January The Red Letter. Mon, Jan Official Publication of the Red Stick Fly Fishers

Transcription

1 The Red Letter January 2010 next club meeting: 7:00 PM Mon, Jan Wildlife & Fisheries bldg next fly - tying meeting: 7:00 PM Mon, Jan Cabela's in Gonzales Official Publication of the Red Stick Fly Fishers

2 Above and cover artwork courtesy Dave Whitlock Please visit for more information RSFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing, conservation and outdoor ethics. Programs are held the second Monday of each month at Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries located on Quail Dr. at 7:00 pm. Fly tying is held the fourth Monday of each month, except December. The location currently alternates between Cabela s in Gonzales and Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs. These events also begin at 7:00 pm. Dues are $25 for individuals or families, free for students. RSFF is affiliated with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Gulf Coast Council. Submissions to The Red Letter must be received by the Editor no later than the first Monday of each month. Correspondence or club information can be obtained through the club web site, or by , or by regular mail at:

3 New Director Greg Grandy to speak on the BREC Conservation Program by Dugan Sabins, Education and Program Chair As many of us know, it is that time of the year when the East Baton Rouge Parks and Recreation Department (BREC) begins its popular stocking program for Rainbow a.k.a. "Rainbeaux" Trout in selected BREC ponds in East Baton Rouge Parish. Several RSFF members have stalked rainbows in BREC ponds during the last several years under the program and become accomplished at matching the right flies and fly-fishing gear for a fun days catch. Webmaster Catch Cormier has already put up some information about this years program on the RSFF website. For our January Program, we are fortunate to have BREC's new Director of Conservation, Greg Grandy, come talk to us about this year's BREC Rainbow Trout Stocking Program and how we can participate and help make it a success! Greg would also like to discuss his vision of the BREC Conservation Program for the Parish and get RSFF input on existing and proposed BREC Conservation Programs including enhancement of fly fishing opportunities at BREC ponds. Greg brings a lot of experience to the BREC Conservation Program including hosting LPB educational programs, being the first manager of BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, being named educator of the year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and the recipient of a Conservation Stewardship Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. So plan on coming out to hear and talk with Greg and see what opportunities there are for RSFF to collaborate with BREC to enhance and improve conservation programs at BREC parks. Announcement: RSFF Name Tags by Bill Brown, Membership Chair I have found a shop that will do a reasonable job on name tags for a reasonable price. The tags will be approximately 1 ½ x 2 ½ and conform to the design (or thereabouts) shown below. Clip-on or magnetic backs are available. Anyone who would like to order one, please me at bbrownflyfish@yahoo.com or sign up at the January membership meeting. I ll need the name you want on the tag and the type of back you want. The price will be$ We hope to have them ready for the February membership meeting.

4 Recipe of the Month: Crawfish Cakes submitted by Mike LaFleur, Coldwater Chair The following recipe, prepared by the CCA Delta Chapter, won the 2009 Chapter Cook-Off at the State Convention in New Orleans. Louisiana crawfish tails mixed with garlic, scallions, and panko crumbs, pan seared, topped with crawfish ginger chili sauce and served on a bed of rice wine vinegar, Creole mustard cabbage bok choy relish. Garnished with fried won ton strips. Cream Sauce 2 cups room temperature half & half, one stick of butter, quarter cup of flour, one teaspoon of Wasabi paste and a pinch of salt. In a saucepan, melt the butter and add flour to make a white roux. Slowly stir in half & half, Wasabi, and salt. Simmer on low till thickened. Crawfish Patties In a large skillet, add: half a stick of butter, quarter cup of diced onions, one teaspoon diced garlic, half-teaspoon Creole seasoning, one tablespoon chopped green onions, and three-quarters of a pound of Louisiana crawfish tails. Sauté three minutes and add the cream sauce and half a cup of Panko bread crumbs. Relish Dressing one teaspoon rice wine vinegar, one teaspoon mayo, half teaspoon honey, one teaspoon Creole mustard and a pinch of salt. Bok Choy Relish one cup of thinly sliced bok choy, half-cup of thinly sliced cabbage. Just before serving, lightly toss the dressing into the relish. Crawfish Ginger Sauce one cup pineapple juice, one teaspoon chopped fresh ginger, one teaspoon Thai chili sauce, half a teaspoon soy sauce, dash of Lea & Perrins, two ounces of dry sherry and a quarter pound of Louisiana crawfish tails. Simmer the ingredients in a saucepan. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed in a tablespoon of water. Garnish Cut two won tons into quarterinch wide strips and fry until golden. In a non-stick skillet, heat a dash of sesame oil to hot. Add the crawfish cakes that have been lightly dusted with Panko bread crumbs. Lightly brown on both sides. Divide relish with dressing on eight plates and top each with a crawfish cake. Top each cake with the crawfish ginger sauce and garnish with the fried won ton strips

5 A Message from the President by Don Richardson The New Year is upon us promises to be a full year for RSFF. There are trips to Concordia, Arkansas and the Gulf Coast. There are events like Red Stick Day and Fly Fishing 101. These aren t new but they are important for the strength of the Club. They are also important for the involvement of the club members. The outings provide a great opportunity for newer members to get to know the veterans. I am one who got to know veterans on outings. As your new President, I am acutely aware of the need for the club to provide community service and educational opportunities for folks who are interested in getting involved in fly fishing. I hope to continue the record of RSFF in that area. One of the things I want to see is more members involved in club activities. Getting people more involved will be a major focus. In the coming months we will provide more information in this regard. Our first activity this year will be Red Stick Day. All members are encouraged to tie a few flies to be auctioned off. There is a lot of work to pull this off. Catch can t or shouldn t have to do it solo. In the past there has been good support by club members and we are counting on that this year. We will provide more information next month on this topic. There are a lot of very talented tyers in the club who can and have displayed their talents at club functions. We will encourage more involvement in that area. More on that later also. It is a great honor to have been nominated and elected by the club to serve as your President. I do not take the responsibility lightly. The club has done a lot for me and now I want to return the favor. My first principle will be, Do no harm. Avoid any actions or promotions that would in any way harm the club. Make sure that initiatives are conducive to building rather than eroding the club. My second principle will be to involve as many people as possible. Being involved provides members with a sense of belonging and contributing while reducing some of the load on the committee chairs. Experienced committee members will also provide for smooth succession when chairs are called upon to serve in another capacity. My third principle will be to grow the club. RSFF is a large club now. We have activities in Denham Springs and Gonzales and should be able to expand the club membership in those areas. RSFF has a great history and the past presidents have all been a blessing to the club. There has been growth, activity and traditions developed. I hope to be able to build on this foundation. At a minimum I hope to be able to continue the tradition. Again, thanks to all of you for your confidence. I look forward to serving RSFF and enhancing the experience of membership for all. But that will not happen without the continued GREAT work of the committee chairs and the support of the membership at large. Let s have a great year in 2010!!!

6 Events Calendar - Spring 2010 by Catch Cormier, Events Chair The following is a list of activities and events for the first half of Some are non-club. Asterisk (*) denotes our club's event or an event for which we volunteer. Unless noted as "Open to the public", all our activities are for RSFF members, or members of other FFF clubs, only. Plus sign (+) denotes conclave. These FFF club or council events are open to the public, and feature programs, fly tying demos, casting instruction, rod demos, exhibitors, raffles and/or silent auction, food and refreshments. Any other activities are designated. Net revenue from conclaves often goes to support education and conservation initiatives. RECURRING * Membership Meeting: 7:00 p.m., second Monday of every month, Louisiana Room, Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge. Casting instruction prior to meeting during Daylight Savings Time. * Fly Tying Sessions: 7:00 p.m., fourth Monday of every month except December. Odd months: Conference Room, Cabelas, Gonzales. Even months: Meeting Room, Bass Pro, Denham Springs. Call Jack Dial (225) Fly Tying at Bass Pro Shops: 9:30 a.m. - 12noon, fourth Saturday of each month except 3rd Saturday in December. Conference Room, Bass Pro, Denham Springs. Call Harold Henkel (225) Fly Tying at Orvis: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., first Tuesday of each month except for holidays. Orvis, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge. Intermediate level tying, however beginners are welcome. Bring your own vise and tools. Materials provided. Call Jarid Malone at (225) EVENTS * January (Fri-Mon) - RSFF annual "Rainbow Coalition" fishing trip to the Little Missouri River in Murfreesboro, AR for rainbow and brown trout. + January 30 (Sat) - Contraband Conclave, Southwest Louisiana Fishing Clubhouse, Lake Charles. Time 8:00am - 4:00pm. It's the return of the Contraband Fly Casters annual event. Presenters include realistic tier David Martin from Nevada, marine biologist and tying author Dr. Aaron Adams of The Mote Institute in Florida, casting instructor David Lemke of the Texas Fly Fishing School. Fishing nearby on Lake Prien. For more details, go to + February 6 (Sat) - Texas Fly Tying Festival, Bethany Christian Church, 3223 Westheimer, Houston, TX. Time 8:30am - 4:30pm. Sponsored annually by the Texas Fly Fishers club, the 18th annual Fly Tying Festival will feature Bob Clouser and nearly a hundred tiers from across the region. For more details, go to

7 February (Fri-Sun) - Little Mo Fly Fishing Fest, Community Center, Murfreesboro, AR. This casual celebration of fly fishing kicks off with the Friday night gumbo, with fly tying, vendors, casting, programs on Saturday, culiminating with the annual "State of the Little Mo" presentation by Arkansas Game & Fish biologists Saturday evening. Sunday morning casting clinic. Open to the public, $10 fee. Excellent trout fishing on the Little Missouri River. For more info, go to + February 27 (Sat) - Acadiana Conclave, Grace Presbyterian Church, 518 Roselawn Blvd, Lafayette. Time 8:30am - 4:30pm. The Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette celebrate their 23rd annual conclave in usual fashion! Club banquet that evening. For more details, check the AFR newsletter or forum postings on laflyfish.com, or the AFR website at acadianafly.blogspot.com. * + March 6 (Sat) - Red Stick Day, LDWF Waddill Outdoors Center, 4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge. Time 8:30am - 4:00pm. Free admission. Our 19th annual club conclave also offers kayak demos and fishing on premises. Presenters include outdoor writer, blogger, and former trout guide Zach Mathews, author, writer and Outdoors Hall of Fame member Pete Cooper, Jr., Orvis-BR Fishing Manager and Laguna Madre guide Capt. Jarid Malone, Hobie Pro Team member Brendan 'Choupique' Bayard. Check the newsletter or for details. March (Fri-Sun) - 30th annual Louisiana Sportmens Show, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, Gonzales. Exhibitors, seminars, cooking demos, skeet shooting demos, live music, other activities. $8 adults, $5 kids, free admission to military in uniform. Times: Fri 2-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm. For more info, go to * March (Fri-Sun) - RSFF annual "March Brown" fishing trip to the Little Missouri River in Murfreesboro, AR, for rainbow and brown trout. This date coincides with historical hatches of both the March Brown mayfly and various caddis flies, and offers excellent dry fly opportunities. Check this newsletter or the RSFF forum for details. March (Fri-Sun) - Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Camp Grant Walker, Pollack. Sponsored by LA Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries. Women-only weekend of instruction in 20 outdoors activities (including fly tying and casting). Registration limited to 125 women 18 and older, starts mid-january. Scholarships available. Web site: or call Dana Norsworthy (318) April 8-10 (Thu-Sat) - Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Gulf Coast Expo, New Braunfels Civic Center, New Braunfels, TX. Sponsored by the Gulf Coast Council FFF. In addition to general conclave activities (described above), also offers hands-on workshops (free or nominal fee), FFF-CCI casting certification, kayak tryouts, social activities, and more. Social activities include Thursday evening feast, Friday evening "Fly Fishing Film Tour" and Fajita dinner, Saturday evening Texas-style banquet. Special guests: Chico Fernandez, others TBA. Registration begins December 21. For registration or more info, go to

8 * April 17 (Sat) - RSFF annual "Fly Fishing 101" clinic, 8:30am to 2:30pm. FREE and open to the public, ages 10 and older. Location is LDWF Waddill Outdoors Center, 4142 N. Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge. Learn or improve your knowledge and skill in equipment, fly casting, fly tying, knots and leaders. Each 1-hour session is taught by club experts. Handouts, door prizes, food and refreshments are provided. Advanced registration required as class size is limited! To pre-register, please contact Dan Weber at (225) or dweberg@aol.com. (Note: if you have fly tying equipment and/or fly rod & reel, please bring them! Although we will have equipment available, it s best to learn on what you own.) * April (Fri-Sun) - RSFF annual Spring Lake Concordia Trip. Freshwater weekend outing to lovely Lake Concordia. Friday thru Sunday. Fly fishing for bass, bream, crappie, other species. Culminates with Saturday evening fish fry. Check newsletter or forum at for further details. + May 1 (Sat) - Caddo Conclave, 10:00am to 4:30pm, Caddo Lake State Park, Karnack, TX. Co-sponsored by East Texas Fly Fishers, Lone Star Fly Fishers, and North Louisiana Fly Fishers, the first-ever Caddo Conclave will feature general conclave activities, plus rod building demos, bamboo rodmaking, canoe and kayak demos. Excellent fishing on premises. For more info, go to May 15 (Sat) - Paddlepalooza VII, annual paddlecraft fishing tournament hosted by the Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club. Registration includes Friday night meal, Saturday night fish fry, and captains bag. Weigh-in location is Moran's Marina at Port Fourchon. Entry fees for BCKFC members and non-members. For rules, details, and registration, go to * May 22 (Sat) - RSFF annual Spring "Catch-and-Eat" marsh fishing trip. Highway 1 corridor. Culminates with Saturday evening fish fry at Boudreauxs Condeauxs in Golden Meadow or Boudreaux Motel in Leeville. For more info, check the April/May newsletters or the forum. + June (Thu-Sat) - Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Southeast Conclave, Unicoi State Park, Helen, GA. Annual conclave of the Southeastern Council FFF features programs, fly tying, vendors, workshops, raffles, and many other activities. Check the website for details and registration. * July (Fri-Sun) - Grand Isle Fly Fishing Weekend, Blue Dolphin Inn, Grand Isle. Co-sponsored by south Louisiana and Mississippi fly-fishing clubs. Registration required. Call Randy Leonpacher (225) or Barry Dauphin (337) Website:

9 RSFF Board home work address Don Richardson President Joe Kahler Past President Dan Weber Vice President Ron Braud Treasurer Greg Brignac Editor Jody Titone Secretary Glen Cormier Events Mike LaFleur Coldwater Jack Dial Fly Tying Randy Leonpacher Saltwater Bill Brown Membership Roger del Rio Conservation Dugan Sabins Education/Programs Jack Lithgoe Warmwater Friends of RSFF - Please support our club sponsors! A Bayou Runs Thru It - PO Box 1062, Broussard, LA 70518, , Jerome & Dena Hebert, Custom Flies & Wildlife & Game Fish Art Backpacker Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA, , Camping, canoes, kayaks, outdoor clothing Fish With Rich Guide Service - Capt. Rich Waldner, New Orleans, La, , Fly fishing for reds and specks in the Southeast La. Marsh Fly Fishing in Saltwaters Magazine , Leading publication on fly fishing saltwater Louisiana Fly Fishing Louisiana online fly fishing resource since 1996 Louisiana Sportsman Magazine - PO Box 1199, Boutte, LA, , Louisiana's premier outdoors magazine and online source Mayer Clothiers Orvis, Winston Rods S. Sherwood Forest; Baton Rouge, , Jim Mayer, Proprietor, Orvis - rods & fly-tying material, Winston rods, fine clothes for men and ladies Redchaser Guide Service , redchaser@redchaser.com, redchaser.com online fly fishing community, Capt. Ron Begnaud, Fly fishing in the Calcasieu estuary, programs, instruction Rio Products, Inc. - Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, , Makers of premium fly lines, leaders, accessories Temple Fork Outfitters - Makers of affordable quality fly fishing products Tibor Reels - Old World craftsmanship Made in the USA Uptown Angler Julia St., New Orleans, (504) , Alec Griffin, ManagerRedchaser Guide Service