GCFF club adds new contest for members

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Catch Cormier

As our sport continues to grow – especially among younger anglers – there’s been a shft in attitudes about competitive fly fishing.  A majority of fly anglers now readily embrace a fun contest. And what could be more fun than one based on variety rather than size?

Several clubs in the Gulf Coast Council currently have a contest where the objective is for members to catch as many different species on fly during the course of a year, or several months. These are modeled after the popular “Big Year” birdwatching contests.  They demonstrate that fly fishing is not just suitable for a few species, but for “all species, all waters”.

Add Gulf Coast Fly Fishers to that list of clubs. The coastal Mississippi club recently announced an “All Species, All Waters” tournament which is currently in full swing. All members are encouraged to participate.

According to GCFF President Bill Hancock, the tourney is managed through the Fishing Chaos app. The download is free and the tournament is free to all GCFF members. Folks can join GCFF for $40 a year and the membership includes everyone in the immediate family.

The rules are simple: take a photo of your catch with some evidence of caught on a fly, and one entry per species will be counted. The tourney runs until November 30, 2026. There will be one overall winner randomly chosen at the GCFF Annual Banquet.

For more info on Gulf Coast Fly Fishers, go to the GCFF Facebook Page CLICK HERE.

For more info on the All Species, All Waters tournament CLICK HERE.

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FFI raises membership dues

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Catch Cormier

Effective March 2nd, 2026, Fly Fishers International (FFI) raised its membership dues. This marks the first increase in base dues in over 15 years.

During that time, the cost of delivering programs, supporting our community, and operating the organization has steadily increased. After careful review and thoughtful discussion, the Board of Directors has approved a modest dues adjustment to ensure Fly Fishers International remains strong, sustainable, and well-positioned for the future.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Standard Memberships will now be $45.00 per year.
  • Youth, Senior, and Veteran Memberships will continue to receive discounted rates.
  • Youth memberships will be $25, while Senior and Veteran will be $35 per year, which still provides a deep discount off the standard rate.
  • Enhanced Membership Levels (Advocate, Patron, Sustainer) will remain unchanged.

Why are these increases necessary?

Back in 2009, when the last dues were approved, the cost of membership was marketed as “the cost of a budget fly line”. Which at the time, the budget Orvis Silver Label line was $35. According to the U.S. government’s Consumer Price Index, the cumulative rate of inflation from 2009 to 2026 has been a whopping 51.6%. So, a $35 fly line back then would cost $53 today. The current price of an Orvis Clearwater fly line is $49. So the increase is still in line with “the cost of a budget fly line”.

Sadly, it’s not just fly lines that have gotten more expensive. It’s everything else. And in addition, we now utilize technology that didn’t exist in 2009 but is now used to provide members and future fly fishers with all the tools they need to be successful. These include our monthly Zoom sessions on casting and fly tying, as well as our extensive video library. FFI member benefits are at an all-time high.

There’s no denying that if FFI were a larger organization, with more members and bigger sponsors, that we could forestall dues increases for a couple more years. Growing membership is a goal we are currently working on. In order for FFI to become a more powerful voice for conservation – as a large majority of fly anglers urge – we need to grow membership by a factor of 10 or more. To do this, we need to transform from a bottom-up organization (as most hobby NPOs) to a top-down organization. It won’t be an easy change, and it won’t happen quickly.

Meanwhile, these dues changes allow us to continue investing in the programs, education, and community connections that define FFI, while supporting long-term financial stability and our strategic vision.

We’re deeply grateful for the continued support and commitment from our members to the fly fishing community and to conservation. Thank you for being part of Fly Fishers International.

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GCC again raffling off Costa Rican trip

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Catch Cormier

The Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI) is raffling off a five-day adventure trip to beautiful Costa Rica, donated by our friends at 4 Corners Costa Rica.   Tickets are just $25 each and there is no limit to the total purchased.

Join us in paradise, fishing and staying at off-grid fishing lodges, high-altitude mountain cabins, beachfront bungalows on the Osa Peninsula, and a private beach paradise on a secluded Pacific cove.  Choose your own adventure.

Whether in a tropical jungle, along pristine mountain streams, volcanic lakes, rivers among the rainforests, in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean or along the picturesque Pacific coastline – the fishing adventure of your dreams awaits! Spend a week in one location or combine several with many amazing stops in between, there’s something everyone in the family will enjoy!

You do -NOT- need to register for the Classic to participate in this raffle.  Simply (1) click on the link below or on sidebar, (2) click on the 4Corners Raffle ticket, (3) select number of tickets and (4) check out.

The drawing will be held during the F3T Showing on Saturday, May 2nd. Winner does -NOT- need to be present to win.

The trip includes all transportation to and from the airport, all lodging and meals. It does not include airfare or alcohol. The attendees will be responsible for purchasing their own.

The trip is being offered by our friends at 4 Corners Costa Rica. Check out their website at www.4cornerscostarica.com.

To purchase raffle tickets – CLICK HERE

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Registration now open for the 2026 Classic

Posted on February 15, 2026 by Catch Cormier

Registration is now live for our 4th annual Gulf Coast Classic to be held May 1st and 2nd at the Learning Campus in Gulf State Park. This event continues to grow in popularity, featuring some of the nation’s top fly tiers, regional fishing experts, educational workshops, as well as a slew of fun activities such as a Mixed Bag fishing contest, a Big Gun contest, Youth activities, a Fly Fishing Film Tour showing, and a large raffle with many one-of-a-kind items.

Located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the campus and park offer state-of-the-art theatre area, meeting rooms, outside facilities, dormitory lodging, a casual restaurant, easy access to a 600-acre brackish lake and to beaches, hiking and biking trails, and much more.

Complete information is available on the Classic website at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

Currently, tickets for the Classic and tickets for the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) showing are available for advance purchase. You do -NOT- need to be registered or attend the Classic to purchase tickets for the F3T Showing.

Attendees can register for the Classic for one or both days. There’s also a family registration discount.

Registration for workshops – as well as available dormitory lodging ($175 for 3 nights) is separate and will be available April 1st. You must be registered for the Classic to register for the workshops and any available on-campus lodging.

For complete details, go to www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.

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Hook up with an FFI Casting Instructor

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Catch Cormier

Whether you’re wanting to learn to fly cast, or take your casting to the next level, Fly Fishers International (FFI) Certified Casting Instructors are there to help with a global network of more than 1,000 CCIs, Mentors, or Examiners across 32 countries.

The online FFI Casting Instructor Locator is a searchable directory available to everyone, designed to help you find qualified instruction close to home or wherever your travels take you.   CLICK HERE

Here in the Gulf Coast Council, a list of CCIs in the geographic area of our council can be found on the “Casting” menu item.   There are also several events across the GCC during the calendar year where one or more CCIs are available. We strongly advise those looking for instruction to attend one of these events as it gives a more organized approach, and the maximum amount of assistance with fewer time restrictions.

For Spring 2026, these events include:

Don’t let poor casting skills keep you from enjoying the wonder of fly fishing!

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Mark your calendar for an FFI Town Hall

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Catch Cormier

Fly Fishers International has been developing a Strategic Plan and now wishes to share with members. And with the help of our members, shape what comes next for our organization. The work to date has focused on setting a strong foundation. The next step is to expand the conversation to include voices from across the organization. This is an important opportunity to influence the direction of FFI.

During these sessions, we will review:

  • How This Phase Began
  • The Work Happening Now
  • What’s Next

Member Input Matters

Our members are the backbone of FFI. This is an opportunity for each of you to help shape the direction of FFI. We will review the 4 priorities that have been identified through the planning process. We are seeking input on:

  • Which of these four are most important to you—and why?
  • Where do you see the greatest opportunity within each area?
  • What is missing, unclear, or misaligned with your experience?
  • How should these priorities show up in the work you do locally?

Town Hall Schedule

While the schedule is based on your region, you’re welcome to attend any session you are available.

  • January 28 @ 7pm ET – Chesapeake, Eastern Waters, North Eastern Councils
  • February 3 @ 6pm CT – Gulf Coast, Florida, Southeastern Councils
  • February 5 @ 7pm ET – Great Lakes, Ohio, Upper Midwest Councils
  • February 18 @ 7pm CT – Southern, Texas Councils
  • February 25 @ 7pm PT – Oregon, Washington Councils
  • March 4 @ 7pm MT – Eastern Rocky Mtn, Western Rocky Mtn Councils
  • March 11 @ 7pm PT – Northern California, Southwest Councils

How to Join

If you are an active member of FFI, you should have received an email with registration info. If not, first check your spam folder. Next, contact the FFI Operations office and let them know. Make sure you are currently active in FFI and that your email address is correct.

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Take action now to preserve our marine fisheries!

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Catch Cormier

An urgent reminder that this Friday is the deadline for responses to the proposed Notice of Intent (NOI) to reduce the buffer zone for industrial harvest of menhaden (pogies) from 1/2 mile to 1/4 mile.  Please read the following summary, then email your thoughts to: jadriance@wlf.la.gov

What’s at stake

While menhaden harvest has been around in Louisiana for many decades, in the past 20 years the harvest numbers have increased by over 40 percent. Louisiana is the ONLY Gulf state that doesn’t have harvest quotas or bans, and a buffer zone of less than one mile. In fact, Louisiana accounts for nearly 90 percent of the nation’s menhaden harvest!  This has resulted in a decline of offshore menhaden both in numbers and average size. Despite the industry’s claims that “pogies are overrated as a forage species”, the truth is that, for numerous species, menhaden is their prime forage. We’ve seen a serious decline in the numbers of king mackeral, Spanish mackeral and other pelagic fish that depend on menhaden.

The industry claims that the “science” shows that the bycatch of breeding size red drum (over 30,000 killed each year) and mature speckled trout (240,000 killed each year), will not increase if the current buffer zone is moved inland from a measly 1/2 mile to a 1/4 mile. That’s not necessarily true either – it depends on the water depth.  Regardless, it will NOT decrease the amount of bycatch – which is what our objective is.

* The official position of Fly Fishers International and the FFI Gulf Coast Council is that there needs to be a harvest quota of menhaden for Louisiana, much less than the current 1.3 billion pounds per year.   This would protect the forage base as well as greatly reduce the amount of bycatch. *

In the meantime, this NOI must be defeated or we’ll have even higher numbers of redfish and speckled trout killed in sets.

What you can do

  • Ask the Commission to OPPOSE this NOI to reduce the harvest buffer zone. Send the comments to jadriance@wlf.la.gov.   If you submitted comments prior to January 5th, you must resubmit them again.
  • Please contact your state legislators, and/or the members of the Legislative Natural Resources Committee. Here is a directory to contact legislators.
    https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Bios.aspx?cid=H
  • If possible, attend the February 5th LWF Commission meeting at LDWF Headquarters in Baton Rouge.

Thank you kindly for your patience and persistence in protecting our marine fisheries!

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Get the latest on the Gulf Coast Classic

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Catch Cormier

Our 4th annual Gulf Coast Classic is still four months away, but excitement is building!  We’ve once again procured many of the great fly tiers from last year, while adding some new renown tiers.  We’re also excited to announce that our Conservation Keynote speaker will be Dr. Aaron Adams, one of the premier marine scientists in the nation as well as a fly fishing expert and author.

While much of the information about sponsors, speakers, tiers, schedule is still being finalized and (mostly) not yet posted on the Classic website, you can still learn all the exciting news about tier and speaker commitments, activities, and more by going to any of these online resources:

We anticipate registration kicking off sometime early February, followed by registration of workshops on March 1st.  And yes, you can do each separately.

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