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.
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 .
