Acadiana Fly Rodders

Join us Thursday, December 18th, 6:00pm, at Pack & Paddle (in the shop) for our final meeting of 2025. This month we'll gather to tie flies and reminisce about the wonderful times we've had fly fishing over the last year. So bring something to tie, a favorite beverage and some stories and we'll have some snacks to enjoy an evening of fellowship.

Also, bring your favorite fly for the year and we'll gamblers draw for swaps! If you don't tie or are a new fly fisher, don't worry we'll have something for you as well!

Acadiana Bugs & Brews - falls on Christmas, so no ABB this month. We start back in January.

Please take the survey. It's an opportunity for you to help improve bass fishing in our state.

🎣 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀!

LDWF wants to hear from you! We’re conducting a 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 to learn more about your experiences, preferences, and opinions on managing Louisiana’s three black bass species: 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀.

🗓 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟳
💻 Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/YC78TGP

Your input will help shape Louisiana’s 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 – a 10-year plan that will guide the future management and enhancement of bass fishing opportunities across the state, reflecting the goals and priorities identified by Louisiana’s bass anglers. This is your chance to have a direct role in the future of black bass fishing in Louisiana!

For questions, contact LDWF Black Bass Coordinator 𝗭𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰 at [email protected] or 𝟮𝟮𝟱-𝟳𝟲𝟱-𝟮𝟯𝟭𝟮. 🎣

All are welcome to join us Thursday, November 20th, 6:00pm at Pack & Paddle store for our monthly meeting. This month we'll begin the meeting by briefly discussing our recent Fly Fish 101 and possible improvements for the Spring clinic.

Then we'll tie a fly - Jack Gartside's Sparrow. This is a classic fly that Jack designed to be nothing in particular and yet a bit of everything. It's a bit nymph, baitfish, or hopper depending how you fish it and it's as effective here on our warmwater species as the coldwater trout. We'll also have tools and materials so don't hesitate to join if you are new. We are happy to assist new tiers anytime. As always, our meetings are open to the public.

** Please note that this meeting will be held inside Pack & Paddle store. The Outpost is no longer available for any activities. **

ALSO: there is no Acadiana Bugs & Brews this month as the 4th Thursday falls on Thanksgiving.

In the 1990’s the menhaden fleet did not need to fish within 1/4 mile of the beach. This report from GSMFC shows over 80% of menhaden caught in Lousiana came from outside of 1 mile from shore. In fact a large portion of their sets were 3 to 10 miles offshore.

Why is the industry desperate to fish closer, only 1/4 mile offshore? They claim they can’t catch enough pogy outside of 1/4 mile from shore.

The answer is very simple. They have over harvested and after decades there are barely any year-2, 3, or 4 pogy left. Older pogy will exist in deeper water and younger fish closer to shore.

Further, they claim that what they harvest is but a fraction of the total amount of pogy biomass in the gulf. If that was the case, why are they unable to catch pogy like they used to from 1 to 10 miles offshore?

(Source: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission)

Severe storms didn't deter several students from showing up to our Fly Fishing 101 clinic yesterday morning. They learned about the equipment, terminology, casting, leaders and much more. We improvised on the casting doing it indoors using a 6'6" rod... and it worked quite well. All the students did very well on the casting and hands-on knots, and left excited and anxious to get started.

Many thanks to Darin Lee, Catch Cormier, Micheal White, Jeff Ferguson, and Mike Carlin for their instruction and assistance. We plan to do another FF101 early next year. And hopefully, NO storms!

October activities now posted on our website at www.acadianaflyrodders.org . Our monthly meeting on October 16th will be at Pack & Paddle (in store) at 6:00pm. Topic will be overview for the AFR Fly Fishing 101 on Saturday the 25th. Acadiana Bugs & Brews will be on Thursday the 23rd at Pack & Paddle, 6:00pm. This month will be open tying (no featured pattern). Both our club meeting and AB&B are open to the public.

Acadiana Fly Rodders Promoting fly fishing, fly tying, conservation and fellowship

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝. All are welcome to join us Thursday, September 18th, 6:00pm at Pack & Paddle store (not the Outpost - read below). We'll welcome special guest Carlton Townsend. Carlton is Coldwater Chair for the Kisatchie Fly Fishers, and a veteran angler of the Little Missouri River in southwest Arkansas - the closest year-round trout fishery to Lafayette. He'll talk about the river, best spots, best flies, best times, and much more.

** Please note that this meeting will be held inside Pack & Paddle store. The Outpost is no longer available for any activities. **

As always, our meetings are open to the public. Come and bring a friend! And come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Also posted: details on this month's Acadiana Bugs & Brews - the featured fly will be the Propaganda Bass Fly. Also, a reminder about our Fly Fishing 101 clinic set for Saturday, October 25th. Go to our website at www.acadianaflyrodders.org for details.

Make plans now for "Flies & Pies" - the 2nd annual fly fishing festival hosted by the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tiers - coming Saturday, September 20th in Natchitoches. It's a free event - and held in conjunction with the world famous Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. For details, go to www.acadianaflyrodders.org.

The Acadiana Fly Rodders are holding a Fly Fishing 101 clinic on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Location is Lafayette Parish East Regional Library, 215 La Neuville Rd, Youngsville, LA. Time is 10:15am to 1:00pm. This free, comprehensive, and hands-on workshop is an opportunity to learn about fly fishing, or improve your knowledge and skill in various aspects of the sport. Equipment will be provided, however if you own a fly rod, please bring it as learning on your own is the best way to start!

Topics include: overview and terminology, hands-on casting led by FFI Certified Instructors, hands-on knots and leaders, equipment and accessories needed for fresh and inshore saltwater fishing, and different types of flies for various types of fishing.

Registration is required, as class size is limited. To learn more, and to register, go to our website at www.acadianaflyrodders.org and click on "Fly Fishing 101".

Registration for Rio Rumble now up - FFI Gulf Coast Council Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, the Rio Grande Rumble is the longest running freshwater fly fishing tournament on the Gulf Coast. Target species is the Rio Grande cichlid.

August activities posted. All are welcome to join us Thursday, August 21st, 6:00pm at Pack & Paddle Outpost behind Pack & Paddle for our AFR monthly meeting . We'll discuss articulated flies. Whether you tie 'em or buy 'em, they have become a popular choice for just about every species. 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. Also, if you have a favorite articulated fly bring it and share it with the group.

As always, our meetings are open to the public. Come and bring a friend! And come early for some retail therapy at Pack and Paddle.

Also posted: details on this month's Acadiana Bugs & Brews, and announcement about our Fly Fishing 101 clinic set for Saturday, October 25th. Go to our website at www.acadianaflyrodders.org for details.

Acadiana Fly Rodders Promoting fly fishing, fly tying, conservation and fellowship