August 2026 activities

REMINDER - Our monthly club meetings are now the third Monday of the month at the East Regional Library in Youngsville.

AFR monthly meeting
Monday, August 17th
6:00pm
East Regional Library
225 La Neuville Rd
Youngsville, LA
Open to the Public!

This month’s meeting is all about Hackle!  With many new fly tiers in the club we thought we would try and clear up one of the most confusing things from our entry into tying.  

You’ve heard all the terms - dry fly hackle, wet fly hackle, soft hackle, webbed hackle, woolly bugger hackle, Spey hackle, genetic hackle, rooster hackle, hen hackle, strung hackle, barred hackle, dyed hackle, saddle hackle, hackle capes, and much much more.  All the while you probably see some of the prices for these products and begin to wonder just how much of this is really needed.  

We’ll try to explain it and provide examples of the various types and ways you can use the various feathers so you understand what you have and what you may need.  So bring your tying tools and we can also go thru some examples and techniques.  If you don’t tie, this will help as you choose fly patterns that perform as desired.  The public is always welcome.

As mentioned last month we will record this meeting to post as a video. 

Acadiana Bugs & Brews 
Thursday, August 27th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.

We haven't selected a feature pattern for this month, so please check back to this website later as we'll probably post by the 2nd week of August.  Regardless, bring your vise and tools and materials and feel free to join in the featured pattern, or tie something else you wish.

As always AFR members assist beginners, and we’ll have tools and materials available to use.  The public is always welcome.

UPCOMING

3rd annual ALTO Flies & Pies
Friday - Saturday, Sept. 18 -19, 2026
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Natchitoches, LA
 
Hosted by the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tyers in conjunction with the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival, this event features tiers from across Louisiana and other states.  There is a fee for admission - for the Museum - but demonstration tiers can come in free.

For details, go to www.arklatexomaflytyers.org
or the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tyers Facebook Page  

July 2026 activities

ATTENTION - We’re moving our monthly meeting location, but we want to sincerely thank Pack and Paddle for all the support these last years.  We look forward to continuing to work together and remind everyone to support your local fly shop! Because they support this community. 

AFR monthly meeting
* Monday, July 20th

* East Regional Library
225 La Neuville Rd, Youngsville, LA
6:00pm
Open to the Public

* NEW LOCATION! NEW DATE!

Join us on Monday, July 20 at the East Regional Library in Youngsville and with several new members we thought this month we would discuss fly line care. 

With the monetary and environmental cost of all things these days it’s important to maintain equipment for the long term.  Choosing the right fly line is nearly as important as choosing the fly rod. Even a great rod casts poorly with a bad fly line.  Find out what qualities make for a good fly line and how to maintain it for the long run.

Bring a fly line and any tips you have to keep your fly lines performing at their best.  We’ll discuss cleaning, storage, attaching leaders, and even fixing broken loops.

Click image for larger view

Acadiana Bugs & Brews 
Thursday, July 23rd
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.

We are ashamed to admit that we let June - which is Women’s Fly Fishing Month - go by without acknowledging the contributions of lady anglers, especially with AFR's history of award winning women fly tiers including Carolyn Dunn, Dena Hebert, Beverly Vidrine, and others.  

So to make up for our oversight, this month the featured fly will be Cathy Beck’s Super Bugger.  Mrs. Beck developed it on a guide trip while waiting for a tropical system to pass.  Designed to push a lot of water in the expected muddy condition and ride hook point up, it has become a great all around fly for many fresh and saltwater situations.  

As always AFR members assist beginners, and we’ll have tools and materials available to use.  The public is always welcome.

REMINDERS -

Check out Mrs Beck’s many contributions to fly fishing and don’t forget to mentor the next generation of fly fishers as Mrs Beck certainly did.   CLICK HERE.

Also, don’t forget to stop by Pack and Paddle for fly fishing and tying resources, and while you’re there thank them for their continued support of AFR!

June 2026 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, June 18th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

This month we’re prepping for the Father’s Day event at Moncus Park, see more info below.  We’ll finalize plans, make sure we have equipment needs covered, along with tying materials.  Then we’ll practice tying the flies that we will demonstrate.  Bring your tying equipment and we’ll tie some files so we can all learn the flies to assist on the day.

Father's Day at Moncus Park
Sunday, June 21st
10:00am to 2:00pm

In conjunction with Moncus Park, join us Father’s Day, Saturday June 21st, from 10am till 2pm, we’ll be at the pond for a Park “Pop Up”.  We’ll have rods and tying equipment to give folks some hands on experience.  We’ll also give a demo from 11-12 talking about the opportunities here in LA and the basics to get started.  We would love to see folks interested in learning to fly fish come out, but also stop by if you’re an old member we haven’t seen lately and visit.  

For more info see the park website-
https://moncuspark.org/calendar-events/fathers-day-pop-up-at-moncus-park/

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, June 25th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.  Maybe bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This months featured fly will be Henry Cowen’s Silverside.  Developed to imitate the Atlantic Silverside and target salt species known to tear up flies, like bonita and false albacore, this easily tied yet durable minnow is a great intro to both braided tubing and epoxy heads.  It also imitates many small minnows here in the southeast like the Gulf and Brook Silversides as well as the Bay Anchovy.  Get the technique down and you can change colors to imitate many small baitfish with a very durable fly.  As always we’ll have tools and materials available to use, and the public is always welcome.

REMINDERS -

Don’t forget to stop by Pack and Paddle for fly fishing and tying resources, and while you’re there thank them for their support of AFR!

May 2026 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, May 21st
6:00pm
St. Julien Park Ponds
701 St Nazaire Rd, Broussard, LA
Open to the public!

We’re fly fishing this month!  Join us for a Spring evening as we continue to enjoy some daylight in the evenings. We will gather at the St Juliens Park ponds in Broussard (address above) and see if we can catch a few fish.  If you are not a member stop by, as always, the public is welcome and the club even has a few rods for tryouts.

Members, we will have a one fly tournament from 6:30 to 7:30.  Chose your fly, and a mulligan, and see who catches the most fish.  Prizes awarded for winner and big fish!  

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, May 28th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.  Maybe bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

Due to a last minute cancellation last month, we will have rescheduled AFR member Anthony Falgout who will tie a crab fly.  As always we'll have tools and materials so don't hesitate to join if you are new to tying.  We are happy to assist new tiers anytime.

REMINDERS -

Kisatchie Fly Fishers will hold their rescheduled CENLA Fly Fishing Festival on Saturday May 30th at Kees Park in Pineville.  

See their website for more info at www.kisatchiefly.org.

April 2026 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, April 16th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public!

With daylight in the evenings bring your rod and we’ll do some casting this month.  We’ll set up some casting targets and see what we can work on.  Need some help with basic casts or maybe want to work on your double haul?  The club even has a few rods for use.

As always, this meeting is open to the public.  

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, April 23rd
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public
Featured pattern:  Crab Fly

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.  Maybe bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month, AFR member Anthony Falgout will tie a crab fly.  Don’t go to the marsh without a crab fly in your arsenal...  for reds, drum, sheepshead, small fiddler and blue crabs are a key part of their diet.  We'll have tools and materials so don't hesitate to join if you are new to tying.  We are happy to assist new tiers anytime.

4th Annual Gulf Coast Classic
Fly Fishing Festival
Friday-Saturday, May 1-2, 2026
The Learning Campus at Gulf State Park
Gulf Shores, AL
Admission: $15-$20 (Free for youth 16 & younger)

The 2026 Gulf Coast Classic Fly Fishing Festival returns May 1st and 2nd at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a weekend built around fly fishing, education, and conservation. The Classic will feature two dozen demonstration fly tyers from across the country, showcasing a wide range of patterns and techniques for both fresh and saltwater fisheries.

The event features 15+ exhibitors and is supported by 30+ sponsors, whose contributions fuel a robust lineup of raffles, conservation auctions, and prizes for this year’s Mixed Bag Fly Fishing Tournament. Attendees can also enjoy two signature competitions—the Blind Tie Challenge and Iron Fly Tyer.

Education remains at the core of the festival, with 10+ free fly fishing seminars, a Saturday morning youth workshop, free and paid casting clinics, and 6+ paid fly tying workshops designed to help anglers improve at every level.

A centerpiece of the weekend is the Conservation Keynote on Saturday at 4 pm, delivered by Dr. Aaron Adams of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Director of Science & Conservation, Dr. Adams is not only a leading voice in flats fisheries research, but also an accomplished fly fisherman and author of multiple books on the subject.

The festival concludes Saturday evening with the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T), with tickets priced at $25, featuring a lineup of world-class fly fishing films and conservation storytelling.  And an opportunity to win a grand prize Winston fly rod - all attendees are eligible!

For complete details, go to the Classic website at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com  .

March 2026 activities

Early this month - Saturday, March 7th - our friends in the Red Stick Fly Fishers club in Baton Rouge will host their 31st annual Red Stick Day fly fishing festival at LDWF Waddill Outdoors Center on Flannery Rd.  Time is 8:30am to 3:00pm.  Admission is free!

This event features interesting seminars, fly tying demonstrations by some of the area's best fly tiers, casting demos and instruction, a giant raffle, and a fantastic jambalaya lunch.  Oh, and there's fishing on the premises so bring your tackle!

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, March 19th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public!

Joining us this month is Brac Salyers, Fisheries Biologist Manager with the LA Departement of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).  Brac will discuss the recent Atchafalaya Basin public survey, the overall basin bass fishery, and the Department’s efforts to manage this valuable resource.  

You don’t want to miss this one. As always, the public is welcome.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, March 26th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle (in the shop)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public
Featured pattern:  Mop Fly

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event, so even if not a member of AFR come join in and either tie the featured pattern or tie anything you want.  AFR members participate and are always willing to assist beginners.  Maybe bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month, Pat Bienvenu will demonstrate a Mop fly.  Made from those microfiber mop or dust cloths, it’s a basic pattern that imitates a larvae or grub. You’ll find yourself scouring the cleaning isle (pun intended).  We'll also have tools and materials so don't hesitate to join if you are new to tying.  We are happy to assist new tiers anytime.