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.

This month’s featured fly will be a Cicada.  As both annual populations and periodic “broods” that hatch in tremendous numbers, Cicadas are a pattern you should have in your arsenal.  Pat Bienvenu will lead us in tying Hoov’s Cicada.  Created by entomologist and fly angler Greg Hoover, it matches adult cicadas of nearly all species.

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  

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)