5 fish per day, 16 to 27 inches only, with one exception over 27 inches.

At the January meeting, LDWF biologists offered a wide range of scenarios to bring both juvenile escapement and the spawning potential recruitment (SPR) back above the conservation standard. To accomplish this, the very minimum in harvest reduction would have to be 35 percent. Scenarios for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 percent reduction were presented.  These findings and scenarios were then presented in a polling of saltwater anglers to learn what management changes would be most acceptable.

The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Gulf Coast Council (GCC) is actively engaged with LDWF biologists in results of the poll, with the idea of coming up with a recommendation to the Commission for new regulations. The GCC has stated they would like a 40 percent (or more) in harvest reduction, but with a plan that most anglers could support.

CCA Louisiana is also involved in this issue, and they've stated that the very first step should be to eliminate the oversize slot allotment. That alone would result in an average 10 percent reduction in harvest.  

What the poll results indicated is that most Louisiana saltwater anglers prefer to keep the smaller sized reds - typically 18" to 24" - compared to the larger slot sizes. That too would elevate the harvest reduction. There was strong support for reducing the daily harvest to 3 fish, but anything less than that was not well received.

We'll continue to track this issue as it unfolds.

Review: Olde Fly Shop 1-weight fly rod

It's not often I come across a rod so impressive that I have to buy after only casting a handful of times. But such was the case with the Olde Fly Shop 1-weight rod from Ye Olde English Fly Shop in Summerlin Key, Florida.

The shop is owned by Brian and Peggy Barnes. Originally from England, the pair relocated after vacationing in south Florida. I knew of their store from my good friend and fellow rod building enthusiast, Roger Breedlove. Roger has ordered blanks from Brian on several occasions and raved about their value.

However it was at the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show in February that I conversed with them for the first time. They were selling their line of finished rods and as is my ritual, I tested a few models. All cast very well, especially considering the price ($220-$260).  But one particular model grabbed my attention - a 6 foot, 6 inch 1-weight four piece. For convenience, I'll refer to this as the "661".

The detail on the 661 defies it's price. The cork grip is listed at AAAA grade, and unlike some makers who claim 4A grade, this cork truly is clean. The blank is IM8 graphite and it's ultra light in the hand and dampening is immediate. The blank has a lovely green finish, the burled wood reel seat is complemented by high-grade fittings, and the ferrules are marked not only with the guide alignment but with the model length and weight. It comes with a rod bag and a cordura-covered carrying case. According to Brian, their rods come with a replacement option if broken.

After testing for 10 minutes at the AFF Show casting pool, I knew I wanted this rod. While I have a 1-weight and a pair of 2-weight rods, they are all two piece. The idea of having a short, 4-piece rod that I could carry on flights was appealing enough. But in testing, I found this rod to be quite amazing. And not to mention what a beautiful rod it was as well!  And then there was the show discount - I picked it up for $180.

Back home, I didn't put it to the CCS test... don't really do that anymore since moving to central Louisiana. I simply take various weights of fly lines I have on several reels, and use each one to determine what weight line works best. While this rod can certainly cast a 1-weight, it worked much better with a Triangle Taper 2-weight line as well as a Mastery Trout 3-weight line. A couple of 4-weight lines overloaded this rod and even with short amount of line out, I was throwing tailing loops. So I'd say this is a 2-weight rod, not a 1-weight. But that's okay because it serves the same purpose.

Paired with a custom-made machined reel, this baby balanced perfectly in the hand. I did the usual test of casting short to mid-range to long range. It performed excellent at all distances, with the maximum distance being 84 feet! Yes, that required a double haul but it's still impressive. The 90-degree PULD cast delivered almost perfect efficiency... I suspect the IM8 blank made this possible. In my experience, IM8 is better for directional changes than the industry standard IM6 blanks often found at this price point.

Overall, this rod gets a 9.5 out of 10. The only deduction being that it's really a 2-weight. But if you're looking for a rod for ponds, small creeks, or to make casts under limbs or other cover, or just one to have fun with small panfish, the Olde Fly Shop 661 should be at the top of your list. 

Gulf Coast Classic website now up

2023 FFI Gulf Coast Classic
Friday-Saturday, May 5-6, 2023
Gulf State Park – Learning Campus
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Website:  www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

The Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International has announced that their inaugural  Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival now has its own website. On the website are complete details about the event including:  admissions, schedule, sponsors, exhibitors, workshops, demonstration fly tiers, speakers and instructors, the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) taking place Saturday evening, the Classic Mixed Bag fishing contest, a map of the Learning Campus, and much more!

There are special opportunities for volunteers, demo fly tiers, speakers and instructors. Registration will be live shortly and details for those interested in making our event a success will be detailed in emails to GCC members and others who have contacted us with interest.

Again, bookmark the Classic site at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com and visit often as updates will be posted routinely.

Make plans for Red Stick Day on March 4th

28th annual Red Stick Day fly fishing festival
Saturday, March 4, 2023
8:30am to 3:00pm
LDWF Waddill Outdoor Education Center
4141 North Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA

Hosted by the Red Stick Fly Fishers of Baton Rouge, Red Stick Day is one of the longest-running fly fishing festivals in the South. There's seminars, fly tying demonstrations, casting instruction, food, loads of raffle items, and more.  And best of all, admission is free!

The event will again be held at the LDWF Waddill Outdoors Education Center off North Flannery Road.  The ponds on the premises are full of big bass and bluegill.  In addition, Masseys Outfitters will be on hand with a variety of kayaks from Hobie, Native and other brands for folks to test paddle/pedal.

This year, thanks to the FFI Gulf Coast Council, the headliners will include three of the nation's top casting instructors: Dave Barron of Wisconsin, Jeff Ferguson from Lafayette, and Jonathon Walter of Colorado. All three are also members of the FFI Casting Board of Governors.  If you've ever wanted to learn more about any type of casting, or improve your casting skills, this is a grand opportunity to learn from the best!  Also on the agenda are programs by Brian Roberts and Dave Barron.

Over a dozen of the region's top fly tiers will also be on hand to demonstrate their various flies, along with their favorite legacy patterns. There's also a giant raffle and silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items, all to benefit the club's educational projects.

Details about the event, including speaker and tier bios, schedule of activities, and more can be found by going to www.rsff.org and clicking on "Red Stick Day" in the menu.

Review: Sage R8 saltwater fly rod

Prior to the pandemic, I had tested out a brand new mid-priced saltwater-specific fly rod from Sage, the Maverick. I stated at the time on social media that this rod was a "game changer", knowing quite well that such a term is used often and loosely within the fly fishing industry.

What made the Maverick so special was that, like it's chief competitor the Orvis Recon 2, the Mav delivered performance at all levels of casting. A trait often found in premium rods, but at half the price. 

As I've stated for over 25 years, on this website and in my Louisiana Sportsman column, you don't need a premium saltwater rod for fishing the Louisiana marsh. Making a 100+ foot cast on target is not necessary when 90 percent of the targets can be approached within 20-60 feet. But you DO NEED a rod that is very accurate and casts efficiently at all ranges, has low swing weight, and has the power to move a big fish.

Many rods have come and gone that didn't meet those simple criteria. There were great casting rods that had high swing weight... those wore you down after a few hours of casting, resulting in open loops. There were light rods (like the BVK) that just didn't have sufficient backbone to land big reds without a prolonged fight. And while the premium Sage Salt HD was a great distance casting rod, it didn't cast very "efficiently" at close-in ranges.  The Sage reps were quite honest about their assessment of the HD, and that the Maverick was a better buy for most saltwater applications.  What they said was that Sage needed a better premium offering.

In December, at the annual Fishing Tackle Unlimited Expo in Houston, I had the opportunity to test cast the new Sage R8 - the replacement for the Salt HD. This rod just became available this week in retailers everywhere. Like nearly all premium fly rods these days, the price tag is over $1,000.

Sage advertises that the R8 uses their new R8 graphite, which adds 25 percent more strength per weight, more durability, and more power when needed. As I've said many times, the recent advances in nano-resins allow rod designers to use more advanced, lighter graphites that otherwise might be too brittle or not suitable for fishing rods. Sage also claims the R8 has better casting accuracy at all distances, and greater distance when needed than the Salt HD.

In my testing, I found all this to be true. The test where I hit an aluminum can at 40 feet, than in one false cast, hit a can 60 degrees to the right but at 50 feet, was as good a result as I've seen in any rod ever tested. For the distance cast, I boomed out over 100 feet easily and very much in straight line... consistently "tagging" a white SUV in the distance. Loops were nice and super tight. I found near zero reverberation on the shake test. There is simply nothing this rod can't do well!

Little things matter as well.  The reel seat was firm and tight. And at a time when rod manufacturers are putting shorter cork grips on their rods, WHAT A JOY it is to have a nice long grip. You truly appreciate this when casting for hours... your hand will thank you!

So why spend over one grand on a fly rod?  First, there may be a few times when wind and distance to a redfish may require that extra power in your cast. But second, if you travel to fish, there are species and locales where an accurate 100+ foot cast is a necessity. I can't tell all the number of times in my early fly years when that bonefish, permit or tarpon was right at the 80-100 foot range and my cast was only 70 feet. Becoming a better caster (which I did) certainly helped. But you can be a world-class flycaster and still fail unless you've got a really good weapon. That's why I have two premium saltwater rods in my arsenal.

I love my Sage Xi3. Would I replace it with a Sage R8? Don't think so, but it's not because the R8 is the lesser rod. In fact, after testing, the R8 might be the best saltwater rod I've ever cast.  To learn more about the R8, go to www.sageflyfish.com.

As always, click on the images for a larger view.

NOFFC releases Expo flyer

2023 New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, January 21st
8:00am to 3:30pm
St. Christopher the Martyr School Gymnasium
3900 Derbigny St, Metairie, LA
Free admission!

For a full size Expo Flyer, CLICK HERE

Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, this biennial event (every odd year) is a celebration of fly fishing, featuring all aspects of our sport. Whether you’re wanting to get into fly fishing, or a seasoned veteran, there’s a program or activity certainly to be of interest.

Activities will include fly casting seminars and demonstrations, fly tying instruction and demos, seminars and destination seminars, Sports Writers Roundtable, Iron Fly Tyer competition, auctions and raffles of top end products and flies, artists and vendors, and Kids Fly Fishing Casting and programs. Proceeds go to benefit the club’s educational and philantrophic initiatives.

In preparation for the biennial expo, NOFFC has unveiled a new website. The domain remains the same, but there’s new content. Webmaster Wayne Schnell is still putting the final pieces together, but in addition to the latest club news and a more detailed “Calendar of Events”, the site will also include articles of interest to all fly anglers. Check it out at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

This marks the last of activities until after New Years. So starting now, we'll be on break. If something does comes up, it'll be posted on our Facebook page.

So here's wishing our readers and friends a Happy Hanukkah, and a most blessed Christmas! Hope everyone finds something under the Christmas tree they can use for their piscatorial pursuits in the coming year.  The new year brings a  number of regional events to look forward to starting in January.  This unusually cold weather will slow the fishing down for awhile. But as soon as it warms up, expect some excellent marsh action for reds and specks.  And some good freshwater action for crappie and chain pickeral on fly.

It's Rainbeaux Trout time!

Once again, as they have for the past 14 years, Baton Rouge Recreation (BREC) will stock "rainbeaux trout" in a few selected ponds in East Baton Rouge Parish. The exact dates and locations are usually secret for a couple days. But the timing is typically a few days before or after Christmas so that youngsters can enjoy the fishing while on school break. The daily limit is four (4) per person.

Usually at the time of the BREC stocking, there's the stocking of trout in the Lamar-Dixon pond in Ascension Parish, also managed by the local recreation agency.

In early January, LDWF stocks almost 20 ponds across the state as part of it's "Get Out and Fish!" community fishing program. Each location has a fishing tournament in conjunction with the stocking. Locations are announced on the LDWF website as well as their Facebook page. The daily limit is four (4) per person.

Rainbow trout are native to rivers and lakes in western North America, but have been stocked in coldwater environments across the globe. In winter, several states stock in community ponds to give anglers an opportunity to catch an active fish when warmwater species are mostly dormant. These fish die off once water temperatures exceed 70 degrees. In Louisiana, depending on pond location and depth, that could be anytime between mid-March and mid-April.  However, few if any trout remain in these ponds by March due to angler harvest and "death from above" (eagles and ospreys).

NOFFC has new website, releases Expo flyer

The New Orleans Fly Fishers Club is the 2nd oldest club in the state, having formed in 1984 by Ted Cabali and Tom Jindra. Over the nearly four decades, the club has been a major contributor to the growth of saltwater fly fishing and fly tying in Louisiana, with several members well recognized in the regional and national fly tying community.

In preparation for the biennial expo, NOFFC has unveiled a new website. The domain remains the same, but there's new content. Webmaster Wayne Schnell is still putting the final pieces together, but in addition to the latest club news and a more detailed "Calendar of Events", the site will also include articles of interest to all fly anglers.  Check it out at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

Speaking of the Expo... the 2023 New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo is just weeks away, set for Saturday, January 21st. It will take place at St. Christopher School Gymnasium in Metairie. Activities will include fly casting seminars and demonstrations, fly tying instruction and demonstrations, seminars and destination seminars, Sports Writers Roundtable, Iron Fly Tyer competition, auctions and raffles of top end products and flies, artists and vendors, and Kids Fly Fishing Casting and programs. Best of all, the event is FREE and open to the public.

For a full size version of the poster, CLICK HERE.

Latest redfish report calls for stricter regulations

Louisiana's spawning population of red drum is on the decline.  And while the primary reasons are not entirely to blame on angler harvest, it's anglers who will have to make the sacrifice to bring the stocks back to the conservation standard.

At last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC), LDWF marine fisheries biologist Jason Adriance gave the most recent assessment on red drum stocks in the state.  The report summarized that, while spawning stocks of redfish are still above the conservation standard, the number has been declining since 2005 as fewer redfish escape to spawning size.  And unless management changes are initiated soon, we could see a situation where the fishery is unsustainable.

Red drum are unique in that the vast majority of harvest are juvenile fish.  These immature fish are typically under 4 to 5 years of age, under 27 inches in length, and under 10 pounds in weight.  When a redfish reaches 4 to 5 years of age, it usually migrates to nearshore or offshore waters to join the spawning population.  To protect these spawning stocks, recreational harvest of mature redfish in federal waters is not allowed and severely limited in state waters.  Current regulations for Louisiana are 5 fish per day, 16 to 27 inches only, with one exception over 27 inches.

By far, redfish are the most popular species among saltwater fly fishermen.  Louisiana has been described in numerous publications as the “Redfish Capitol of the World” and supports at least a few dozen flyfishing charter services that put clients on fish in shallow water for a sightcasting experience found only in a few places (mainly Texas and South Carolina). 

For veteran redfish anglers, the assessment came as no surprise.  There’s been loads of anecdotal evidence to support that fishing for reds “ain’t what it used to be”.   Coming just months after an assessment on spotted seatrout (specks) that indicated management changes were needed for that species as well.

Among the reasons given for redfish decline were much the same as for speckled trout decline. Those include:  loss of habitat (especially diverse habitat), decline of available forage (yep, that menhaden issue again), and increased fishing pressure.  Regarding the latter, it should be noted that the current regulations ( 5 fish per day, 16 to 27 inches only, with one exception over 27 inches)  were established 34 years ago in 1988.  The numbers of saltwater anglers in the state, the amount of fishing effort, and the expertise and technology to improve fishing success have all increased dramatically since then.

Management thresholds for red drum have been established by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council  (GMFMC).   For Louisiana, the conservation standard is a 20 percent spawning potential ratio, based on a 30 percent escapement rate.  While currently we have a 40 percent SPR, the escapement rate estimate is 20 percent.  And because there is a time lag between escapement and recruitment, this means we’ll likely see a further decline in fishing for a few years until any restrictive measures kick in.

Adriance and his team also provided the Commission with numerous scenarios for management changes to get red drum back above the conservation standards.  These came in the form of tables and graphs with different harvest numbers, slot sizes, and retaining or removing the one-exception over the maximum slot size.

To review the management scenarios on the LDWF website, CLICK HERE. 

There are two proposals that are gaining momentum, both of which would bring the escapement rate to about 40 percent - above the conservation standard.  Both would increase the minimum slot size limit from 16 to 18 inches, retain the maximum slot size at 27 inches, and decrease the daily creel limit from 5 fish to 3 fish.  The first proposal would eliminate the "one fish over 27 inches per day" exception now in place, and would not allow ANY possession of red drum over 27 inches at any time.  The second proposal would give every saltwater license holder two (2) annual tags to keep a redfish over 27 inches. 

The "2 Tag Annual" proposal mirrors what Texas does.  Texas allows anglers to annually keep just 2 redfish over the maximum slot size.  I spoke to Jason Adriance and later to a biologist at TPWD about what impact this would have.  Jason said they would need to do an estimation model to verify, but the TPWD biologist stated the impact for them is "very minimal" and suggested at most it might drop the escapement rate by 2 percent.

Meanwhile, CCA Louisiana and the Fly Fishers International (FFI) Gulf Coast Council (GCC) are  having separate discussions about proposals to be brought to the LWF Commission.  It's almost a certainty that each organization will propose a plan that brings escapement back to at least 30 percent, if not higher. 

Scenario A: Increase escapement going to 18″ min slot and eliminating one over max

Scenario B: Increase escapement going to 18″ min slot and keeping one over max

Fly fishing world mourns the loss of Dave Whitlock

On Thanksgiving night, the fly fishing world lost one of it's greats. Dave Whitlock passed away at age 88 from a massive stroke. 

Dave was an innovator, fly tier, artist, photographer, writer and conservationist. His contributions included: Dave Whitlock's Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods, the L.L. Bean Flyfishing Handbook, the L.L. Bean Bass Fly Fishing Handbook, and illustrations for Imitating and Fishing Natural Fish Foods for Lefty's Little Library.

Dave also co-authored or contributed to The FlyTyers Almanac, Art Flicks' Master Flytying Guide, McClane's Fishing Encylcopedia, Selective Trout by Swisher and Richards, President Carter's Outdoor Journal, and many more.  His collection of artwork is some of the very best in the fly fishing collective. His depiction of sunfish and bass feeding on insects or flies is stunningly accurate - and colorful.

With regards to his many varied contributions, the awards included: FFF Buz Buzeck Fly Tying Award (1972), Max Ander's Wild Trout Award (1976), FFF Conservationist of the Year Award (1978), FFF James E. Henshall Award (1987), FFF Don Harger Memorial Award (1982), FFF Ambassador Award (1987), FFI Stanley Lloyd Conservation Award (2013). In 1996, Dave was inducted into the Arkansas Game & Fish Hall of Fame and in 1997, was given the NAFFTTA Lifetime Contribution Award.

Dave and his wife Emily toured the country over the last 20+ years, giving seminars, demonstrating Dave's patterns, and sharing their love for conservation. When it came to conservation, his most significant contribution was the Whitlock-Vibert Box System. The WVBS allowed trout and other salmonid eggs to incubate in natural streams, allowing fish to survive the perilous early stages of life and yet adapt to the waters as wild fish.

Dave Whitlock had a special place in the hearts of many warmwater fly anglers. That's because in the latter 20th century world of fly fishing, while there were many trout and saltwater "greats" - those whose innovation and experiences were impactful to the average angler - there were very few with bass credentials. And while Dave was certainly a trout guy half the time, the times he was a bass fisherman he was one of the very best.

Over the years, Dave met many Louisiana fly anglers at regional events, including appearances at the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club (November 2001), Contraband Fly Casters club (February 2003), North Louisiana Fly Fishers (July 2013), and Texas Fly Fishers (February 2018).  Of course, Dave was often seen at the annual events in Mountain Home, Arkansas - Sowbug Roundup (March) and FFI Southern Council Expo (October) - which many of our native fly anglers frequent.

At the NLFF Masters Series in 2013, he conducted one of the most unique presentations I've seen - an on-the-water seminar for bass fishing (photo above).  While I'd seen such presentations for trout on moving streams, that was a first as far as bass.

For those of us who met Dave Whitlock, heard his lectures, took his classes, enjoyed his artwork, or just listened to his many fascinating stories, the pleasure was all ours!  He will be greatly missed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This day means many things to many different people. For most, it's a day of feasting with friends and family. Here in Louisiana, the dinner table will be adorned with turkey, roast, venison, duck or other hearty meat slowly cooked, along with Cajun favorites like sweet potatoes and corn machcoux. There's a good chance that the bird of choice is stuffed  with crawfish or shrimp.  I'm getting hungry just typing this, lol!

Here in the Cormier household, while we do enjoy our feasting and football, we still recognize Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. We're thankful for all the woods, waters and wildlife we have here in the Sportsmans Paradise. And for the numerous friends we've made through our love of outdoors.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

2023 Calendar taking shape

It's that time of the year again.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah - and our Spring Calendar submissions. If you have, or know of, a fly fishing event taking place next year, please check the LAFlyFish.com Calendar page and see if it's posted and the information is correct. Exact details are not required at this time. If the event is missing, or info is incorrect, please email me at catch@laflyfish.com.

Here are some regional events already scheduled:

Jan. 21 - New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo. St. Christopher the Martyr School Gymnasium, 3900 Derbigny St, Metairie, LA. This is biennial event (every odd year) put on by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club. Demo tying, casting, exhibitors, seminars, writers roundtable, raffle, silent auction, and more. www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

Feb. 3-4 - Atlanta Fly Fishing Show, Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA.  The Fly Fishing Show is the largest commercial event celebrating our sport with dozens of national and regional experts, recognized fly tiers, numerous seminars, workshops, vendors, conservation groups, and more. www.theflyfishingshow.com.

Feb. 11 - Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival, 1414 Wirt Rd, Houston, TX. Hosted by the Texas Fly Fishers, this is one of the largest exhibitions of fly tying in the country, with both regional and national renown tiers. There's also seminars, casting and more. www.texasflyfishers.org.
 
Feb. 17-18 - TroutFest Texas, Lazy L&L Campgrounds, New Braunfels, TX. Hosted by the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited chapter, it's one of the largest events in the South, featuring fly tying, exhibitors, casting clinics, seminars and a fundraising banquet.

Feb. 25-26 - Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival, Mesquite Convention Center, Mesquite, TX. Exhibitors, seminars, casting clinics, fly tying, and featuring Texas micro-brewed beer as well. There are also workshops on a variety of skills. www.txflyfishingfestival.org

Mar. 4 - Red Stick Day, 4141 North Flannery, Baton Rouge, LA.  The Red Stick Fly Fishers host the longest-running "conclave" in Louisiana, featuring fly tying, casting, seminars, great food, and on-the-water activities including fishing on premises. www.rsff.org.

Mar. 22-25 - Sowbug Roundup, Mountain Home, AR. Hosted by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, this is largest fly tying event in the nation, with as many as 140 tiers from across the country and even other countries at one time. There's also free introductory classes, and free beginner fly casting lessons. www.naff.org.

May 5-6 - Gulf Coast Classic, Gulf Shores State Park Learning Campus, AL. The FFI Gulf Coast Council is holding their first "conclave" style event in many years, with fly tying by recognized tiers from across the country, seminars, workshops, casting, a film festival, a "mixed bag" fishing contest, raffles, auctions, and much more. Also, the FFI Board of Governors will hold their Spring meeting at this event. www.ffigcc.org.

May 5-6 - Bass On The Fly, Lake Fork Marina, Alba, TX.  Catch-photo-release tournament with categories for boat, kayak, and bank fishing. Charitable event also features product vendors, casting contests, and more.  www.bassonthefly.org 

June 9-10 - Lake Athens Fly Fishing Festival, Lake Athens, TX.  Fly tying, casting instruction, and fishing events. CPR bass tournament benefits Project Healing Waters - North Texas Patriots.
www.johnnyonthefly.com

Sept. 15-16 - FFI Fly Tying Group Rendezvous, Branson, MO. The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Fly Tying Group is initiating an annual event featuring top fly tiers from across the country, and beyond. This promises to be a great event for anyone interested in fly tying at all skill levels.

Sept. 23 - National Hunting and Fishing Day. Barring a hurricane, expect LDWF to once again hold festivals at the usual four venues: Waddill in Baton Rouge, Woodworth, Minden and Monroe. 

Nov. 3-4 - North Toledo Bend Rendezvous, North Toledo Bend State Park, Zwolle, LA.  The largest casual gathering of fly tiers from across several states, with food, lodging, and more on premises.

Toledo Bend Rendezvous this weekend

A reminder that this weekend, October 28-30, marks the return of Rendezvous at North Toledo Bend State Park in Zwolle, LA.  For 33 years, one of the longest running casual gatherings of fly tiers in the country. 

Open to everyone, whether you tie flies or just enjoy watching.  The group facilities allow for overnight stays.  With only a minimal fee to cover lodging and activities. The event is open to everyone, and families are encouraged!

It’s never too late to make plans to attend.  You can read more details on our September 4th post but we suggest for more updated info to go directly to the Rendezvous website at http://flycasting.bravesites.com/

Fall fishing turning on!

Marsh fishing is getting better every day!  The cooler days and nights, along with low river water and drier conditions, have helped specks migrate further into the marshes. Right now, some good catches are being reported - specks, reds, and white trout. The specks and whites are feeding on clouser and shrimp patterns suspended under a VOSI. A lot of feeding activity is taking place under diving birds. 

Specks are fun with a 6-weight or 7-weight, but better bring an 8-weight or maybe a 9-weight for redfish.  That's because the reds are feeling their Fall vigor, and even some bull reds have moved into the marsh.

Freshwater wise, bass continue to chase schools of shad on northern and central reservoirs, with outstanding catches taking place on Toledo Bend. Crappie fishing has been hot, as the fish have moved into the shallow areas near fallen trees and boathouses.  Fluff Butts or Crappie Candies suspended 3-4 feet under a strike indicator is one method, while working Silli Minnows along deeper dropoffs is another. 

Commission votes for new trout regulations

Yesterday at their October meeting, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to change speckled trout regulations.

• Current: 12-inch minimum size / 25 daily bag limit
• Proposed: 13.5-inch minimum size / 15 daily bag limit

When adopted, this rule will become statewide, removing the separate regulations in coastal western Louisiana.  The Commission’s adoption of an NOI is the first step in promulgating a final rule, which is usually adopted in 90 days. Comments to the proposed rule may be submitted before December 30, 2022. The full notice of intent can be found here:
http://ow.ly/SvVo50L3FZe

At the Commission meeting, biologist Jason Adriance reiterated some of the data given since the issue of recruitment failure arose three years ago. He also addressed some of the comments received during the past weeks. With regards to concerns that increasing size would result in much greater propotional harvest of females to males, his data showed that increasing to 13.5 inches would only result in a 3 percent increase greater harvest. With regards to concerns that guide limits contribute to a substantial harvest, the data showed that eliminating guide limits would have less than 1-percent increase in spawning biomass.

Adriance pointed out that we are at our lowest proportion of age 3+ fish in the history of stock assessment, with only 5-percent of female trout reaching age 3. This is critical because, at age 3 or roughly 14 inches, all female trout have spawned at least one season, and in some cases, 2 seasons. At 13.5 inches and a 15-fish limit, the increase in spawning stock would be 20 percent – the goal needed to recover to above the conservation standard.

Nearly all of the 20 persons who commented after the presentation were in favor of a 15 daily bag limit. There was approximately 2-to-1 in favor of keeping the minimum size limit at 12 inches. Many of the respondents stated that Louisiana needs to fix the problems that are causing reduced numbers of trout and even redfish. As pointed out by Commission members, these are beyond the scope of LDWF and will likely take much longer to resolve, and for now, changing limits is the only viable solution.

LDWF will receive comments over the next 90 days before a final action is taken.  We strongly encourage our readers to send their comments to LDWF in support of a 13.5", 15-trout limit.