Three months down
The first quarter of 2024 is in the books, and, as in past, it seems to have passed in the blink of an eye.
While trips afield were by no means lacking these past three months, my efforts on this blog have admittedly lagged as work and life have taken their toll. I’ll do my best to rectify that in the coming quarter, but anticipate that it may be mid-May before weekly tutorials.
Until then, I’ll do my best to commit to two step-by-steps per month with hopes of surpassing that low bar if time should allow.
For now, though, let’s take a look back at the quarter that was
In the Field: A Slow Start and Growing Competition
From a numbers standpoint, the start of 2024 seems to be closely mirroring 2023. I’ve landed 17 species to date. However, only 10 of those have come from Louisiana waters.
Those Louisiana species, however, differ greatly from their 2023 counterparts as five of my first seven species this year all eluded me in 2023. Common Carp, Black Drum, Striped Mullet, Skipjack Herring and White Bass, all absent from my 2023 Species List, were among the first to grace my line in 2024.
Further afield, a weekend jaunt to south Florida produced the usual suspects as a fellow angler and I spot hopped our way through Broward & Miami-Dade counties in search of exotics. An invitation to fish with Jim S., a longtime internet friend (and the first subscriber to this blog!), proved the highlight of the trip as Jim’s spot produced my first lifer of 2024, a Jaguar Guapote cichlid! Big thanks to Jim for the hospitality! I’m glad we finally got to fish together and will be happy to return the favor next time you find yourself in my neck of the woods!
While I have no complaints regarding my 2024 Q1 numbers, I’ll have my work cut out for me if I hope to regain my title in either of the local club competitions. In the Redstick Fly Fishers’ Jambalaya Challenge, I find myself in a four-way race for first as Ben Roussel, Brian Roberts and, newcomer, Brad Dunne have all checked off at least 16 species as well. With no signs of any of them letting up, this may be the year that it takes 60 species on the fly to win.
On the Vise
While it was not as prolific a quarter behind the vise as I would have liked, eight step-by-step tutorials have graced the pages of this blog since the start of the new year. While these tutorials have proven a little streamer-centric, we’ve also touched on carp, panfish and cicadas.
Be sure to check out any you’ve missed by clicking the associated image below.
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The Months Ahead
With spring in full swing here in south Louisiana, the next few months will likely offer some of the best fishing of the year. Unfortunately, work is also in full swing as of late, and my ability to break free may be more limited than in year’s past. With that in mind, I’ll still slip out as time allows and have set the following local goals for Q2:
- Surpass 20 Louisiana species on my 2024 Species list (10 down; 10 to go)
- First Shadow Bass on the Fly (With three entered in the Jambalaya Challenge all ready, I am more motivated than ever to catch this unicorn)
- First Sheepshead on the Fly (I will continue to copy & paste this until it finally happens)
- First Pompano on the Fly (Hoping to make the most of the days around this year’s Gulf Coast Classic)
The Gulf Coast Classic Fly Fishing Festival (May 2-4; Gulf Shores, AL)
Beyond work, preparation for this year’s Gulf Coast Classic Fly Fishing Festival has been my primary focus in recent months. Hosted by the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International, 2024 marks our second year of what we hope will be a growing regional festival.
Building on the success of last year’s event, the GCCFFI board has focused on expanding our event’s regional footprint and expect to draw anglers from as far away as Texas, Tennessee and the Carolinas in 2024.
The event will once again be hosted on The Learning Campus at Gulf State Park (Gulf Shores, AL) with an array of events occurring Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4. As with our inaugural event, this year’s Classic will be centered around an exhibition hall featuring vendors, fly fishing focused NPOs and more than a dozen demonstration tyers. The event will also host a series of free and paid seminars, workshops and casting clinics, as well as a three-day (May 2-4) Mixed Bag fly fishing tournament.
Tony Friedrich (Policy Director at the American Saltwater Guides Association) will serve as Keynote Speaker at the close of Friday’s festivities, while Saturday will culminate in a showing of the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour.
A series of Raffles and Silent Auctions will also occur as part of the event with funds raised going towards GCCFFI’s continuing Conservation and Fly Fishing Education efforts. This year’s prizes include custom rods, a Hatch Iconic 9+ reel and four guided fly fishing trips!
Event Registration is Tentatively Set to Open Today, April 4th
For those looking to learn more, check out the link above and follow @the_gulf_coast_classic on Instagram.
Hope to see everyone there!!
Until next time…
Tight Lines
Chris
Yes! It was great to finally meet you too!