Mark your calendar for an FFI Town Hall

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!

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

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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Meet and greet Fly Hair Co on Jan. 17th

No Wake Outfitters and the FFI Gulf Coast Council will be hosting a special event on Saturday, January 17th featuring Jeff Preddy, owner of Fly Hair Company.  Time is 12pm to 5pm. Location is the No Wake Warehouse on 1926 Airline Dr in Metairie, LA.  There will be a food vendor onsite as well as beverages.

Jeff Preddy will be displaying his fly-tying materials and will be presenting on all things fly-tying fur related, from procurement to curing to application.  He will also be demonstrating some fly patterns using his materials.

Fly Hair Co. has quickly gained a reputation among some of the nations top tiers as a source for premium materials.  Jeff has been a sponsor and exhibitor for the Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival, and will be returning for this year’s Classic May 1st and 2nd at Gulf shores.

This will be an opportunity for you to see – and purchase – some really unique and top-quality natural fly-tying materials. Jeff will be offering a 20% discount on any materials purchased at the festival as well as online through January 24th.

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Here’s wishing our members and friends, and all of their families, a most blessed Christmas.  Hope Santa brings that one fishing gift you really need… a new fly rod, a new fly line, or perhaps a ruler to measure those 24-inch speckled trout you claim to catch!

While Christmas is a season of festivity, let’s not forget the reason for the season. Please be giving to those in need, and pray for those who are less fortunate, for those in suffering, and for those away from their families this season – especially our service men and women.

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Winter 2025 Gulf Streamer now online

The Winter 2025 edition of The Gulf Streamer, the newsletter of the Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International, is now available to the public online.

CLICK HERE to download (2.6mb, PDF format).

This issue was initially sent out to all GCC members via email on December 13th. If you are an FFI member in good standing and did not receive that email, please check with the FFI Office to insure your email address on file is correct.

In this issue:

  • Exciting changes for the Suncatch Challenge
  • Visit with The Spoon Man
  • Sunny Day Rainbows
  • Special Guest coming to the Classic
  • Masked Misfits Ride Again!
  • How to Seaduce a Water Wolf
  • Member Spotlight
  • Spring time is festival time

and more!

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Improve your tying skills with FTG Series

The FFI Fly Tying Group’s annual Online Tying Technique Series continues this month and into the new year. The Series is held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month until May 5th. Time is 7:00pm CT.

The expert tiers leading these sessions will share their knowledge and guide the viewer through essential techniques that will improve your precision, efficiency, and creativity in fly tying. Whether you’re a seasoned tier or just starting, there’s something valuable for everyone.

Here is the schedule for the remaining tying sessions:

Dec. 16, 2025 – Wet Fly Techniques, Traditional Wets w/ Rick Passek
Jan. 6, 2026 – Wonder Wings – Wonder Walker w/ Al Beatty
Jan. 20, 2026 – Flat Water Spinner Techniques w/ Eric Austin
Feb. 3, 2026 – Using Monofilament in Fly Tying w/ Fred Hannie
Feb. 17, 2026 –  TBA  w/ Joel Evans
Mar. 3, 2026 – Fishable Salmon Fly Techniques w/ Colin Callback
Mar. 17, 2026 – Catskill Pattern Techniques, Materials, & Setting Wood Duck Wings – Quill Gordon and Atheron #5 w/ The Mystery Tyer
Apr. 7, 2026 – Steelhead Tying Techniques w/ Jim Ferguson
Apr. 21, 2026 – Preparing and wrapping Soft Hackle Feathers w/ Mike Stewart
May 5, 2026 –  TBA w/ Tim Jacobs

All sessions are via Zoom webinar. You must be a member of the FFI Fly Tying Group to participate. If you’re not a member of FTG, you can join by going to this FTG page: CLICK HERE . Membership is only $20 per year.

Once you’re a member of the FTG, you’ll receive routine session reminders and a link to register.

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2026 Classic sponsor discounts end soon

The 4th annual Gulf Coast Classic returns to the Learning Campus of Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL, this coming May 1st and 2nd.  Hosted by the FFI Gulf Coast Council, the Classic is a two-day event celebrating the sport of fly fishing through seminars, fly tying and casting workshops, fly tying demonstrations by top national and regional tiers, a multi-species fishing tournament, a fly film festival, and more. The event is an opportunity to connect with other anglers, vendors, and fellow enthusiasts in a community-driven setting.

The Classic continues to grow each year, from only 120 attendees in 2023 to over 300 earlier this year. Expectations are high for another record-setting year in 2026.

Great opportunities exist for Gulf Coast Classic Sponsors, Donors, and Exhibitors.  Being a Tarpon, Redfish, Trout or Bass level sponsor automatically qualifies for exhibitor space, however there is also an Exhibitor-only level. All rates are very favorable compared to commercial shows. Payment can be by check or in donations of items at MSRP value.

All sponsor and exhibitor levels qualify for a 25 percent discount through November 30th. After which, the discount drops to 10 percent until January 1st. However, there are currently only a few exhibitor spaces left available, as most of last year’s vendors have renewed for 2026.

Because of high interest, not all submitted exhibitor forms may be accepted. We’d prefer to have vendors with products or services that are of specific attraction to anglers.

Once all exhibitor spaces are filled, there will be a waiting list. It’s not uncommon for one or two exhibitors to cancel because of travel or personal conflicts. You will not be required to make payment if you are on the waiting list.

To learn more about the Classic, and about Sponsor opportunities, go to www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.

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