It is with deep sadness that we share that Flip Siragusa passed away this Monday, June 9th, after a courageous bout with leukemia and several associated complications. Flip was president of Acadiana Fly Rodders of Lafayette, LA, and a prolific fly tier who had demonstrated at various events, as well as taught tying workshops through Pack & Paddle and at FFI events. He also served as Fly Tying Director for the FFI Gulf Coast Council up to last year when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Flip began flyfishing and tying flies as a youngster. He would make rudimentary popping bugs with cork bottle tops, chicken feathers, and paint. During his 30 year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he renewed his interest in fly fishing, expanding his tying skills and even began making his own rods. His repertoire of over a hundred fly patterns ranged from dry flies to deer hair bugs to offshore flies, but his favorites were foam bugs and his variation of the Waldner Spoon Fly. He also created the Zatarian Shrimp, the Pont Breaux Crawfish, and several other flies.
Flip was equally delighted with catching bream in local ponds as he was sightcasting to redfish in skinny water. The best part of being around him was hearing his many outdoors stories, both from his personal experience in the field as well as those shared to him by the “old timers”, which told the little known history of Louisiana localities and outdoor traditions.
A memorial service is being planned for later this summer. We ask that you please keep Janese and the rest of the Siragusa family in your prayers.
Since 2007, the Gulf Coast Council has annually recognized individuals and clubs for their accomplishments in education, conservation, service and other areas that promote the goals and ideals of Fly Fishers International. Nominations for 2025 honors are now being accepted. Deadline is June 30th.
Each year, wildlife agencies in each state designate “Free Fishing Days” for the public to fish recreationally in public waters without a fishing license. These events are part of National Fishing and Boating Week, which this year runs June 1st to June 8th.
Launched in 2020, the Tripletail Classic is a fly fishing only tournament in the Mobile Bay area and surrounding waters targeting the Atlantic Tripletail only. In a few short years, it has exploded in popularity, such that the 35 team registration limit is now reached many months before the tournament is held.
Two developments last week in the ongoing efforts to mitigate the proposed Mobile Bay dredging project. FYI, this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to deepen and widen the ship channel in the bay for larger ships to use the Port of Mobile calls pumping sediment directly into the bay. The amount of sediment involved – estimated to be 90 million cubic yards over 20 years – threatens to smother seagrasses, oysters, and reduce dissolved oxygen negatively impacting all aquatic species.
Caddo Fly Fishing Expo
A reminder that our 3rd annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival is next weekend, May 2nd and 3rd, at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. If you’ve procrastinated about going, or your weekend (or Saturday) is suddenly free, it’s not too late to register. Or sign up for workshops, the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Saturday evening, or register for the Mixed Bag Contest.
This past Wednesday, the Louisiana House Natural Resources Committee met to consider several legislative bills, including HB604. This bill would’ve established a program for purchasing tags to kill red drum over the 27 inch maximum size limit. A limited number of tags would be sold for a fee of $25 each.
