LORI SPEAKS AT FLY FISHING FAIR
BY JOHN BERRY  

The Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers is having its Fly Fishing Fair next week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. You may have noticed that they have changed the name of the event to Fly Fishing Fair from the previous name, Conclave. I am not sure that I understand why. I have always enjoyed the concept and have attended each one since 1985. This will be my twenty ninth in a row. At first, I just attended. Then about twenty years ago I began presenting seminars and ten years later I became one of the fly tiers. About the same time, I became a vendor and had a booth for my business, Berry Brothers Guide Service. 

Every since I met my wife, Lori Sloas, she has also been involved in the Fly Fishing Fair. Like me, she just attended at first. Then she also started presented seminars. She never became a fly tier but is a vendor. A few years ago she served as the chair person for the Outreach Committee and was chosen as the Woman of the Year for her efforts. At the fly Fishing Fair, she always likes to hang out with the fly casters, while I am usually inside with the fly tiers. 

This year she has been invited to be the key note speaker for the Outreach Luncheon. Outreach started out to be a group of events for the ladies at Conclave but it has been open up and all are welcome. The culmination of Outreach is their luncheon, which is the social highlight of the Fly Fishing Fair. There is a great lunch raffle and auction. The funds are used for a variety of respected charities. It is the event that is just fun and is the place to see and be seen. This year’s chair person is Ann Schmuecker who has done an incredible job. Previous key note speakers include Dorothy Schram, Wanda Taylor and Lori Ann Murphy. These ladies all have very impressive fly fishing resumes.  
Lori has been working on hers for over a dozen years and has racked up a wealth of experience.  She has presented seminars for the Federation of Fly Fishers, the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, the Sowbug Round Up, Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Casting for Recovery, Fly Fishing Clubs and corporate groups throughout the region.  Lori was Outreach Chair at the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council Conclave in 2005.  She is a member of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, the Damsel Fly Fishers and is a life member of the Mid South Fly Fishers and the Federation of Fly Fishers.  She was the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council's Woman of the year in 2006.

She was featured on the television show, Adventure Guides, on the Versus network (previously known as OLN).  Most recently she was the cover story in Living Well magazine.  She currently teaches fly fishing and casting with me at Arkansas State University Mountain Home.

Lori has a master's degree in counseling and has had extensive experience in Employee Assistance Programs, alcohol and drug counseling and corporate training.  Though she does some freelance consulting for clients like Ranger Boats and is a substitute teacher at Cotter High School her great love is guiding and teaching casting.  Her specialty is introducing ladies and children to the sport.  She does it all in a non-threatening professional way.

She will also be teaching several seminars.  On Thursday she will be presenting Seven Simple Steps to Help You Catch Fish.  This seminar will be held on water and will run from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.   On Friday, it is How to Read Water and Catch Fish from 9:00 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. at the fairgrounds.  On Saturday, the seminar is on Why is He Catching Fish and I'm Not (this one is my favorite).  Later that day Lori will speak at the Outreach luncheon about Fishing Tips to Catch More Fish.  This function is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church.  

If any of Lori's seminars interest you, please attend one or more.  Do not miss the Outreach luncheon.