2021 Sweetwater Classic canceled

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Catch Cormier

We are announcing that our 2nd annual Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic scheduled for September 17-18 has been cancelled.  Our next Classic will be held March 11-12, 2022. This was not an easy decision, but one we felt obligated to do in light of the current spike in Covid cases, and with mask mandates and other measures being implemented.

The good news is that with the rapid surge in vaccinations PLUS high number of immune recoveries, medical experts believe we may be close to herd immunity by Spring. While Covid will always be around, we look forward to a return to “normal”.

The first Classic was held in mid-March and it was our intention to continue with this date. The Covid spike in January forced us to a September date.

Spring gives more opportunities for trophy bass. The format in March will remain the same…Okhissa is in the mix. In addition, there’s the Big Crappie category.

We also will have fly tying, fly casting, and we are working on having a Special Guest!! We’ have BBQ sandwiches on Saturday for folks to enjoy after the tournament.

Percy Quin has stated they will be very happy to switch your cabin dates if you have already made reservations. We thank them for their assistance!!!

If you registered for the tournament on iAngler, your registration is still good. You can cancel if necessary.

If you have any questions, we welcome your feedback and suggestions. This is YOUR event…to celebrate warmwater fly fishing on the northern Gulf Coast…to have fun fishing and sharing fish stories, meet new friends, and help our Council with its educational programs.

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Submit your original film for the FFI Film Festival

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Catch Cormier

Have a smartphone or camera? Want to win some cool stuff? Enter the inaugural Fly Fishers International Film Festival.

In keeping with the mission of FFI to preserve the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters, the objective of the FFI Film Festival is to invite and encourage filmmakers of all ages, abilities, and experiences to tell their fly-fishing-related stories through film.

Experienced or novice, young or old, close to home or in exotic locations, all are invited to submit their original films. Films must be fly fishing-related and can cover diverse topics such as conservation, education, community, destination, or just a good ‘ol fishing story.  Semi-finalists will be selected by judges and shown during the FFI Virtual Expo this fall.  Expo registrants will also vote for a Fan Favorite among the selected films.

Basic Guidelines

  • Open to EVERYONE and IT IS FREE!
  • All submissions must be fly fishing related.
  • All submissions must be original material.
  • Submissions can not have been previously released in any form, including social media platforms, video posting websites, or elsewhere on the internet.
  • Entries cannot have been in any other fly-fishing film festival or competition.

Prizes
1st place – $2,000 cash (courtesy of Larry Gibbs)
2nd place – $750 in merchandise from an FFI Industry Partner
3rd place – Cheeky fly reel
4th place – Cheeky fly reel
All winners will receive FFI hat and t-shirt as well.

Deadline to submit a film is September 10, 2021.

For more details and complete rules, go to www.flyfishersinternational.org/film-festival

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Special Wyoming fishing opportunity for FFI members

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Catch Cormier

Here is an opportunity you will not want to miss! FFI members can sign up for some fabulous fishing this year at Yellowstone Anglers Base Camp. Nestled in the Shoshone National Forest only 8 miles east of Yellowstone National Park is a fishing camp custom made for fly fishers.

Camp Buffalo Bill is a Boy Scout Camp that is not occupied by Boy Scouts after July 28th. The Boy Scouts now operate the site as a fly fishing camp with fly fishers directing the operations. The accommodations are cabins that sit right on the North Fork of the Shoshone River which is chock full of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout.

Transportation is also provided to many, many more destinations such as Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Soda Butte, South Fork of the Shoshone, high country lakes and reservoirs and many others. Food is served 3 times a day and is restaurant quality. No cafeteria style line at the camp.

August 30-September 4:   This just opened last week, so there should be a number of spaces left available.
Cost: $750 per week and that includes lodging, food, and transportation to fishing destinations as well as to and from the airport in Cody, Wyoming (if you fly).
Transportation to the camp is on your own. You can drive or you can fly into Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming. If you fly, the camp will pick you up and drop you off at no additional cost.

Take a look at the website HERE.   You can register on the website.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Tim Guilfoile
Camp Director
(859) 652-0088
tim@nkff.org

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FFI annual membership meeting this Saturday

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Catch Cormier

The Fly Fishers International annual Membership Meeting will be held virtually on Saturday, July 17th at 12:00pm CST. This past year has been a challenge for us all. On a positive note, it’s also been a big year for changes and improvements in the organization. This meeting will be an opportunity to share those achievements.

Here’s the agenda:
– Introductory Remarks, Dave Peterson, Chairman of the Board
– State of FFI, Patrick Berry, President and CEO
– Conservation, Tom Logan, Chair / Brad Eaton, Co-chair
– Womens Programs & Virtual Expo, Patty Lueken, Chair
– Education & Learning Center, Dutch Baughman, Chair
– Casting Programs, Bruce Williams, Chair
– Fly Tying Programs, Jerry Coviello, Chair
– Membership, Barry Webster, Chair
– Financial, Jim Maus, Treasurer
– Roundtable with Q&A, Chairman Peterson & meeting attendees

FFI members should have received an email with a link to the Zoom meeting. If you’re an FFI member, and did NOT receive this email and you wish to attend virtually, please contact the FFI office at info@flyfishersinternational.org.

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July 4th free fishing day in Mississippi

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Catch Cormier

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has announced another free fishing day this Sunday, July 4th. Anglers will be able to fish without a license on any public waters. However, daily permits will still be required to fish any State Fishing Lake or State Park Lake.

MDWFP also announced that, starting July 10th, Youth Fishing Rodeos will return for the first time since 2019. Anglers 15 and younger are invited to participate in these free events for an opportunity to catch well-stocked lakes. A great way to introduce youngsters to the sport of fishing (even if it’s not fly fishing). The rodeos run from July through mid-November.

For info about free fishing days, youth rodeos and more, visit www.mdwfp.com.

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Registration now up for Sweetwater tournament

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Catch Cormier

Registration for the Big Bass Tournament of our 2nd annual Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic is now online.  Part fly fishing festival and part tournament, the Sweetwater Classic will again be held out of scenic Percy Quin State Park near McComb, MS on September 17-18.

The event itself is FREE. Entry to the park for the event is FREE. Participation in the casting games, fly tying activities, seminars, etc. is FREE. The only costs are if you plan to fish the Saturday Big Bass Tournament ($30) and/or the Big Bream Contest on Friday ($5). ONLY if you plan to fish the tournament do you need to register. For the Big Bass Tournament, we are using the iAngler Tournament app/website for both registration and logging catches.

Please note that for 2021, fishing waters have been expanded this year to include Lake Okhissa near Bude.  We’ve expanded fishing times to allow anglers to accomodate the 45-minute drive to this trophy bass haven.  Both Okhissa and Lake Tangipahoa (the park lake) rank in the top 6 of big bass waters in Mississippi.  Equally important, both of these small lakes are kayak friendly and fly fishing friendly.

Please make sure to read all the details and rules. While there are many rules, most are simply common sense or legal fishing requirements. We want everyone to have a fun, but safe, time on the water.

To register, or to learn more about the Sweetwater Classic, click on the “Classic” menu.

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Time runs out for HB535

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Catch Cormier

As mentioned in our last post, HB535 – the bill to create a nearshore exclusion zone along the Louisiana coast – was sent to a conference committee to work out differences between the amended bill passed by the Senate and the version passed by the House.  With just a few hours to go in the 2021 legislative session, the committee failed to reach a concurrence.

Despite very strong support for an exclusion zone in both the House and Senate chambers, the bill was “played out” by the Senate Natural Resources Committee Chairman such that it never got a chance for final passage.  The fight to create a nearshore buffer zone on the Louisiana coast is far from over.  Public sentiment and science are on our side.  What steps next remains to be seen.

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Where HB535 stands with one day to go

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Catch Cormier

House Bill 535 in the 2021 Louisiana legislative session, sponsored by Rep. Joe Orgeron, is still alive but on life support as of this writing. As readers may recall, it was introduced in response to a failure by the LDWF Commission last Fall to consider a nearshore exclusion zone for the commercial harvest of menhaden. That proposal came after public outcry over numerous incidents where bull redfish, along with other gamefish and mammals, were found dead within close proximity of harvest boats. Outside of Louisiana, every other coastal state in the Gulf-Atlantic basin either has an exclusion zone, or prohibits menhaden harvest altogether.

The original request to the commission was for a one-mile buffer. HB535 was actually a compromise measure, reducing the buffer down to 1/2 mile. The FFI Gulf Coast Council, along with CCA Louisiana and several other conservation groups, came out publicly in strong support of HB535. The bill passed the House Natural Resources Committee, and then the House floor (full vote) by wide margins.

The bill then went to the Senate Natural Resources Committee where it hit a brick wall. Commercial fishing interests of all types – not just the menhaden industry – made a strong lobbying effort to the Senate NRC.  A “compromise” amendment was offered, reducing the buffer zone to 1/4 mile. It then went to the full floor of the Senate, where it passed by a vote of 35 to 3.

However, yesterday the House floor voted to reject the Senate amendments by a margin of 79-12. That means the bill must now go to conference. Three members of the House Natural Resources Committee and three members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee will meet to work out a compromise. If none is reached, HB535 is dead.

Complicating matters is the fact that tomorrow is the last day of the session. Any bills outstanding as of 6:00pm will be considered failed. The good news is, if a concurrence can be reached, both House and Senate can ratify immediately.

Two sources I spoke to this morning told me that a concurrence is likely, but that “the fight isn’t over” regardless of the outcome. One of the sources indicated there’s a real chance that Governor Edwards could veto. I checked with a legislator and his view was that the governor is more likely to not sign and let the bill become law by default. This is typically done when a governor doesn’t support legislation, but at the same time, wants to avoid a veto override session.

We shall see what the next 36 hours bring.

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