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.

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).

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.

November meeting at Natchitoches Fish Hatchery

Cane Country Fly Casters next meeting
November 8, 2011 - 6:30pm
Location: Natchitoches Fish Hatchery
Special Program: Please note this month our meeting will be held at the Natchitoches Fish Hatchery instead of NSU Middle Lab School. Tony Brady, Propogation Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Services will be our guest speaker. Tony specializes in pearl mussels and will give an informative and interesting program about the importance of the pearl mussel in fresh water food chain.
Seating is limited, so please RSVP!

21st annual Toledo Bend Rendezvous - Nov. 4-6

This year's 21st gathering of fly tyers known as The North Toledo Bend Rendezvous will be held November 5-7 at the Group Lodge of North Toledo Bend State Park, near Zwolle, LA. CCFC members and other flyrodders are welcome to attend. Situated on the shores of Toledo Bend Lake, this facility has a lodge with a large stone fireplace on one end and a full commercial kitchen and serving facilities on the other, 5 sleeping dormitories, and a centrally located (clean) bath house with hot showers! Unlike an FFF or club conclave, where you sit and watch tyers demonstrate their skills and abilities, this event was designed for tyers to “tie with” their friends and to share tying techniques with others of all skill levels, from beginner to expert. Many of the regulars are FFF conclave tiers, and come from five or more states. You can come alone, or bring the family. There's tying, casting, cooking, fishing, sightseeing, and much more. The family fee is $40 for the weekend or $20 for one day or night. Singles fee is $30 for the weekend, $15 for the day or night. That covers all meals, desserts, coffee, ice, and lodging for Friday thru departure on Sunday. You don't even have to pay the park fee or to launch a boat! But be sure to bring your own bedding, towels, drinks and at least one pot-luck type entree. For more details, contact Walter & Linda McLendon, 936-875-3726. Also check out Walter's Rendezvous article and map at the Piney Woods Fly Fishers website.