Sowbug Roundup March 13, 14 & 15

[John Berry]

The eleventh annual sowbug roundup is scheduled for March 13, 14, and 15. This is the premier annual event of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, our local fly fishing club which is affiliated with the Federation of Fly Fishers. This is primarily a fly tying show that draws approximately 1500 attendees each year. It is held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church Family Life Center at 307 W. North Street in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Admission is only $5.00 for all three days and children under twelve are free when accompanied by a parent. This is a great place to take the whole family.

The big draw here is the fly tiers. There are over one hundred of them from all over the United States (from Montana to Florida). This year they have even drawn two tiers from Europe, Niclas Runarsson from Soderham Sweden and Hans Weilmann from Amstelveen, Netherlands. There will be some local fly tying legends like, Earl Stanek and Tony Spezio, whose flies have been featured in numerous fly tying publications, tying the flies that made them famous. Local guides like me and Davy Wotten will be there to tie the patterns we use on our local streams. Other tiers will be tying a variety of patterns that range from traditional salmon flies to bass bugs, to tiny midges, mayflies and everything else in between. How are they able to convince all of these tyers to come here? It is the spectacular fishing on our blue ribbon trout streams that draws them here. I can assure you that every one of these tyers plans on sneaking out for an afternoon or two of fishing on the White or Norfork River. It is easy to see why receiving your first invitation to tie at the sowbug roundup has become a rite of passage for aspiring fly tiers.

In addition to the fly tying, there are a number of fly fishing seminars. John Wilson is scheduled on Thursday to talk about night fishing. That is one that I want to attend. Fox Statler will speak on color, light and perception of fish on the same day. On Friday I will talk about fishing the Norfork River, Terry and Roxanne Wilson will discuss fly fishing for bass and Fox Statler will talk about temperature, light, water color and how it affects fly selection. On Saturday, I talk about fishing the White River, my wife, Lori Sloas, explains about getting started, and Scott Branyan discusses trout feeding behavior on the tail waters.

For those looking for fly casting instruction there are quite a few opportunities. Lori Sloas will conduct a ladies casting clinic and Allen Crise will conduct a beginners casting clinic on Thursday. On Friday, Chuck Easterling and Art Mazzier will conduct another casting clinic. If you want fly tying instruction there will be ongoing beginning classes on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Drop ins are welcome. There is no additional charge for any of these clinics.

The best kept secret of sowbug is the food. The event is catered by the church ladies. They have a full commercial kitchen in the Family life Center and they offer a variety of home made goodness for lunch every day. Last year, I zeroed in on the sloppy Joe sandwiches and the steaming bowls of chili. Be sure and try the home made cookies. My personal favorites are the buckaroos. These are essentially rice crispy treats with a heavy layer of milk chocolate. There is coffee, tea and soft drinks. I usually wait until I get there every morning and gobble down a few cookies and a cup of coffee for breakfast. The costs are incredibly reasonable and the service is excellent.

Simply put, the sowbug roundup is a must see event. This is a great opportunity to see some great fly tiers, learn a few things about fly fishing and have a great time at a very reasonable cost. You can bet that I will be there.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over twenty five years.