Monday, December 31, 2012

Natchitoches Fishing Expo - Saturday, May 4, 2013

The biggest fishing event of the spring in the Red River area comes to Prather Coliseum on the Northwestern State University campus the first Saturday in May!  Over 35 vendors, 35 fly tiers, seminars by leading experts in bass fishing, crappie fishing, fly casting, kayak fishing, trout fishing, saltwater fishing, and more. Programs exclusively for the ladies who don't fish - or who do fish but are looking for something special. Click on the NATCHITOCHES FISHING EXPO and FLY TIERS page for complete details. 

Friday, November 9, 2012

November 13th club meeting

The next meeting of the Cane Country Fly Casters will be Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at Westside Baptist Church Family Life Center.  Time is 6:30pm. Guests are welcome.  Bring your vise, as this meeting will be "Fly Tying 101 according to Cane Casters". 

Also, it's time to Nominate and vote in new officers for 2013-2015.  Also, we will discuss the upcoming Natchitoches Fly Expo (May 2013). See you next Tuesday, Sunny.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Rendezvous 2012 - November 2-4

The first weekend of November means North Toledo Bend Rendezvous!  This casual gathering of 100 or more fly tiers and other fly anglers from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and beyond, has been a tradition for over two decades.  There are no programs or scheduled events.  Folks just relax, tie flies, fish, tell stories, cook and eat.  It's a laid back weekend, for sure!

The location, as always, is North Toledo Bend State Park in Zwolle, LA.  The group facility used has a meeting hall with kitchen, group showers and 5 bunkhouses.  The meeting hall is the site of most activity.  Good fishing is just yards away, ideal for paddlecraft or even bank fishing.

For 2012, the date is Friday afternoon, November 2nd thru Sunday morning, November 4th.  The gathering begins before 3pm on Friday when the park staff unlocks the facility. Families and individuals check in at the main office and can ask for their FREE Parking pass for the "Fly Fishing Group". Once at the facility, the first order of business is finding the necessary bunks in one of our 5 bunkhouses.   The single's fee is $40 for the weekend or $20 for the day or night.  The family fee is $50 for the weekend or $25 for a day or night.  For those who do not stay in the bunkhouses, please make a donation so we can pay our fees.   No reservations are required, just show up.

For complete details, go to the Rendezvous website.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

CCFC September 11 meeting

If visitors to our site wondered why Cane Country Fly Casters haven't posted any meetings lately, it's because we don't meet during the summer months. Most of our members are out and about, enjoying vacation, fishing, and in some cases, exploring new places to fish.

This summer was no different. Some of our members traveled as far as Alaska, some fished the coast, and others attended conclaves here in Louisiana and around the country. We hope our members will share these experiences with us during the coming year.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday September 11, 2012, at Westside Baptist Church, 6:30 pm. We will meet in the Family Life Center.
- Burley will be cooking!
- Burley will also bring his popping bug collection and show the process of how he makes popping bugs.
- Bring your rod for tips from Steve on the double haul or help each other with casting.

Please let us know if you plan to attend. See Ya Tuesday 9/11 at 6:30 pm!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Contraband Fly Fishing Expo on August 25th

Our friends in the Contraband Fly Casters club of Lake Charles will hold their annual Fly Fishing Expo on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at the Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Community Center located at 735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, in Moss Bluff. This celebration of fly fishing runs from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and features programs, fly tying and casting demos, vendors, raffles and much more. Admission is free to the public. Refreshments and lunch will be offered for a nominal fee.

Headlining the event will be renown Southwest Louisiana saltwater guide Capt. Jeff Poe. Capt. Poe will make a presentation on fly fishing Big Lake (Calcasieu Lake). An avid saltwater fly angler for over 20 years in that area, he holds the state record speckled trout on fly, a 9 1/2 pound beast taken on a fly he fashioned.

Eric Shanks, LDWF District 5 Inland Fisheries Manager, will give a presentation on freshwater fishing conditions and potential in area waters, based on field sampling and measurements.

Returning to this year’s Expo will be Master Certified Casting Instructor Keith Richard from Breaux Bridge, LA. Mr. Richard will be discussing and demonstrating flycasting form and techniques. He will be available in the afternoon for individual coaching. Arrangements for one-on-one instruction can be made upon registration at the Expo Registration Desk on Saturday morning, on a first come, first served basis.

The Expo will feature many renown fly tyers from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas who will share and demo their designs and techniques throughout the day. Whether it's for mountain trout, warmwater, or saltwater species, there's something for everyone. Materials used in tying flies will also be available for sale.

Other activities include vendor exhibits of fly tackle, fly tying equipment and supplies, kayaks and related fishing equipment, silent auctions of various fishing equipment and classic fly designs, photo exhibits, information on local fishing, and much more.

For further information on the Expo or the CFC club, please contact Jim Gill, Club President at (337)842-9513 or Warren Landry, Club Secretary, at (337)853-7755.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Fly Fest Coming Soon on May 5th

Our 2nd annual Cane Country Fly Fest will be held Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 8:00am to 3:00pm on the Cane River Front here in Natchitoches. Admission is free, and there's something for all levels of interest in our sport.

- Pack and Paddle of Lafayette will be on hand for you to demo canoes and kayaks.
- Fly Tying Demonstrations. Top Fly Tiers from Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, watch real artists at work.
- Casting Demonstration. Have you ever thought about flinging a fly? Here’s your chance to learn from expert instructors.
- Programs: What Fish See and Hear; What’s a Mussel Good For Anyway?; Healing Waters
- Raffles: Great Stuff for Everyone
- Vendors from Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas
- Door Prizes: Who knows, you just might get lucky

For more info, contact Burley Johnson at troutman1951@hotmail.com

Sunday, April 8, 2012

April 10th meeting - Spring Cookout

The next meeting of the Cane Country Fly Casters will be on Tuesday, April 10. Please note the change of venue for this meeting. We will have our Spring Cookout at Cliff Conine's, 1150 Miller Farm Rd in Natchitoches. Time is 6:30pm. Bring your rods for casting. Cliff lives on Cane River so you'll really get to wet a hook. Bream are biting, too! Please RSVP so we'll know how many to feed.

Monday, March 12, 2012

March 13th Meeting - Bill Heugel

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30pm. Location the NSU Middle Lab. Bill Huegel will be our guest speaker, his program is "Fish Senses, what they see, taste, smell, hear and feel". It will be a great program. Bill has given this presentation to many clubs and conclaves. Guests are welcome.

Upcoming:
- April 10th CCFC Tuesday meeting: Cookout at Cliff Conine's, 1150 Miller Farm Rd, Natchitoches. 6:30pm. Bring your rods for casting. Cliff lives on Cane River so you'll really get to wet a hook.

- May 5th Cane Country Fly Fest II. We will be downtown Natchitoches on Cane River all day Saturday. We will have casting demonstrations, speakers, tiers, door prizes and vendors. For more info, check out our Fly Fest page.

- May 8th CCFC Tuesday meeting: details TBA

Welcome new members!

Joining CCFC during the month of February were:
- Candace Martin
- Rusty Russell
- Tom May
- Jamie and Bray Williams
- Shawn Daily

We encourage new and old members to ask questions and share knowledge. That's what our club is all about!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sowbug Roundup - March 22-24

This annual event hosted by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers club is held in Mountain Home, Arkansas every spring. The Sowbug Roundup is the largest club event in the country, and the foremost gathering of fly tyers in the USA. Every year more than 100 tyers from all over North America and Europe meet and tie. In addition, there are programs each day, casting clinics, and exhibitors. This year, Sowbug moves to a larger facility - the Baxter County Fairgrounds, where the FFF Southern Conclave is held each October. Admission is only $5.00 for adults for all 3 days, with under 12 free. For more info, go to the Sowbug Website.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

February meeting change, future meetings

Our February meeting will be Monday 13th instead of Tuesday (Valentine Day conflict). Location has also changed for this month, we will be at Westside Baptist Church, Family Life Center. Time 6:30pm. WSBC has been kind enough to let us use the gym for casting so bring your rods. Steve Lee will demonstrate and instruct
the double haul cast We will meet at Westside Baptist Church, located on the Natchitoches By-Pass next to NSU Complex.

Our March meeting will be on Tuesday 13th at our usual location, NSU Middle School Lab. Bill Huegel will be our guest speaker, his program is "Fish Senses, what they see, taste, smell, hear and feel". It will be a great program. Bill has given this presentation to many clubs and conclaves.

Our April meeting will be April 10th. It'll be a cookout at Cliff Conine's, 1150 Miller Farm Rd, Natchitoches. Time is 6:30pm. More details to come.

Cane Country Fly Fest II is coming!

Mark your calendars for May 5th. CCFF2 will be downtown Natchitoches on Cane River all day Saturday, May 5, 2012. We will have casting demonstrations, speakers, tiers, door prizes and vendors. More information will follow as we continue to plan for this event.

2012 Dues Reminder

2012 Dues are due! Annual membership in Cane Country Fly Casters is $25 Family, $20 Individual. Make check payable to CCFC and mail it to 915 3rd Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 (please disregard this reminder if you have already paid).

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Fly Festival Season Is Here

There are many events taking place within 6 hours of Natchitoches that members may be interested in. These events feature programs, fly tying, casting, and much more to enhance and improve our skills as fly anglers. They include:

Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Fest - Sat, February 4 - Houston, TX
Little Mo Fly Fest - Sat, February 17-19 - Murfreesboro, AR
Acadiana Conclave - Sat, February 25 - Lafayette, LA
Red Stick Fly Fest - Sat, March 3 - Baton Rouge, LA
Fly Fish Texas - Sat, March 10 - Athens, TX

Our own "conclave" is in the planning stages for sometime in May. Stay tuned.