NOFFC's Rio Grande Rumble
Registration is now OPEN!!!
Welcome to New Orleans Fly Fishers Club
2025 Rio Grande Rumble
NOFFC’s16th Annual Rio Grande Rumble Fly Fishing Rodeo (sponsored by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club) will take place Saturday, October 4th, 2025, starting at 7:00 AM (first light for anglers that are pre-registered) to 12:30 PM (weigh-in).
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Registration and weigh-in site: No Wake Outfitters 1926 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001. Look for the NOFFC and Rio Grande Rumble signs in the parking lot.
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Members of NOFFC will be at No Wake Outfitters at 7:00 AM, to answer any questions you may have and take any late registrations. See #4 below for all registration options.
Information, Prizes & Registration
1. This tournament is open to all fly-fishing aficionados. (One of the best ways to learn about all things fly fishing is to join your local fly-fishing club. If you are not a member of a club, we can get you the information on how to join one in your area).
2. There will be two categories in which prizes will be awarded:
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Longest Rio Grande Cichlid wins top prize and bragging rights for the year. First place prize is a commemorative plaque.
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Most Rios Caught by a fly fisher. First place prize is a commemorative plaque.
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Entrants may only enter one fish in the longest fish division and no one fly fisher can win in both largest and most categories.
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In the event of a tie for the longest fish, the award will go to the fish with the largest girth measurement taken at the front of the pectoral fins.
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In the event of a tie for the greatest number of fish, the winner will be determined by blind draw.
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3. Lunch and drinks provided for registered participants.
4. Registration (Deadline is 8:00 AM on October 4th, 2025. If you are not registered before this time, you will not be eligible to participate.):
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There is a $25 registration fee. Venmo or PayPal (add $1.25 service fee if using PayPal), personal check or money order (note on check that it is for Rio Rumble) and cash if registering in person. (Please, no cash for Mail-in Registration.)
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Proceeds are going to Casting for Recovery. Donations more than the $20 registration are gladly accepted.
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Register in person the morning of the event at the No Wake Outfitters Rio rodeo headquarters. (Any form of payment listed above is acceptable.)
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Register on-line using the form available on the NOFFC Facebook page as well as on our website: (www.neworleansflyfishers.com ) beginning June13th, 2025. Online registration will close Thursday, September 26th, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
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Register by mail by sending the registration form and a check (No cash payments via mail) to:
NOFFC
c/o No Wake Outfitters
1926 Airline Drive
Attn: Rio Rodeo
Metairie, LA 70001
Rules
1. Fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid will be in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Plaquemines Parishes. We have expanded the areas that fly fishers may fish as the Rio Grande Cichlid is considered an invasive species that the LA Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries has asked be removed from local waters.
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Because the tournament will be a “kill” tournament, please do not return Rio’s to the water, no matter the size. Please bring all fish with you to the weigh-in. Submit any size fish you catch as it may qualify for one of the prizes.
2. Legal entries are limited to fish only caught with artificial flies on fly rods.
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Legal fishing area is bounded by all of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Plaquemines Parishes (Eastbank & Westbank) publicly accessed bodies of water.
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Fishing is not allowed in any areas of the City Park golf courses or on any private lakes or ponds. Any participant fishing these areas will be immediately disqualified.
3. All participants entering fish must be in the weigh-in line by 12:30 PM. Anyone in line after this time will not be allowed to enter their fish.
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Please remember to check-in your fish when you arrive at weigh-in.
ZOOM
We will host a Zoom seminar on fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid on a date to be determined. Please check your email for additional information.
Center, 2019 Rio Rodeo Participants.
Left, 1st largest, Ricky Bonzeck (10" fish). Right, 1st most, Bill DeCastro (69 fish).