Louisiana outdoors icon passes at age 57

We were very saddened to learn yesterday that Ann Taylor, co-publisher of Louisiana Sportsman magazine, the St. Charles Herald-Guide and other publications, passed away after a courageous bout with pancreatic cancer.

Ann and her husband Tony started the Louisiana Sportsman magazine - the state's largest outdoors publication - roughly four decades ago. She was its editor at the beginning, and most recently, and wrote numerous articles over the years covering her wide range of interests from hunting, fishing, cooking and camping.  A devout Catholic, and native of Houma, she and Tony raised their children to enjoy the outdoors as well.

Louisiana Sportsman eventually became "Sportsman LLC" when it expanded to include North Carolina Sportsman, South Carolina Sportsman, Mississippi Sportsman, and so on.  Each of the offshoot publications copied the LAS formula of a magazine featuring locally-based articles and columns, outdoors news features, specific how-to and where-to information, and probably most important of all, conservation-oriented editorials.

Ann's strong dedication to conservation led Governor Bobby Jinal to appoint her to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in 2009. She served until 2015. In 2012, the commission elected Ann as chairman of the Commission. 

It was under Ann's guidance that led that Sportsman magazine sought out Pete Cooper, Jr., to begin writing a monthly column on fly fishing. "Fly Lines" was authored by Pete until 1999, and continued again in 2000 when Glen "Catch" Cormier (myself) was asked to be contributor.  Earlier this year, in response to budget cutbacks, the column was moved from printed version to online (website only). I never dealt closely with Ann over these long years, but always admired her dedication to details and making the magazine one of the very best in the outdoors industry.

PnP to host Kirk Dietrich seminar this Saturday

Tying Bugs with Kirk Dietrich
Saturday, November 16, 2019
9:00am to 11:00am
Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette, LA
FREE event
A Pack & Paddle Adventure Skills Workshop

Kirk Dietrich is a Louisiana fly tying legend. Considered one of the nation's top surface bug craftsman, he specializes in balsa and other hard-bodied flies, but is also the creator of the decades-popular Kirk's Spoon and Kirk's Rattle Rouser. As well as numerous other saltwater and warmwater flies.  Earlier this year, he received the Fly Fishers International - Gulf Coast Council's "Fly Tier of the Year" award for his many contributions, both past and current.

Kirk will be demonstrating some of his key bugs, and how to fish them. He will also speak briefly on the "how to" of fishing these styles of flies.  This seminar is a special opportunity to meet Kirk Dietrich and learn from him in person.  After the class you will also have to opportunity to purchase an autographed copy of his book if you choose. 

Pre-registration is requested so adequate refreshments are provided. For more info, go to www.packpaddle.com.

Fishing legend Jerry McKinnis passes

The creator and host of one of the most popular fishing television shows of all time, Jerry McKinnis, passed away yesterday morning at age 82.  For more than five decades - including 26 years on ESPN - McKinnis could be seen on "The Fishin' Hole" promoting fishing and conservation for the average angler.

After a brief stint in professional baseball, McKinnis moved to Arkansas and began guiding on the White River. He was soon giving fishing reports on a Little Rock TV station.  In 1965, he started filming fishing segments for audiences which soon led to his nationally-syndicated TV show. In 1979, he signed a deal for his show with a new sports network called ESPN. The Fishin Hole TV show was the 2nd longest running show on ESPN, only after Sportscenter.  

At a time when many popular fishing personalities limited themselves to a particular style of fishing, McKinnis had no boundaries. One week viewers might be watching him fish for bluegills, another week for bass, another week for pike. And a few episodes each year, he could be seen fly fishing for trout, bass or panfish, often on his home waters of northern Arkansas. A few of his fly fishing partners included coach Bobby Knight and baseball legend Ted Williams.

McKinnis was both a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. His company, JM Associates, produced a number of popular fishing shows including "The Spanish Fly" with Jose Wejebe, "Orvis Sporting Life" with Rick Ruoff, "The Bass Class" with Denny Brauer, and many others.

Our picks of new products from IFTD 2019

There were a bevy of new products showcased at last week's International Fly Tackle Dealers trade show in Denver, Colorado.  While not as many as the last several years, there were some significant new entries.  Due to the show being much later this year - they broke from their merger with ICAST - many of the new products have already hit stores.  We couldn't make IFTD this year, but thanks to the wonder of the internet - and press releases - we kept our finger on the pulse of things. And identified at least 10 new products we think are worth mentioning to our readers.

Flymen Fishing Company - Shilton Reels Under a new partnership, FFC will distribute South African-made Shilton Reels in the USA for the first time. Trusted by guides worldwide in some of the toughest fishing conditions, Shilton was previously unavailable to the USA market. The reels have a hard anodized finish and depending on series, utilize higher degrees of processed cork disc drag. Expect prices from $300 on up.

Simms - G4 Collection, G4 wading boots If you're looking for premium quality in waders, jackets, and boots, then Simms has their new G4 collection with over 16,000 hours of field testing, lighter materials, greater comfort, durability and breathability, and extremely resistant to abrasion and punctures. Sounds great... but better be prepared for sticker shock. Prices for the jacket and waders range from $699 to $899. The wading boots will sell for $299 and come in Vibram or felt soles. IMO, spending a small fortune on waders is unnecessary, but never skimp on boots. Your feet will thank you later!  If the G4 Pro is as comfortable and durable as advertised, it might pay itself off simply by outlasting other boots twice as long.

Sage Payload fly rod The Sage Bass Series has been replaced for 2019 with the Payload Series. Designed to cast big flies to big fish, these rods feature fast action tips transitioning to a more moderate butt that allows for relaxed casting and greater leverage when fighting big fish. The rods also feature Sage's HD-Konnetic technology.  Series ranges from a 8'9" length in 6 thru 9 weights along with 9'0" in 10 and 11 weights.  MSRP is $550. Blanks are also available.  All Payload rods are made at their factory in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

St Croix Imperial Salt fly rod The new Imperial Salt is an extension of their Imperial series, using Sea Guide (R) PVD coated stripper and snake guides, premium-grade cork handle, and double coats of flexcoat to withstand the rigors of saltwater. They come in a beautiful aquamarine color. The rods use St. Croix's Integrated Poly Curve mandrel technology with SCIII carbon to make for a light, fast-action rod with quick dampening. Built in the USA, these rods come with St. Croix's 15-year transferable warranty backed by their Superstar Service. Models are all 9'0" in length, with weights ranging from 7 thru 12. MSRP is $340 to $370, depending on weight rating.

Taylor Revelation reels For the last several years, Taylor Fly Fishing has become a major player in the direct sales market. The foundation of their business has been their attractive, lightweight and affordable machined fly reels. The new Revelation is a hybrid of their most popular models, the TYPE1, the Enigma, and the Revelation Z.  With a carbon-fiber stacked and sealed drag system, and with up to 15 pounds of maximum drag (7-9 weight model) the Revelation can be used in most freshwater and saltwater situations. That drag is adjustable to 3.5 rotations, allowing anglers to dial in to the exact setting. MSRP is $299.

Fenwick Fenlite Salt fly rod Nano resin technology is only a decade old, and perhaps for that reason it's been reserved to rods costing $600 or more. But in the last year, we've seen the price point dropping. The new Fenlite rods offer the 3M Powerlux 1000 nano resin technology for only $349. What does nano-tech offer? A rod with incredible strength at a very light weight. The fast-action Fenlite Salt comes with AAA cork handle, machined anodized reel seat, and fighting butt.  All lengths are 9-foot, with line weights ranging from 7 thru 12.  Fenwick has a limited lifetime warranty on Fenlite rods for defects, and a service charge for accidental breakage.

Scott Sector fly rod It's hard to imagine that Scott would make a better saltwater fly rod than their Meridian, but that's exactly what their rod designers have supposedly done. The new Sector series utlitizes their ReAct technology with new tapers and their new "Carbon Web". The Carbon Web technology improves torsional stability and durability by encasing the unidirectional fibers in a web of ultralight multidirectional carbon fibers. Uni encased by multi, got it?  According to Scott, this will reduce torsional forces for better tracking and reduce micro factures from stress and impact. Sector rods also feature all new CeRecoil stripping guides with super slick Zirconia inserts. All this great technology comes at a premium price - MSRP is $985.  All Scott rods are made beginning to end at their factory in Montrose, Colorado.

Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Infinity Salt fly line Longtime readers know I'm not a huge fan of textured fly lines, even if they do add a wee more distance to long casts. So while SA has come out with their new Amplitude Infinity Salt textured line for 2020, they've also come out with a smooth version. It features their AST Plus slickness additivie for increased shootability and durability. It's also a half-weight heavy to turn over big flies on windy days. What's best about it is the extended head length... that means more accuracy and aerialization than those short shooting head lines.  Again, cutting edge technology comes a premium price. MSRP is $129.

Douglas LRS fly rod While this rod was actually introduced late last year, this was the first year of it's "new" status at IFTD. Founded in 2014, Douglas rods have been near the top of several reviews, and from personally casting the Sky and DXF series, the hype is real. Sadly, their budget entry was well below the competition. Their new LRS Series hopes to change that. These fast-action, lightweight rods have much improved performance. LRS stands for lake-river-sea, which implies that they're built for all types of fishing, depending on rated weight.  The beautiful gloss blue blanks, carbon matrix reel seat, and accented grip and fighting butt (7-9 models) make for a great looking rod. MSRP is $249.

Fishpond Thunderhead Pouch A fully waterproof construction similiar to other products in their submersible line, Fishpond's Thunderhead Pouch features a 1680D TPU coated nylon fabric and fully waterproof zipper. Large enough to slip in your smartphone or digital camera. Hypalon panels on the front and back can be used for attaching accessories or securing to wading belts, float tubes, or kayaks. Measures 11" long by 7" high by 2.75" deep (maximum expansion). Weight is 5 ounces. MSRP is $99.

Make plans for Toledo Bend Rendezvous

Toledo Bend Rendezvous
November 1-3, 2019
North Toledo Bend State Park
Zwolle, LA

In October, 1989, members of the Pineywoods Fly Fishers (TX) and North Louisiana Fly Fishers (Shreveport) gathered for a weekend of camping, fly tying and fishing. The following year, the clubs rented the group facility at North Toledo Bend State Park, where the event is held to this day.   Rendezvous has expanded greatly since, with tiers from various clubs and states including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and elsewhere.

There's no planned activities, but plenty of fly tying, food, fly casting and fishing, with only a minimal fee to cover lodging and meals. The activities take place at the park's group facility, which features a commercial kitchen and dining hall, and lodging available for up to 150 people in 5 heated log bunkhouses (30 beds each). There's also a heated central shower and restroom building with nice night lighting on all the sidewalks and a large main log building with A/C, picnic tables and a large barbeque trailer.

Attendees can come for a weekend (lodging and meals included) or just for the day (Saturday). The event is open to the public.  For complete details, go to the Toledo Bend Rendezvous home page.

SweatFest 2019 still going strong, but not for long!

Every year, we claim September is the last full month of SweatFest. Usually there's at least one cool front - usually in the middle of the month - that brings longterm relief from high heat and humidity.  .  The cool front metric is the number of nights where the low temperature is at or below 60 degrees here in central Louisiana. We typically have at least two such nights in September. 

For the second year in a row, by those definitions, we had no "cool fronts" in September. In fact, according to the KSLA-TV (Shreveport) weather center, this past month was the hottest September on record with an average of 83.7 degrees.  The historical average is 78.8 degrees.

Likewise, meteorologist Scott Pilie of WGNO-TV in New Orleans posted on Facebook that this September was the hottest on record for the Crescent City with an average of 85.3 degrees.  It was also the driest on record with total precipitation of 0.19 inches!

While radiative cooling - due to shorter days and longer nights - has slightly reduced water temperatures, it hasn't been enough to reoxygenate waters. Low dissolved oxygen is the main reason why freshwater fishing - outside of river systems - continues to be subpar. Cooler water temperatures are also the trigger for mass migration of speckled trout into coastal marshes.

The good news is that SweatFest may come to an end next Monday... at least over most of the state. Here in the Alexandria area the forecast calls for highs Monday and Tuesday in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s! 

The bad news is that we're going to have some unusually hot next few days before the front, with near-record highs. If you're fishing the Rio Rodeo in New Orleans this Saturday, best bring an extra bottle of water or sports drink.

Reminder that Rio Rodeo returns October 5th

11th annual Rio Grande Rodeo
Saturday, October 5th, 2019
7:00am to 8:00am - on site registration
8:00am to 12:00pm - fishing
12:00pm - weigh-in deadline
$10 entry fee, includes lunch and refreshments

Sponsored by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, the Rio Rodeo is now into it’s second decade,  bigger and better than ever! This tournament is fly fishing only for the elusive Rio Grande Cichlid.  All entry fish must be caught on artificial flies.  It's open to the public.  All proceeds go to Casting for Recovery.  

Onsite registration and weigh-in will be at the intersection of Henry Thomas Drive and Celebration Drive (under the oak trees across from the Blue Rose art sculpture). Look for the NOFF sign and tent.

Two categories will be awarded:

-  Longest rio wins top prize and bragging rights for the year.
-  Most rios caught by a fly fisher takes first prize in the second category.

The Rio Grande Perch is native to south Texas and northeast Mexico, making it America’s only native cichlid.  During the 1990s, it began appearing in waterways in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes, likely the result of aquarium dumpings.  Since rios are more cold-tolerant than other cichlids, most are able to survive the mild winters of southeast Louisiana. 

Rios make excellent fly fishing quarry on light tackle. While not the greatest fighters, they can get up to 2 pounds and “fight like a wet cat”.  They are also very wary, making presentation and choice of fly critical.

For complete details, go to www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Venues: Baton Rouge, Minden, Woodworth, Monroe
Free admission!

Established by Congress in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the 4th Saturday of September. The day recognizes the contributions of America's hunters, anglers, and other outdoors enthusiasts. 

Here in Louisiana, NHF Day is celebrated annually at four venues - Bodcau (Minden), Monroe, Waddill (Baton Rouge), and Woodworth. Activities including archery, canoeing, fishery, target shooting, outdoor games, live animal exhibits, educational displays, and more. Many of the activities are geared towards youth and family, and there's even food and soft drinks provided at no cost.

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, respectively. Each of these clubs will demonstrate and give hands-on teaching of tying and casting. As well as talk about fly fishing opportunities in Louisiana and elsewhere.

Admission to each venue is free for all ages. Time varies depending on location, but all start between 8:00am to 9:00am and end between 1:30pm and 2:00pm. For more details, go to www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

Brendan Bayard wins 2019 IFA Kayak Championship

The Inshore Fishing Association (IFA) Kayak Tour is the largest national saltwater kayak fishing series, incorporating five divisions across south Atlantic and Gulf waters. These tournaments are CPR (catch-photo-release) on IFA approved measuring boards, which allows for any sized fish to be entered.

Qualifiers from each division then compete in the national championship, which was held this past Friday and Saturday out of Bridgeside Marina on Grand Isle.

Many of the biggest names in saltwater kayak fishing compete in this event each year, and one of those familiar names is Brendan Bayard of Baton Rouge, whose line of trophies probably requires it's own building!  Brendan is also a longtime kayak fishing field reporter on the "Outdoors with Don Dubuc" weekly radio show (Saturday mornings 5:00am to 7:00am).

Yesterday, Brendan pulled off another win. His two-day total of two redfish and two speckled trout measured out to an aggregate of 121.75 inches!  His longest redfish were 41.25 and 40.00 inches, his longest specks were 23.00 and 17.50 inches. He edged out Justin Rienerth of North Carolina, whose total length was 119.00 inches was anchored by a 43.00 inch red.

Other Louisiana finishers in the top 8 (received prize money) were: Matt Carr (5th), Lance Burgos (6th), Terry Pham (7th), and Scott Bienvenu (8th).  Terry lost out on a big speck that got sharked. Other anglers reported losing some nice fish as well. Even so, 22 of the competitors had four-fish total aggregates of over 100 inches!

Speckled trout in trouble, and "changes must be made"

Trout SPR has been below the conservation level for 8 years

On Thursday, at the monthly meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, commission members and approximately 45 attendees heard a presentation by LDWF marine biologist Jason Adriance on the 2019 Speckled Trout Assessment.  In a nutshell, spawning stock biomass and spawning recruitment are below conservation standards - and have been since 2011.

The problem is happening across all estuaries. There are two main culprits:
- winter kills of speckled trout are more frequent and more damaging, despite milder winters. The cause may be due to coastal erosion and loss of deepwater canals and other winter freeze-kill havens for trout.
- Overfishing. There are more anglers, with more effort, and being more successful per trip (prior to the decline).

Making matters worse... Louisiana's target management for trout Spawning Potential Recruitment (SPR) is the lowest of any Gulf state, anywhere from 8 to 15 percent lower.  So there was very little margin for overfishing to begin with.

Adriance said LDWF will come up with management options and present those to the Commission, as well as get public input. The options include:
- creel limit reductions
- minimal length increases
- slot limits
- closed areas
- closes seasons
- special regulations after serious winter kills

According to an article in Louisiana Sportsman website, CCA Louisiana Executive Director David Cresson stated afterwards that they need time to fully understand the science regarding the variables at play. "We need to see more information before rushing into any judgements."

The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Gulf Coast Council was represented at the meeting by Glen 'Catch' Cormier, GCC Conservation Director. He posted the particulars of the meeting, including the various graphs and charts. Those can be found at www.gulfcoastcouncilffi.org.

The FFI-GCC understands the science, and is anxious to hear the recommendations of the biologists. It was very clear from the presentation, that Louisiana has had, for several years, a serious problem that needs changes.

Special events this week - 9/1

On Sunday, Pack & Paddle in Lafayette will hold a "Fly Fishing FUNdamentals" at their Outpost back of the store on 601 E. Pinhook. Time is 2:00pm to 4:30pm. Cost is $40. FFFun covers the basics of fly fishing, with emphasis on gear, flies, techniques that work on Louisiana waters. Followed by hands-on casting session. Class size limited, so pre-registration is required.  To register, go to www.packpaddle.com. 

Ride the Bull this weekend

The world's largest kayak fishing tournament takes place this weekend out of Bridgeside Marina on Grand Isle. Founded ten years ago by Danny and Kristen Wray, it's grown from about 60 participants to consistently over 600. After Kristen's long bout with cancer ended with her passing, CCA Louisiana stepped forward to help organize the tournament.

Registration began June 1st and will continue up to the morning of the tournament. Things kick off on Friday evening with the Captain's meeting, vendors, and live music. Saturday morning everyone launches and awaits the shotgun start.

The format is simple. Catch the largest bull red in a limited area of Caminada Pass. After the fish are landed, a chase boat is summoned to bring the fish in for weighing, tagging, and release.  Top fish are awarded places.  With this format, just about anyone with some fishing skill has a chance to win or place.

If you ever wanted to see all the kayaks - or other pedal / paddle boats that exist out there - this is the event to do it. Paddle kayaks, pedal yaks, round yaks, square yaks, canoes, pirogues, biyaks, SUPs (stand up paddleboards), even bathtub-looking boats have been entered!

For more info, go to www.ccalouisiana.com. The website also contains helpful tips and a checklist for the tournament.

From the Office of Advanced Strategic Planning

Times have changed when it comes to scheduling events.  For example, it was once common for clubs to begin planning their annual "conclave" just a few months before the event was to be held.  That included determining the date, the location, and the program speakers.

Nowadays, if you don't reserve a venue or speaker for your event many months in advance, then it's likely too late. In many cases, lodging for club trips needs to be booked at least a year in advance.

And that is why if you look at our Calendar page, you'll see that nearly all the major events for 2020 have been scheduled.  And in some cases, into 2021 and beyond. The Kisatchie Fly Fishers have scheduled their annual "March Brown" trips to the Little Missouri River into 2021.  The Red Stick Fly Fishers recently announced the dates for their annual "Spring Concordia" and "Fall Concordia" freshwater weekends, held at Lakeview Lodge in Ferriday. Those dates go into 2022.

While it's assumed that some events will recur on certain dates, nothing is ever certain. That's why we urge readers to check out our Calendar before making plans.

McCormick, Rajeff, Mittel again take titles at ACA Nationals

Last week, as they do each summer, some of the best conventional casters and fly casters in the country gather at the American Casting Association Nationals in friendly competition to see who is the best at  putting a lure or fly at given targets, or reaching out to long distances.

Maxine McCormick, the 15-year old wondergirl of fly casting once again made news as she set yet another record at the ACA Nationals in Pasadena, California.  Her total in the three Women's Fly Accuracy events totaled a whopping 291 out of a possible 300 points!  Her nearest competitor, Beth Statt, finished with 257 points.

By contrast, Steve Rajeff and Henry Mittel, both considered the greatest fly casters of modern times, finished 1st and 2nd in the Men's Accuracy Division with 294 and 290 points. Rajeff won the Trout Fly Accuracy contest with 98 points and the Bass Bug Accuracy with 97 points. But Mittel set a national record in winning the Dry Fly Accuracy, scoring a perfect 100 points! 

Rajeff and Mittel also split in the Fly Distance divisions. Rajeff won the 1-Handed Fly with a cast of 214 feet. Mittel won the 2-Handed Fly with 287 feet. Both tied for the Anglers Fly Distance with 166 feet, with Mittel winning the cast-off.

Other noteworthy performances included: Larry Allen won the Senior Men's Fly Distance 1-Handed with 173 feet and 2-Handed Fly with 214 feet. Elaine Gong won Senior Women's Fly Accuracy total with 245 points. Nicholas Galvan won the Junior Dry Fly and Bass Bug Accuracy with 91 and 89 points, respectively.

Summary of 2019 Louisiana lake drawdowns

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has planned drawdowns on several lakes this summer. Lowering the level of a lake by several feet has consistently proven beneficial for gamefish populations. It kills off nuisance vegetation - such as hydrilla, salvania, and alligator weed. It exposes the lake shoreline bottoms. Layers of organic muck that accumulate over time are exposed to sun and burn off, and compaction of sediments occurs as well. This typically results in a boom in gamefish spawning the following two years.

In most cases, waterways remain open to boating, but with strong precautions. Otherwise, boating is limited to certain areas or idle motoring only. In nearly all cases, fishing is still allowed.

Here is a list of lakes being lowered this year:

Kepler Lake in Bienville Parish - begins August 5th. Lake will be lowered by 4 to 6 inches per day to a target level of 8 feet below pool stage. Gates will close on November 29.

Bundicks Lake in Beauregard Parish - begins August 1st. Lake will be lowered by 2 to 4 inches per day to target level of 8 feet below pool stage. Control structure will be closed on November 29.

Saline Lake in Natchitoches and Winn parishes - began June 3rd. Lake dewatered 4 inches per day to target of 8 feet below pool. Gates will close on October 1st.

Lake Bistineau in Webster, Bossier, and Bienville parishes - began July 31st. Lake to be lowered 4 to 6 inches per day to target level of 8 feet below pool. Gates will close sometime this Fall.

False River in Pointe Coupee parish - begins September 3rd. Lake to be lowered 1.5 inches per day to maximum of 6 feet below pool. Gates will close on January 15, 2020.

Chicot Lake in Evangeline Parish - begins September 3rd. Lake to be lowered 3 inches per day to target level of 3 feet below pool. Gates will be closed in January 2020.

Vernon Lake in Vernon Parish - the lake was down 20 feet below pool while repairs were made to to the lake's dam. Due to heavy Spring rainfall, completion of the dam was extended to August/September. The lake will be restocked upon completion.

Miller's white bass to receive LOWA Fish of the Year

Photos courtesy of Charles Miller

Each year the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) honors the anglers voted by the LOWA Fish Records Committee to have had the most significant catch in the previous year in both Rod & Reel and Fly Fishing Divisions. The winners receive their awards at the LOWA annual convention banquet. The convention takes place this weekend in Morgan City, with the banquet on Saturday night, August 10th.

In the Fly Fishing Division, Charles Miller of New Orleans, will be honored for a 3.98-pound white bass (Morone chrysops) caught in the Pearl River. It qualified for a new state record for that species in the Fly Fish Division.

Chuck, a professor in the Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences at Tulane University, is board member of the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club and a very active member of the Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club. In 2017, he was named "Fly Angler of the Year" by Louisiana Sportsman magazine.

Chuck caught his fish on a chartreuse/white Clouser Minnow back in December while fishing from his Hobie Outback. That same day he also caught a white bass that registered as 3rd place in the state record.  Details of his trip can be read on his fishing blog, "Welcome to the Crawdad Hole", at this link.

An Honorable Mention in the Fly Fish Division will be awarded to Dustin Semar, a native of Lake Charles, who caught a 6.66-pound Bowfin in Cameron Prairie. That fish also qualified for a new state record.

In the Rod & Reel Division, top award went to 8-year old Drew Dubuc of Metairie for a 33.90-pound Striped Bass he caught in Lake Catherine. It ranks 6th in the state record book. Honorable Mention goes to Brian Neil of Metairie for a whopping 213.5-pound Big Eye Tuna caught in the Mississippi Canyon off Venice. It ranks 1st place in the state record.

Congratulations to all for this outstanding honor!

August is here, and what that means

August 24th is the 10th annual Ride the Bull

1. The last full month of SweatFest, the festival no one likes to celebrate. It's fairly common for us to have several days this month with heat index over 110. So stay hydrated and limit your time outdoors if possible. Also be aware that water temperatures are at their highest of the year, and several strains of aquatic bacteria are active. So bring an antibacterial and treat any cuts or wounds immediately.

2. Now through September, the peak of hurricane season. We've already had Barry, and that one was bad enough. Hopefully we've reached our quota for the year.

3. When it comes to fishing, it's a mixed bag. August is the best month for fly fishing pelagic species, many of which come nearshore or invade lower bays. Expect excellent action on bull reds, cobia, jacks, mangrove snapper, king and spanish mackerel. Inside, there are speckled trout but you have to fight off the hordes of ladyfish and sailcats. Freshwater action is usually slow, EXCEPT in areas inundated with river water such as Old River Morganza, Deer Park, Henderson, Larto. As water levels continue to lower, expect excellent catches of bream, bass and crappie.

4. Football season kicks off. Louisiana fly anglers love their football just slightly less than they do their fishing.  So it's not uncommon to see more half-day trips now until the fishing gets really good. Saints camp started this week, and college teams begin practice today. The Saints face the Vikings on the 9th in their first preseason game.  College games begin on the 24th. On the 29th, Tulane takes on Florida International, on the 31st, LSU hosts Georgia Southern, UL-Lafayette travels to Mississippi State, and Louisiana Tech takes on Texas.  

A half-dozen items to catch up on

Just got back from 8 fantastic days in northern Colorado with fellow members of the Louisiana Hiking Club. Not counting the 4 travel days. It was mostly hiking, but I did spend two half days fishing and a full day fishing with my younger son Tiger Jake. Most of the waters were raging from runoff, the result of heavy spring snowfall and recent above normal temperatures. But we did find some fishable water, catching mostly brookies and cutthroat on dry fly.

A lot happened while we were gone. Hurricane Barry, for example. So let's catch up on at least a half-dozen items you may have heard about. Or maybe not.

1. Hurricane Barry aftermath.  The greatest damage appeared to come from the storm surge to unraised structures outside the storm levees below Houma and Golden Meadow. One of those was PAC Kayak Rentals at Pointe-aux-Chenes. In the 3 1/2 years since Eddie and Lisa Mullen established PACKR, it has become the most popular kayak fishing launch spot on the Gulf Coast, and site of numerous tournaments. The PAC Shack restaurant - which is raised - was intact. But the launch and shop were totally destroyed. The good news is that plans are underway to rebuild.

2. Fish kills. Anytime a hurricane hits Louisiana, the possibility of localized fish kills is high. In late summer, very warm water is low in oxygen. When leaves are stripped from trees by strong winds and blown into this water, they consume what little oxygen exists during decay. On Monday, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) received reports of kills around the lower Amite River, Blind River and Manchac. LDWF is investigating and determining the extent of the kill.

3. Rescheduled events from Barry. Dates have been set for the LA1 Slamboree kayak fishing tournament and Pack & Paddle's Spoon Fly Tying class. The Slamboree - hosted by the Lafayette Kayak Fishing Club - is now set for Saturday, August 10th. The Spoon Fly tying class will be held this Saturday, July 27th at 9:30am. Cost is $20. As of yesterday afternoon, a couple seats were still available. 


4. Kirk Dietrich's book is now published. It's not an exaggeration to say this is the most anticipated fly tying book of the year - and possibly several years!  Kirk, a native of Chalmette and lifelong resident of southeast Louisiana, is a nationally-renown fly tier recognized for his many innovative warmwater and saltwater patterns. Those include the Kirks Spoon (sold by Orvis), the Rattle Rouser, the Squirrelly, and numerous balsa poppers and divers. He's written numerous articles for magazines and websites, many on the subject of tying or fishing bugs. So it made sense that his first book would be "Tying Bugs: The Complete Book of Poppers, Sliders, and Divers for Fresh and Salt Water".  Stackpole Books (the publisher) has released a promotional card with the following: "The most complete fly tying book on poppers, divers, sliders (collectively called "bugs") ever written. Includes over 400 detailed step by step instructions with historical anecdotes for traditional patterns such as Lefty's Bug, Peck's Special Popping Minnow, Sneaky Pete, as well as innovate patterns tied with the latest materials. All facets of bug making are covered...". And there's much more. The book is 224 pages with 917 color photos! It can be pre-ordered from Amazon - available September 1st - for $39.95. Or a signed/inscribed copy from the author via Paypal (check Kirk's Facebook page for instructions).

5. The 28th annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival. Hosted by the Texas Fly Fishers, the 2020 event has been announced for Saturday, February 8th, at Bethany Christian Church on Westheimer in Houston. Featured tyer will be Gunnar Brammer of Duluth, Minnesota, an amazing young tier who specializes in designing and tying predator flies for all big game species. The Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival also features the largest contingent of tiers of any event on the Gulf Coast, from several states.

6. Enjoy this break from SweatFest. This morning's temperature here near Alexandria was a chilly 61 degrees! Over the next several days, both high and low temperatures north of Highway 190 will be below normal, with below normal humidity. Folks on the coast may not feel as much of the cool, but it should still be more comfortable than the last few weeks. I'm anxious to see how the fish like this cool weather! As far as SweatFest goes, it'll be back soon enough. We're also watching a possible tropical development in the Gulf.

Masters Series this Saturday

On Saturday, it's the annual "Masters Series" hosted by the North Louisiana Fly Fishers club.  Location is the Red River National Wildlife Refuge on Sunflower Road in Bossier CIty.  Time is 9:00am to 5:00pm. Cost is $40 and includes admission, lunch, coffee, refreshments.   A few tickets are still available at this time.  

 

This year's special guest is Dave Hughes.  Hughes has studied trout streams and lakes, the natural foods on which trout feed, and the flies that trout eat. He has written numerous articles and columns for various magazines, and written over 20 books on these subjects.  His presentation will explore many of his findings.  For more info or tickets, contact Tom Bullock 318-393-7729 or Scott Irwin 318-469-0854.

TFO unveils new fly products at ICAST

Temple Fork Outfitters is at ICAST in Orlando this week, with several new offerings for 2020 in the New Product Showcase. Three of which will interest our readers.

The Axiom II-X is a variation of last year's revamped Axiom series. It has the new Axiom technology paired with the fast-action tapers found in the TiCrX series. The Axiom technology embeds a double-helix of Kevlar that acts to buttress the rod's carbon base under compression. Axiom II-X rods deliver high energy for long casts with incredible tracking. They also absorb shock better, with faster recovery.

The NXT Black Label series is designed to make fly fishing simple and affordable. The kit includes a TFO Pro II medium-fast blank, either 5-weight or 8-weight, a matching cast aluminum NXT BLK II or III reel, a premium weight-forward floating line, and 20-lb Dacron backing.

The BVK SD series of reels is now one of the best reel values on the market. That's because TFO took the popular BVK, added a fully sealed drag system, and didn't raise the price!  The new drag also has a wider range of settings. Like the BVK, the BVK-SD is machined and anodized, and so good for saltwater use.