October 2025 activities

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

This month meeting will cover some club business and preparations for our Fly Fishing 101 on Sat. Oct. 25th. Join us to help educate others and please spread the word that our free Fly Fishing 101 seminar is coming up next month on Saturday October 25th at the Lafayette Parish Eastside Regional Library from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  Pre-registration is required. Please visit our Fly Fishing 101 page for details.

As always the public is welcome.  Come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, October 23
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. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month is an Open Tying Month. Come tie on your own, bring what you are tying and let us see it.  We'll also have tools and materials for some simple flies so don't hesitate to join if you are new.  We are happy to assist new tiers anytime.

As always, Acadiana Bugs & Brews is open to the public. We’ll have materials and extra tools for any beginners interested in learning to tie. 

Acadiana Fly Fishing 101
Saturday, October 25, 2025

Time: 10:15am - 1:00pm
Lafayette Parish - East Regional Library
215 La Neuville Rd, Youngsville, LA

We're hosting a free Fly Fishing 101 clinic on Saturday, October 25th at Lafayette Parish East Regional Library in Youngsville.  Time is 10am to 1pm.  This FREE hands-on workshop is an opportunity to learn about fly fishing, or improve your knowledge and skill in the sport. 

There are sessions covering: equipment and flies for freshwater and marsh fishing, hands-on knots and leaders, and hands-on casting guided by certified casting instructors. Refreshments and hand-outs are provided. Equipment will be provided for use during the clinic, however if you own a fly rod, please bring it.
 
Pre-registration is required. To learn more or to register, click on "Fly Fishing 101" in the menu above.
  

September 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, September 18
6:00pm
* Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Guests are welcome!

* Please note we are now meeting inside Pack & Paddle store -not- the Outpost in the back. The Outpost is no longer available for any use by anyone. *

As a fly fishing club, we subscribe to the "all fish in all waters" philosophy.  However, being in south Louisiana limits our experiences with coldwater trout - the species most associated with fly fishing - to winter stockings of local ponds. If we wish to enjoy the more typical flowing rivers, then significant travel can be required - but not entirely!

Join us this month as our guest speaker, Carlton Townsend, provides insight on a close-to-home year-round trout river - the Little Missouri in southwest Arkansas. Carlton is Coldwater Chair for the Kisatchie Fly Fishers, and has significant experience fishing the "Little Mo". Just a little more than five hours from Lafayette, this river offers good fishing for beginners and experienced anglers alike, with easy access. So come get some great info on this opportunity from a knowledgeable source!

As always the public is welcome.  Come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, September 25
6:00pm
* Pack & Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

* Please note AB&B is no longer gathering inside Pack & Paddle Outpost.  We'll now meet inside the store.  *

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month Pat Bienvenu will lead us in tying the Propaganda Bass Fly.  Pat was introduced to this fly thru the Red Stick Fly Fishers, and it's touted as a bass fly that matched the conventional bass fishing Ned Rig.  However, RSFF's Fly Tying Chair David Rogers has also had good success using it for Black Drum. 

As always, AB&B is open to the public. We’ll have materials and extra tools for any beginners interested in learning to tie. So come and tie the featured fly, or just bring whatever you're tying and enjoy some conversation and cold beverages. 

Fly Fishing 101 reminder

AFR will host a FREE introduction to fly fishing clinic on Saturday, October 28th at the Lafayette Parish Eastside Regional Library.  Location is 215 La Neuville Rd in Youngsville. Time is 10:15am to 1:00pm. 

Pre-registration is required. Please visit our Fly Fishing 101 page for details, or to register. 

Make plans now for Flies & Pies!

ALTO Fly Fishing Fair
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
First Baptist Church of Natchitoches Gym
508 Second St., Natchitoches, LA
FREE admission

Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tiers group (ALTO) is holding their 2nd annual "Flies & Pies" tying event in conjunction with the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival.  This year, the event will be held in a new location  just a couple blocks from the heart of the Festival - which is an attraction all to itself.

Along with some of the best fly tiers from across the region, the festival will have presentations including: Jerald Lewis on Fly Fishing for Bream, Burley Johnson on Creating Bass Poppers, and Mike Hawkins on Making Furled Leaders.  The new location has an outdoor casting area as well. So if you need a free casting lesson, or tune up, there will be two FFI Certified Casting Instructors on hand.

While this event is FREE to attend, the group will be taking up a Love Offering to present to First Baptist Church for the use of their facilities.

For more details, go to the ALTO website at www.arklatexomaflytyers.com .  Or check them out on their Facebook page (link)  

Register now for the Rio Rumble

16th annual Rio Grande Rumble
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Start: 7:00am (first light for pre-registered)
End: 12:30pm (weigh-in)
Event site: No Wake Outfitters
1926 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA
$25 entry fee, includes lunch and refreshments

Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, the Rumble is the longest running freshwater fly fishing tournament on the Gulf Coast. Target species is the Rio Grande cichlid. This native of south Texas has become widespread in extreme southeast Louisiana and is considered invasive. For fly anglers, it’s an opportunity to put their skills up against a wary species that “fights like a wet cat”.

All entry fish must be caught on flies and fly tackle. Categories are “Longest Rio” and “Most Rios Caught”. Net proceeds from the tournament go to Casting For Recovery.

The rodeo is open to all fly anglers. Registration deadline is 8:00am on October 4th. Both onsite registration and weigh-in will be at No Wake Outfitters in Metairie. There will also be a Zoom seminar on fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid. Date and time of the online seminar will be announced shortly.

For complete details, including tournament rules, and to register online, go to the NOFFC website at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

August 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, August 21
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Guests are welcome!

Join us this month as we discuss articulated flies. Whether you tie 'em or buy 'em, they have become a popular choice for just about every species.  From small articulated nymphs to hooks full of marabou and deer hair, we'll listen to some of the popular articulated fly designers and discuss the ins and outs of why and how to articulate flies that achieve the action you wants.  

Even if you don't tie flies, we can all hopefully better understand the styles and actions of these popular group of flies and recognize how to use them in fishing situations.  Also, if you have a favorite articulated fly bring it and share it with the group.

As always the public is welcome!  Come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, August 28
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

In keeping with the theme on articulated flies, the featured pattern this month will be Russ Madden's Circus Peanut.  An early design that is simple to tie but catches fish.  As always, we'll have materials for anyone interested in tying along.

As always, AB&B is open to the public. We’ll have materials and extra tools for any beginners interested in learning to tie. So come and tie the Circus Peanut, or just bring whatever you're tying and enjoy some conversation and cold beverages. 

Fly Fishing 101 announcement

AFR will host a FREE introduction to fly fishing clinic on Saturday, October 28th at the Lafayette Parish Eastside Regional Library.  Location is 215 La Neuville Rd in Youngsville. Time is 10:00am to 1:00pm. 

The workshop will include hands-on instruction on casting and leaders and knots. The session will be led by FFI Certified Instructors,  with emphasis on equipment and accessories needed for fresh and inshore saltwater fishing. Handouts will also be provided.

Details can be found on our "Fly Fishing 101" page.

July 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, July 17
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Guests are welcome!

Often we are asked, "What can you fish for with fly rod here in South Louisiana?". And the answer is just about anything! If you're one of those "all fish, all waters" anglers. then you don’t want to miss this month’s meeting as Ken Holmes of the Red Stick Fly Fishers will join us to talk about Fly Fishing for Gar.  It’s been said he has “devoted an absurd amount of time” pursuing gar and we’re sure he’ll provide plenty of insight and motivation to give any of the 4 species available right here in LA a shot with your fly rod.

Lagniappe: Ken will also show a short video he and some friends have made about their gar tournament called "The Golden Gar'.

As always the public is welcome!  Come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, July 24
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month's featured fly is the Slow Sinking Spider. Created by Stephen Robert of Houma, it's a great fly for those times a slow tantalizing fall is what the fish want, and with a contrasting body and wiggling leg, the fish seems to want it often.  Glen "Catch" Cormier lists it among his 7 must have panfish flies.  Best yet, it's an easy, durable tie. 

As always, AB&B is open to the public. We’ll have materials and extra tools for any beginners interested in learning to tie. So come and tie the SSS, or just bring whatever you're tying and enjoy some conversation and cold beverages.

Flip Siragusa, AFR president, passes

It is with great sadness that we share that Flip Siragusa passed away this Monday, June 9th, after a courageous bout with leukemia and associated complications. Flip was president of Acadiana Fly Rodders and a prolific fly tier who had demonstrated at various events, as well as taught tying workshops through Pack & Paddle and at FFI events. He had also served as Fly Tying Director for the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International.  

Flip began flyfishing and tying flies as a youngster. He would make rudimentary popping bugs with cork bottle tops, chicken feathers, and paint. During his 30 year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he renewed his interest in fly fishing, expanding his tying skills and even began making his own rods.  His repertoire of over a hundred fly patterns ranged from dry flies to deer hair bugs to offshore flies, but his favorites were foam bugs and his variation of the Waldner Spoon Fly.   He also created the Zatarian Shrimp, the Pont Breaux Crawfish, and several other flies.

Flip was equally delighted with catching bream in local ponds as he was sightcasting to redfish in skinny water. The best part of being around him was hearing his many outdoors stories, both from his personal experience in the field as well as those shared to him by the “old timers”, which told the little known history of Louisiana localities and outdoor traditions.

A memorial service is being planned for later this summer. We ask that you please keep Janese and the rest of the Siragusa family in your prayers.

June 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, June 19th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Join us Thursday June 19th at 6pm in the Pack and Paddle Outpost (behind the shop).  We’ll use Daylight Savings Time to our advantage and work on the double haul cast.  The double haul is a great technique that increases your line speed, yielding more distance to your cast.  It's also very effective for overcoming wind and is widely used in saltwater fly fishing.  So come learn this important casting technique, then practice, practice, practice.

As always guests are welcome and come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, June 26th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

This month we are thinking of surf fishing and will have tools and materials available to demo the Thunder Creek Minnow.  In the right colors it is a great Bay Anchovy, Glass Minnow imitation for those times a small slow sinking minnow is the approach. It was originated in freshwater and tied to imitate several different minnow species by changing the colors, so once mastered, the options are many.

Tied with bucktail using the "bullet" head or reverse tied technique, this will open up possibilities for reverse tying many other flies and materials such as marabou and craft fur minnows or deer and elk hair hoppers.  CLICK on the image above for a larger view of the TCM.

The public is always welcome and we will have materials and tools to learn on.  So everyone join us at the Pack and Paddle Outpost, behind the shop on Thursday the 26th at 6pm.

Make plans to attend Caddo Expo on July 19th

Caddo Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
9:00am – 5:00pm
Jefferson Tourism & Visitors Center
Jefferson, TX
hosted by North Louisiana Fly Fishers

On Saturday, July 19th, the North Louisiana Fly Fishers will hold their  inaugural Caddo Fly Fishing Expo. This event will be held in historic downtown Jefferson, TX. The event will feature fly tying demonstrations, seminars, fly casting, exhibitors, raffles, and more. Held on the banks of Cypress Bayou which feeds Caddo Lake, there is fishing available as well as kayak rentals available locally.

For members of Acadiana Fly Rodders interested in attending the event, the documents linked below should have enough information.  There are also tier and vendor applications if anyone is interested in tying or exhibiting at the Expo. Spots are limited, so please don't delay.

Caddo Fly Fishing Expo documents:

Caddo Event Flyer (pdf)

Caddo Expo Tiers Invite (pdf)

Caddo Expo Vendor Tyer Flyer (pdf)

Caddo Expo Vendor Invite (pdf)  

 

May 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, May 15th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Join us this month as we discuss "Urban" fishing opportunities here in Acadiana.  Sometimes you don't want to load up and travel far, but need a relaxing moment casting a fly to some fish.  We can point to a few spots that fit the bill, and which might even provide a lunchtime or after work option.  Maybe you have a spot that you don't mind sharing!

As always guests are welcome and come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, May 22nd
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying flies and sharing fishing tales.

There's no featured pattern this month, so bring whatever you're tying and enjoy a relaxing evening tying with friends.  Who knows, we may be asking all about what you're tying!  

As always, AB&B is open to the public. We’ll have materials and extra tools for any beginners interested in learning to tie. Come early and get in a little retail therapy at our fine sponsors in Pack & Paddle.  

April 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, April 17th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Join us Thursday April 17th at the Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind the shop) for some fly casting. Now that Daylight Savings is here we can spend some time outside doing some casting. We’ll set up a couple simple games and try some casting exercises. Bring a rod or several and try other folks rods as we try to improve our casting and as always have some fun. Hopefully some of our better casters will be here to offer assistance.  

As always guests are welcome! Come early to get in a bit of retail therapy at Pack & Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, April 24th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate and assist beginners.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying and sharing fishing tales. Join in tying a featured pattern, or bring your own fly to tie.

If you're like many saltwater anglers, this is time of year we start thinking about speckled trout. The late May/early June period offers up the best surf fishing for specks each year. We're not sure what our featured pattern will be, but it'll be something for those surfer specks!

As always we’ll have materials and extra tools, so beginners are welcome. Come early and get in a little retail therapy at our fine sponsors in Pack & Paddle. 

Registration now open for 2025 Gulf Coast Classic

3rd annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival
Friday & Saturday, May 2-3, 2025
Gulf State Park
20249A State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

Click on the image for full size poster

Registration is now open for the 3rd annual Gulf Coast Classic on Friday May 2nd and Saturday May 3rd at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL.  The Classic is the largest fly fishing event on the Gulf Coast, and features seminars, fly tying demonstrations, casting and tying workshops, a fishing contest, a film festival, and much more!  Many of the tiers are nationally-recognized and some are even professional tiers. Several of the tiers will be leading workshops as well.

Hosted by the Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI), it's a fundraiser and community gathering for the council.  The GCC consists of clubs and members in Louisiana, Mississippi, south Alabama, and northwest Florida.  Acadiana Fly Rodders is a proud member of the Gulf Coast Council.

On the registration pages, you can pay for admission, signup for a workshop, purchase film festival tickets, and even procure inexpensive onsite lodging on the campus. Or you can register for the Classic now, and register for the workshops later.  But don't wait too long...  workshops and lodging can book up in advance of the event!

Fly tier bios are currently available, and later this week schedules, seminar descriptions, and speaker bios will be posted. Seminar topics cover a wide range of fishing opportunities, from bluegill and bass to tarpon and speckled trout to Louisiana redfish and more.  In addition, there are speakers on conservation topics, including the Director of Alabama's Marine Fisheries Division, and Friday Keynote Speaker, William Strickland of Mobile Baykeepers.

There's also an incredible array of raffle and silent auction items courtesy of our amazing sponsors.  And our always popular "Mixed Bag" fishing contest - it's FREE entry with registration!

Again, to learn more about the Classic, and links to registration and workshops, go to: www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com. 

March 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, March 20th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

This month we’ll tie Kelly Galloup’s Cougar Minnow, which is a small fly that can be part minnow and part hopper. It’s pretty simple, but will give us a chance to tie a deer hair head, something that can intimidate newer tiers.  This fly doesn’t require tightly packed hair with multiple bunches. So it's a good place to start or practice.  If you're a good deer hair tier, you can help folks learn and get a great fly as well.  So everyone bring your vise and tools, materials will be provided.

As always guests are welcome! Come early to get in a bit of retail therapy at Pack & Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, March 27th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying and sharing fishing tales. Join in tying a featured pattern, or bring your own fly to tie.

This month our featured pattern will be Dirk Burton's Tussle Bug.  A great bluegill fly for the spring.  It's a pattern that uses an overhand knot weave to produce a great segmented body.

As always we’ll have materials and extra tools, so beginners are welcome. Come early and get in a little retail therapy at our fine sponsors in Pack & Paddle.

February 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, February 20th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Join us this month for a discussion and demo on hand furled leaders. While our leader is important in delivering the fly to the target and allowing the fly to be presented naturally, we are constantly looking to make improvements while keeping things simple.

Enter the furled leader. We’ll make a hand furled leader and discuss the pros and cons so you can see how this compares to other leaders and if this option fits your fly fishing needs.

As always guests are welcome! Come early to get in a bit of retail therapy at Pack & Paddle.

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, February 27th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. While not affiliated with AFR, several of our members participate.  Bring your favorite beverage, and enjoy a cold one while tying and sharing fishing tales. Join in tying a featured pattern, or bring your own fly to tie.

This month our featured pattern will be the Balanced Leech. It was to be our featured pattern in January, but with the snow storm we decided to be prudent and cancel AB&B. So we'll pick it back up for this month.

As always we’ll have materials and extra tools, so join us Thursday February 27th at the Outpost behind the shop. Come early and get in a little retail therapy at our fine sponsors in Pack & Paddle.

January 2025 activities

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, January 16th
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost (behind P&P)
601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

Happy New Year! We kick off 2025 with Glen 'Catch' Cormier giving us a talk on "A Crappie Day Fishing". No that's not a misspelling! Catch will discuss fly fishing for crappie, or sacalait, or white perch, or whatever you prefer to call them. 

Catch is Conservation Director of the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International, and is 2024 recipient of the FFI Conservationist of the Year.  He'll also cover hot topics related to conservation of this species.  

So please join us on Thursday, January 16th, as we kick off the new year and continue to provide Acadiana fly anglers a place to meet and exchange ideas and information.  

As always, guests are welcome!

Acadiana Bugs & Brews
Thursday, January 22nd
6:00pm
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette
Open to the public

Acadiana Bugs & Brews is an open community fly tying event. Bring your favorite beverage to Bugs & Brews, and enjoy a cold one while tying and sharing fishing tales. Join in tying a featured pattern, or bring your own fly to tie.

In keeping with the focus on sacalait, this month the featured pattern will be a balanced leech.  For species like crappie, balanced flies  under strike indicators work great since they keep a horizontal orientation.

As always, extra tools are available for use and materials will be provided. Come early and get in a little retail therapy at our fine sponsors in Pack & Paddle.

New Orleans Fly Fishers Expo
Saturday, January 25th
8:00am to 3:30pm
St. Christopher the Martyr School Gymnasium
3900 Derbigny St, Metairie, LA
Free admission!

Our neighboring club in New Orleans is hosting their 3rd biennial expo, featuring fly tying demonstrations by regions top tiers, seminars, Iron Fly Tying Contest, exhibitors, casting clinics, raffles, and more. Whether you’re wanting to get into fly fishing, or a seasoned veteran, there’s a program or activity certainly to be of interest.

For more info, go to www.neworleansflyfishers.com