Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2024.  Hope everyone finds something under the Christmas tree that they can put to good use, especially in pursuit of our favorite pasttime. And let's not forget that at this time of year, to remember those in need.  Please be generous, and pray for those who are less fortunate, for those in suffering, and for our service men and women away from their homes and families.

The club has some fun things in store for the coming year. In addition, there are many activities planned by our neighboring friends across the state, and across the region.  Check our Calendar page for dates and details of these events.

December 21st meeting

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, December 21,  2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, we are requesting each attendee bring one example of their favorite fly.  Preferably one tied by themselves.  We'll put all the flies together and the lucky winner will go home with them.

Flip will bring boudin and cracklins for snacks.  Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite beverage.  This will be sort of a Christmas Party.  We'll share some of our favorite fishing stories of the past year.

Come early and do some retail therapy in Pack & Paddle. This time of year they have quite the assortment of nice gifts.  Hope to see you there!

No Meeting November

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Flip has announced that the November meeting of the Acadiana Fly Rodders is cancelled. Likewise, the following Thursday (23rd) when we normally have our Acadiana Bugs & Brews fly tying night is also cancelled due to it falling on Thanksgiving Day.  As we'll all be busy with our families and digesting a fine meal, it goes with saying that AB&B will be postponed till the following month.

We plan to meet again on December 21st for the regularly scheduled monthly get together and for some Christmas cheer. More info will be upcoming on the December meeting.  Until then, Happy Thanksgiving!

October 19th meeting - Lee Robinson

AFR monthly meeting
Tuesday, October 19, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, Lee Robinson will be our featured tier. Lee will be demonstrating his world famous Robbie's Woven Wasp. Due to the difficulty of tying this fly, we will be observing the process. Lee is a master of utilizing miscellaneous materials to crafting a lifelike fly. This pattern also utilizes a "woven body" technique that can be used for a number of different flies to yield a natural looking abdomen.

This will likely be our last meeting for casting as Daylight Savings Time ends on November 5th. Come early and get in a little casting practice beforehand, weather permitting. Or check into Pack & Paddle and get some retail therapy.  Hope to see you there!

September 19th meeting - Doug Blair

AFR monthly meeting
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 *
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

* Please note that our meeting for this month is being held on Tuesday to accomodate our speaker.

This month, we are honored to have Doug Blair, twice past president of Acadiana Fly Rodders, as our guest speaker. Doug will share his thoughts on bamboo rods and his experiences with the artistry and engineering of bamboo rod making. His history with these rods goes back to his start 60 years ago on simple creeks and ponds along the Great Lakes to later adventures in the Mountain West, Pacific Northwest Coast, and marshes of the Gulf Coast. An avid (though amateur) photographer and chronicler, Doug has pictures and stories about nearly every rod he's made, adding to the romance of his work with cane.

Come early and get in a little casting practice beforehand, weather permitting. Or check into Pack & Paddle and get some retail therapy.  This promises to be a great program... hope to see you there!

August 24th Acadiana Open Tying

Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying
Thursday, August 24, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, Flip will be demo tying a redfish version of the famous Stu Apte orange tarpon fly. If you wish to tie along, materials will be provided. If you have it available, please bring some fluorescent pink or fluorescent orange thread in a size 210 or 3/0.

Acadiana Open Community Tying is a group of independent tiers who gather for the enjoyment of tying and to share stories and cold beer.  Though not affiliated with Acadiana Fly Rodders, several club members are usually on hand and happy to assist any beginners. 

As always, this event is open to the public.  Bring your tools if you have any.  If not, we have tools available for use during the session.  Or just come and watch.  Come early and get some retail therapy in Pack and Paddle.

August 17th meeting - Spotted Bass in Louisiana

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, August 17, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, we'll have a guest speaker. Brian Roberts is a member of the Red Stick Fly Fishers and an avid flyfisher and excellent tier.

Brian will give a presentation on fly fishing for Spotted Bass in Louisiana. Spotted bass are an often overlooked species but a great target for fly fishers, as they live in beautiful sandy bottom rivers with swift current. Flyfishing is ideal for this environment as there are several fly angling techniques that are effective, from dead drifting topwater flies to stripping large streamers.

Come early and get in a little casting practice, weather permitting. Or come into Pack & Paddle and get some retail therapy.

July 27th meeting / Acadiana Open Tying Night

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, July 27, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, our meeting is moved from the regular date and will be held in conjunction with the Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying Group meeting.

Flip will begin by demonstrating his version of the Louisiana Toad, a redfish fly developed and used by a popular guide down in Plaquemines Parish.  Bring your vise and tools, and any materials for any flies you wish to tie.  Beginners can come and watch, or tie as there are extra tools available.  As always, cold brews and refreshments will be provided.

Weather permitting, we'll have casting around 5:30pm so bring your rods. Or come into Pack & Paddle and get some retail therapy.

June 15th meeting - Poverty Point fishing

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, June 15, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month club member Darin Lee will be our speaker. Darin will discuss fly fishing at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park, with particular emphasis on sacalait, or white perch as they're called in NE LA. Poverty Point has a reputation for producing state record white crappie, and with state park amenities is an excellent staycation destination.

Come early and get in a little casting practice beforehand. Or maybe some retail therapy in Pack and Paddle.

May 25th AONFT - guide Ivan Perrin

Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying
Thursday, May 25, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the May 18th meeting of the Acadiana Fly Rodders has been cancelled.  

However, the following Thursday (May 25th) at the Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying, we will have a special guest.  Colorado trout guide Ivan Perrin will be here and speak about trout fishing in the Centennial State. Ivan is a Lafayette native and graduate of LSU, who has guided the Colorado River area for over 30 years. You don't want to miss this presentation!

As always, this event is open to the public.  Come early and get in a little casting practice beforehand and maybe some retail therapy in Pack and Paddle.

April 27th meeting - Mighty Mite Helgrammite

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, April 27, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, our meeting  will be held in conjunction with the Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying Group meeting. We'll begin with a demonstration by Darren Lee of Mike Verduin's Mighty Mite Helgrammite. It's a great pattern for flowing streams, creeks and rivers but also an effective fly for bream.  Plan to bring your vise and tying materials. As with all AONFTG events, there promises to be beer!

Weather permitting, we'll have casting around 5:30pm so bring your rods. Or come into the store and see all the latest that Pack and Paddle has to offer.

March 16th meeting - Countach Plus Nymph

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

For this session, Catch Cormier will lead us in tying the "Countach Plus".  It's a variation of a stonefly imitation created by Clark "Cheech" Pierce of Fly Fish Food called the Countach Jig Nymph.  The story goes that Cheech and his lunch buddies called themselves the Countach Club as their dream was to someday each own a Lamborgini Countach sportster.   The original fly was named in honor of the group - and the car.  

When Catch first saw this fly, he thought, "add a small marabou tail and this would be a killer smallmouth and creek bass fly".  It is... but in addition, it's a great fly for trout, largemouth, redears, and carp!

Catch will provide materials for others to tie along with him.  Bring your tools and tying thread.

Materials to be used:

• hook: barbless jig, size 12 (Gamakatsu J20-B, Fulling Mill 5045)
• bead: 1/8" tungsten, black nickel
• legs: grizzly flutter legs, rootbeer (1 strand)
• abdomen: antron dubbing, color Rust or March Brown
• thorax: micro pine squirrel zonker, color Rust
• ribbing: midge diamond braid, color tan or pearl or rootbeer

With Daylight Savings Time in effect, come early to get a little casting practice beforehand and maybe some retail therapy in Pack and Paddle.

Red Stick Day coming up 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 our friends to the east, the Red Stick Fly Fishers, 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.

Feb. 16th meeting - Shooting Heads

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, February 16, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, our guest speaker will be Jay Smith, one of our casting pros. He will discuss “Shooting Heads”.  Shooting heads are a style of line that aren’t commonly used on the Gulf Coast. We’ll discuss these unique fly lines, how they can be used, as well as techniques for how to handle and cast them easier.

Our club founder Dennis Vidrine once held a casting demonstration many years back, where using a shooting head, was able to make extremely long, accurate casts. Shooting heads give anglers that extra distance that might occasionally be needed for when redfish are just out of range, or in the surf when schools of trout are holding to the second sandbar.

Since no fly casting yet (until Daylight Savings), please come early and get in a little retail therapy in Pack and Paddle.

NOFF Expo this Saturday!

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.

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

Jan. 19th meeting - AON fly tying

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, January 19, 2023
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month, our meeting  will be held in conjunction with the Acadiana Open Night Fly Tying Group meeting. This month's guest fly tyer will be Chris Williams, aka “The Fat Fingered Fly Tyer”.  As a lot of you know, Chris has a website by that name and is a very active tyer and fisherman.  He publishes a wealth of knowledge about all things fly fishing and fly fishing related. Plan to bring your vise and tying materials. As with all AONFTG events, there promises to be beer!

It will be dark by 6:00pm so probably no fly casting can be done. But do please come early and see what all Pack and Paddle has to offer.

See you on the 19th!