General

This tournament is open to all fly fishing enthusiast. (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).

Prizes

There will be two categories that prizes will be awarded:

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1. Longest Rio Grande Cichlid wins the Rodeo Champion title with bragging rights for the year and a First place commemorative plaque. 

2. Most Rios Caught by a fly fisher gets the First place commemorative plaque.

• 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.

• In the event of a tie for the most number of fish, the winner will be determined by blind draw.

• Please remember to check-in your fish when you arrive at weigh-in.

• Entrants may only enter one fish in the longest fish division and no one fly fisher can win with both largest and most categories.

Registration

• There is a $15 registration fee, payable using Venmo or Check.

  • ​You can pay via check made out to New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, Venmo (New Orleans Fly Fishers Club @NewOrleansFly Fishers Club) or Pay Pal. (please add $1.25 service fee if using Pay Pal). Please note on the check that it is for the Rio Grande Rodeo.

• ​Registration forms are available on the NOFFC Facebook page as well as on our website: (www.neworleansflyfishers.com ).

• Deadline for in-person registration the day of the rodeo is 7:30 am at No Wake Outfitters. If you have not registered before this time you will not be eligible to participate.

• Deadline for early pre-rodeo day registration mail-in or walk-in (No Wake Outfitters) check or on-line VENMO, is COB Saturday prior to the rodeo.

  • Pre-registration allows you to get started fishing at first safe light.​

• We will mail your card to you if you choose to register by mail. This will save those that wish to fish outside of the headquarters area the trouble of having to register that morning.

Seminar

We will host a seminar on fishing for the Rio Grande Cichlid the Thursday prior to the rodeo on ZOOM! It will start at 7:00 PM. 

Fishing Rules

• Fly fishers may fish for the Rio Grande Cichlid in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Plaquemines Parishes.

  • ​Legal fishing area is bounded by all of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Plaquemines Parishes (Eastbank & Westbank) publicly accessed bodies of water only. Fishing is not allowed in any areas of the City Park golf courses or apartment complex ponds. Any participant fishing these areas will be immediately disqualified.

• The Rio Grande Cichlid is considered an invasive species that the LA Dept. of Wildlife; Fisheries has asked be removed from local waters. 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.
     

This is a FLY Fishing ONLY event. Legal entries are limited to fish only caught with artificial flies on fly rods.
 

Time Limit

All participants entering fish must be in line at No Wake Outfitters by 12:30 PM. Anyone in line after this time will not be allowed to enter their fish.