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.

February meeting cancelled

Our meeting tonight is cancelled.  But we'll be back on March 17th.  Take note that the March meeting will take place after Daylight Savings Time so casting prior to the meeting will resume.

Tonight our friends at Kisatchie Fly Fishers will be holding their rescheduled monthly fly tying session. We encourage AFR members and friends to join in watching their session via Zoom or on their YouTube Channel.  For details, go to www.kisatchiefly.org.

Springtime is events time

When it comes to fly fishing, Spring is event season across the deep South.  While Covid forced cancellations of most events the past two years, it's clear that the Omicron variant isn't scaring anyone from getting back to some semblence of normal. 

Here is a list of fly fishing events within four hours drive or less from the Lafayette area, taking place over the next few months. We encourage AFR members and others to attend one or more of these.

Jan. 29 (Sat) – 4th biennial CENLA FLY FISHING & LIGHT TACKLE FESTIVAL, Kees Park Center, Highway 28 East, Pineville, LA. 8:30am – 3:30pm. Free admission. Presentations, fly tying demos, casting clinics, exhibitors and more. $5 lunch available. Benefits Food Bank of Central Louisiana. Hosted by Kisatchie Fly Fishers club. Website: www.kisatchiefly.org.

Feb. 12 (Sat) – 29th annual Dr. ED RIZZOLO FLY TYING FESTIVAL, Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Rd, Houston, TX. 8:30am – 4:30pm. The largest fly tying event on the Gulf Coast features over 80 tiers as well as seminars and vendors. Featured guest tier: Jerry Coviello. Adults $10, students and seniors $5, children free. Hosted by the Texas Fly Fishers club. Website: texasflyfishers.org.

Mar. 5 (Sat) – 26th Annual RED STICK DAY, Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 N Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA. 8:30am – 3:30pm. Free admission. Seminars, tying demos, kayak demos, casting clinics, food, refreshments. Hosted by Red Stick Fly Fishers. Website: www.rsff.org.

Mar. 11-12 (Fri-Sat) – 2nd annual SWEETWATER CLASSIC, Percy Quin State Park, McComb, MS. Free admission, bass tournament entry $30. Fly tying demos, casting clinics, seminars, raffles, Big Bream Contest (free), CPR big bass tournament with categories for boat/kayak and bank fishing, plus Slab Master (largest crappie). Hosted by FFI Gulf Coast Council. Website: www.ffigcc.org.

January meeting - Movie and a Fly

AFR monthly meeting
Thursday, January 20, 2022
6:00pm meeting
Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette

For our first meeting of the new year, we'll start off with the award-winning film presentation, "Off the Grid".

Following the movie, Flip will demonstrate tying the "Hair and Hackle Crawfish" which was originally developed by Chris Williams. Bring your tying equipment. There will be materials provided so you can tie your own crawfish.

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

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Here's wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed holiday season. Hope everyone finds something under the Christmas tree they can use for their piscatorial pursuits in the coming year.

While Christmas is a season of festivity, let's not forget the reason for the season: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” John 1:14. Please be giving to those in need, and pray for those who are less fortunate, for those in suffering, and for those away from their families this season.

We also wish everyone a prosperous and healthy New Year.  With much emphasis on healthy!  There are many great regional activities coming up in 2022.   Click on our Calendar page to discover what's happening.