2024 FFI Gulf Coast Classic
Join us for a celebration of fly fishing on the Gulf Coast, featuring a wide range of activities for the family
Free - $50
Thu, May 2 at 12:00 PM (CDT)
- Sat, May 4 at 2:30 PM (CDT)
Gulf State Park - Learning Campus,
Gulf Shores,
Alabama
Questions? Contact Event Organizer
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Friday and Saturday. For 2 or more as part of a family. Includes all seminars, fly tying demos and contests, beginner workshops, and more. Does NOT include advanced workshops or Film Festival (separate registration). ** Discount code for volunteers, speakers, demo tiers, Exhibitors, Sponsors - please use the code you recieved via email.
Friday and Saturday. Single adult over age 16. Includes all seminars, fly tying demos and contests, beginner workshops, and more. Does NOT include workshops or Film Festival (separate registration). ** Discount code for volunteers, speakers, demo tiers, Exhibitors, Sponsors - please use the code you recieved via email.
Friday and Saturday. For 2 or more as part of a family. Includes all seminars, fly tying demos and contests, beginner workshops, and more. Does NOT include advanced workshops or Film Festival (separate registration). ** Discount code for volunteers, speakers, demo tiers, Exhibitors, Sponsors - please use the code you recieved via email.
Friday OR Saturday. Single adult over age 16. Includes all seminars, fly tying demos and contests, beginner workshops, fishing contest, and more - for that day. Does NOT include advanced workshops or Film Festival (separate registration).
Friday or Saturday or both. For ages 16 and under. Includes all seminars, fly tying demos and contests, beginner workshops, and more. Also required to participate in fishing contest and any advanced workshops (fee extra). Does not include Film Festival (separate ticket).
Lodging for one bed, for one night, in the Learning Campus dormitory.
Lodging for one bed, for one night, in the Learning Campus dormitory.
Lodging for one bed, for one night, in the Learning Campus dormitory.
In this class, FFI Certified Casting Instructors will teach the basics of fly casting with attention to casting fundamentals, the Overhead Cast (PULD), the Roll Cast, False Casting, basic line management including stripping and shooting line, and self-diagnostics. Bring your own equipment if you have it, otherwise equipment will be provided for use during the class. Limited to 10 students.
Instructor Troy Basso is a professional fly tyer whose articles as an outdoor writer have been featured in numerous magazines. While many cicadas are annual, 2024 promises an epic hatch of periodicals that will have every fish looking for an easy meal! The instructor ties a variety of cicada patterns including the Stones River Cicada which he developed 17 years ago. Students will learn how to tie this pattern, plus three (3) variants.
Instructor Allen Rupp is a professional tier with a 35 year history of fly fishing across the globe. His business Fly On The Water reflects his passion for fly tying and his vast interest in a wide range of waters and species. In this class, students will tie one of Allen's favorite patterns, the Whitlock NearNuff Crayfish. Allen takes Dave Whitlock's creation for bass and trout and ties a saltwater variation that also works for redfish, drum and even bonefish! Each student will receive a reference fly tied by the instructor.
Instructor Keith Richard is a nationally-recognized and awarded FFI Master Casting Instructor, and has presented casting programs at local, regional and national level for the past 15 years. In this intermediate-level class, we will review some of the common Casting Styles of North America covering some of their pros and cons followed by practice time for the remaining session on the casting lawn. Class is limited to 5 students to assure a high level of individual attention.
In this class, FFI Certified Casting Instructors will teach the basics of fly casting with attention to casting fundamentals, the Overhead Cast (PULD), the Roll Cast, False Casting, basic line management including stripping and shooting line, and self-diagnostics. Bring your own equipment if you have it, otherwise equipment will be provided for use during the class. Limited to 10 students.
Instructor Jeff Rowley is one of the nation's top fly tiers appearing at many of the large shows. While he ties a variety of great fish-catching flies, his deer hair bugs are works of art and have been featured in several magazines. This class will be a tying demo, for intermediate or advanced tiers, demonstrating various techniques and tips to improving deer hair flies.
A 2-hour, 2-part workshop. In the first part (classroom), learn the basics of fly fishing including: terminology, tackle, knots, leaders, and the techniques of fishing with flies. The class will then go to the Casting Lawn for the second part, "Casting Basics". There is no need to sign up for Casting Basics workshop if you sign up for this workshop.
Instructor Matt Bennett is owner of Fly Geeks Custom Flies, a member of several tying-related pro staffs, and 2015 recipient of the FFI Charles Brooks award . His signature pattern, The Lunch Money, has been one of Umpqua's hottest selling flies, and kicked off a flurry of baitfish variations. In this class, Matt will demonstrate the Lunch Money & Craft Fur Baitfish, as well as discussion on other pattern templates and materials to build a solid foundation in baitfish flies for both fresh and salt water.
Instructor Jeff Ferguson is a nationally-recognized and awarded FFI Master Certified Casting Instructor with many years of teaching and instructing both beginners and advanced students. In this class, students will get a greater understanding and improvement on the double haul. The double haul is not just for distance - with it you can fish longer, better handle wind, and spend less time false casting. We will explore how and when to haul to get the most from an efficient haul.
Instructor Allen Rupp is a professional tier with a 35 year history of fly fishing across the globe. His business Fly On The Water reflects his passion for fly tying and his vast interest in a wide range of waters and species. This class is designed for novice or intermediate fly tyers who hope to take their skills to the next level. Allen will demonstrate proper techniques for tailing, collaring, dumbbell eyes, bead chain eyes and more, including methods to add durability to your flies.
In this class, FFI Certified Casting Instructors will teach the basics of fly casting with attention to casting fundamentals, the Overhead Cast (PULD), the Roll Cast, False Casting, basic line management including stripping and shooting line, and self-diagnostics. Bring your own equipment if you have it, otherwise equipment will be provided for use during the class. Limited to 10 students.
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Gulf State Park - Learning Campus
20249A State Park Rd
Gulf Shores,
Alabama
36542
The Gulf Coast Council (GCC) of Fly Fishers International (FFI) is proud to present our 2nd annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival, to be held Friday-Saturday, May 3-4, 2024, at the Learning Campus of Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Classic offers numerous opportunities to connect with people from across the region who share a love of fly fishing, or for those wishing to learn about the most enjoyable way to fish. Learn about new techniques, new flies, places to fish, the joy of kayak fishing, or improve your casting or tying skills. There will be programs oriented to women, and special activities and environmental education experiences for kids and families. As well as programs dedicated to learning more about our aquatic resources and what we're doing to preserve and protect them. Best of all, the emerald white sand beach is on the premises, as well as great brackish-water fishing in Lake Shelby.
Among the activities tentatively planned:
Seminars on fishing locations, tactics, and species
Fly tying demonstrations
Exhibitors and vendors
Conservation programs
Beginner fly casting instruction (free with admission)
Beginner fly tying instruction (free with admission)
Fly tying workshops (registration required)
Casting workshops (registration required)
Mixed Bag Challenge fishing contest (free with registration)
Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) (ticket purchase required, limited seating)
Raffles & silent auction, offering many one-of-a-kind items
Details of these activities can be found at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.This event will be focused on activities and education in the form of fly tying, casting, various methods for catching species on the fly, fly fishing destinations. But also with an emphasis on conservation, including a keynote address from one of the nation's foremost conservation advocates. Many of the region’s top fly tyers will be on hand demonstrating their favorite patterns. We’ll have a large raffle and silent auction with many unique items. Along with a fly fishing film festival, and other cool happenings.
And we will have a unique fishing tournament – our Mixed Bag Challenge will focus on diversity, not size. After all, Gulf State Park is a very unique location for fly fishing enthusiasts, with 600-acre Lake Shelby within the park offering a wide variety of both fresh and brackish species. The clear Gulf waters along the park’s beach are home to pompano, spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, and numerous other marine species. And for non-anglers, there's a multitude of things to see and do around Gulf Shores and nearby Pensacola.
For volunteers, presenters, fly tyers, vendors and exhibitors, the Gulf Coast Council has procured the on-campus dormitories for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. This extraordinary facility comes complete with linens, wi-fi, and more. Registration for these beds will be in advance for those who have accepted our invitation as a volunteer, presenter, fly tyer, etc. Cost will be $50 per night, a bargain compared to hotel rates in the area. On April 5th, any open beds will be extended to any attendees who have registered for the event (first-come, first-serve).
Great opportunities exist for Gulf Coast Classic Sponsors and Donors, Demonstration Fly Tyers, and Volunteers. We hope you will participate through one or more of these opportunities.
For complete details of the Classic, go to our website at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com.
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Gulf State Park - Learning Campus
20249A State Park Rd
Gulf Shores,
Alabama
36542