While time on the water and this blog have both been lacking as of late, I wanted to take a moment to highlight an event that I’m proud to have been a part of these past three years:
Hosted by the GCC FFI, The Gulf Coast Classic Fly Fishing Festival (the “Classic” for short) began in 2023 as means of promoting the GCC FFI mission of ensuring “the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters by focusing on conservation, education and a sense of community.” Hosted on the Learning Campus of Gulf State Park (Gulf Shores, AL), the Classic served as a gathering of anglers and tyers from across the region with roughly 100 attending the festivities that first year.
With support from some incredible tyers and sponsorship from several amazing companies, we doubled in size during our second year and laid the foundation for what we hope is quickly becoming a can’t-miss event for fly anglers in the southeast.
While it would be impossible to highlight everything in a single post, here’s a list of some of what to expect at this year’s Classic!!
Seminars
This year, we’ve moved for free seminar series into the Conservation Hall to ensure as many folks as possible take advantage of this great speaker series. We’ll have a dozen talks in total scheduled over the course of the event including:
Friday (May 2)
- Louisiana Redfish with Captain Bailey Short
- Fly Fishing the Surf with our 2023 tournament champ, Sam Sumlin
- Panhandle Tarpon with Captain Chip Smith
Saturday (May 3)
- Speckled Trout Strategies with Captain Bill Hancock
- Status of Alabama’s Coastal Fisheries with Dr. Scott Bannon
- Bass on the Fly with Adam Hudson
Paid Tying Workshops
With plans to host nearly two dozen Demonstration Tyers from across the country, we’ll have some big names on display with a few hosting workshops both days of the Classic.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the docket:
Friday (May 2)
- Advanced Streamer Fly Tying Techniques with Allen Rupp
- Tying the Marsh Candy with Fred Hannie
- Classic Streamers of Herb Welch with Peggy Brenner
- Tying the Saltwater Patterns of Steve Maldonado
- Tying Nymphs: A Hands-On Workshop with John Demuth
- Mack Bryson’s Favorite Redfish Flies: How to Tie Them & When to Use Them
Saturday (May 3)
- NearNuff Crayfish School with Allen Rupp
- Tying Dry Flies: A Hands-On Workshop with John Demuth
- Tying Steve Maldonado’s Jungle Junkie
- Deer Hair Boot Camp with Joe Jackson and Jeff Rowley
- From Fur to Fly – Crafting Custom Dubbing Blends with Allen Rupp
Many of these classes are limited to 10 students, so be sure to register in advance if you see something that catches your eye!
Casting instruction from FFI Certified Casting Instructors
Whether you’re new to fly casting or a seasoned vet, this event will be a great opportunity to hone your casting skills under the tutelage of one of FFI’s talent Certified Casting Instructors (CCI) and Master Casting Instructors (MCI).
Experts at their craft, these instructors will offer FREE Basic Casting Workshops both days of the Classic! These workshops will focus on the basics of fly casting including casting fundamentals, the Overhead Cast (PULD), the Roll Cast, False casting, and Basic line management.
For those looking to bring their casting game to the next level, Master Casting Instructor, Jeff Ferguson, will also be hosting a series of paid workshops on “Advanced Casting Techniques” and “Understanding the Double Haul.”
Spots are limited in all casting workshops, so be sure to pre-register for this great opportunity:
The Mixed Bag Classic: Fly Fishing Tournament
For those looking to test their skills on the water, the Classic also hosts a Mixed Bag Tournament as part of the event. The tournament, slated for May 1-3, will challenge anglers to capture a diverse array of species from the waters in and around Gulf State Park and is FREE(!!) to everyone who attends the Classic. Pre-registration is required though, so be sure to purchase your Classic Admission in advance if you plan to start fishing Thursday (May 1)..
Sponsors including TFO Fly Rods, Cheeky Reels and Bajio Sunglasses will be providing this year’s prize packs with awards being presented for the following:
Adult Division (1st – 3rd), Youth Division (1st), Top Woman Angler, Unique Catch & Beach Cleanup
Be sure to check out the link below for all the details.
2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour
For those still looking for more after two full days of fly fishing fun, be sure to hang around Saturday afternoon/evening for the Fly Fishing Film Tour. Beginning after the close of the Classic on Saturday, May 4, this 3-hour event will feature a variety of short films on topics ranging from Trout to Tarpon. It’s a can’t-miss event, and this is one of the few opportunities available to those of us living along the Gulf Coast.
As an added bonus, those in attendance will be automatically entered in a raffle to win prizes a variety of prizes including a 9′ 6wt Winston Air 2 Max Fly Rod. Tickets are only $25, and, with limited seating, they won’t last long. So be sure to reserve yours at the link below:
GCC FFI x 4Corners Costa Rica Trip Raffle
For the second year in a row, GCC FFI will be teaming up with 4Corners Costa Rica to raffle off a fly fishers dream trip to Costa Rica! Valued at $6000, the 5-day/6-night trip for two includes two days of fishing (a jungle float trip for Machaca & a day on the Pacific chasing Roosterfish) as well as all food, lodging and travel within the country. Funds raised will go towards GCC FFI’s conservation efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Raffle tickets are $50/each and only 100 will be sold (<75 remaining as of this posting). Be sure to check out the link below for more details!
While there’s plenty more to this event (including a packed Fly Tyers row and more than a dozen exhibitors/vendors), I hope the highlights above are enough to draw your interest. This should be an exciting two-days, and I hope to see many of you there. And, for those considering coming in from out of town, keep in mind that a limited number of spaces in the onsite dorms are available. At only $50/night, they’re a great way to visit Gulf Shores and the Classic without breaking the bank. Check out the registration page for more info.
Hope to see many of you there!
Tight Lines!
Chris