March meeting - Crappie on the Fly

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, March 17, 2022
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

For our March meeting, Glen 'Catch' Cormier will give us a presentation on fly fishing for crappie (sacalait). Catch has, or has held, several state and/or IGFA world records for crappie. He's also fished in kayak tournaments for crappie. He'll cover biology, seasonal tactics, flies, tackle, and locations for this popular game fish.  It's a great time of year to fly fish sacalait while they're in the shallows!

With Daylight Savings Time, we'll have casting again prior to the meeting starting at 5:30pm.  Meet us in the back parking area for Pack & Paddle.  Bring your fly rod and improve your casting skills.

As always, guests and newcomers are welcome to our meetings!

Sweetwater Classic this weekend in McComb

2nd annual Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic
Fly fishing festival and fishing contest
Friday-Saturday, March 11-12, 2022
Percy Quin State Park, McComb, MS
FREE admission to festival, entry fee for contests

The Sweetwater Classic is hosted by the Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI).   It's open to the public, and admission to the festival and the park is FREE.  There is a $5 entry for the Big Bream Contest on Friday afternoon, and a $30 entry fee for the Big Bass Contest on Saturday.  It should be noted that Acadiana Fly Rodders is a member of the FFI and affiliated with the GCC.

In addition to the contests, there are seminars on fly fishing basics, on fly fishing for warmwater species and coldwater trout, there are also fly tying demonstrations and instruction, fly casting clinics and instruction, raffles and more. The raffle and silent auction includes fishing tackle, accessories, and many one-of-a-kind items.  Proceeds from the fundraiser help to fund the Gulf Coast Council's conservation and education projects. There will also be free coffee and donuts on Saturday morning, and a pulled pork BBQ lunch on Saturday for $6.

For complete info, including schedule of activities and links to tournament registration, go to  www.ffigcc.org and click on "CLASSIC".

Esteemed AFR member Bob Tabbert passes

Last week, Acadiana Fly Rodders lost one of our most beloved members - and fly fishing in general lost one of its great contributors - when Robert "Bob" Tabbert passed away. Bob was 93 years old. Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, his job as a geologist took him to south Louisiana where he embraced the lifestyle. After retirement, he became a seasonal summer resident of his native state, living in a cabin in northern Wisconsin chasing his beloved brook trout. The rest of the year he lived here in Lafayette, where he was a longtime active member and board director for our club.  

Bob had many interests, but his passions were fly fishing and conservation. In the Federation of Fly Fishers (now Fly Fishers International) he found an avenue for combining both. A longtime FFF member, in 2000, he and a few other members helped rebuild the FFF Conservation Committee and establish new goals and direction. He served many years on the FFI Conservation Committee, and more recently as the Committee's Senior Advisor.  He worked on the FFF's native fish conservation projects and chaired their Coldwater Committee. He also served as vice-president of conservation for both the Southern Council and the Gulf Coast Council after its formation in 2006.

In 2012, he was awarded the "FFI Conservation Award" for extraordinary contributions to the conservation of fisheries resources. He was also awarded the Don Harger Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to fly fishing.

In addition to his contributions as a conservationist were his contributions to fly casting. Bob was one of the first FFF Certified Casting Instructors in the state, and one of its first Master Certified Instructors. He also served a stint as Casting Director for the FFF Gulf Coast Council.  He helped organize several casting clinics for the Acadiana club, and directed casting activities for their annual conclave.

In 2019, Bob wrote a book "The Great Depression & Alaska Fly Fishing", a collection of stories from his youth growing up in central Wisconsin during the Depression. The second half of the book is about his time in Alaska working as a geologist. Both segments of his life are intertwined with his love of fly fishing.

Bob's wife, Phyllis, passed away in March of last year. They are survived by their children, Lori and Matthew, and a string of grandchildren and great grandchildren.