As many of you know, the Sowbug Roundup, a fly tying show that is put on by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, (our local fly fishing club), is the premier fly fishing function that is held in the Twin Lakes area. This year’s Sowbug will be held on March 26, 27 and 28 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. The hours are from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Admission is only $5.00 for all three days. A new feature that we added last year is a Fly Tying Contest. This is to identify and honor the best fly tyers among us.
The contest is open to all and there is no registration fee. All you have to do is to tie your best flies and submit them for judging. The flies will be judged by experienced tiers and they will not know whose fly they are judging. This year’s head judge is Tony Spezio, a Buz Buzek award winner (the highest award for fly tying that is awarded by the Federation of Fly Fishers) and founder of the Sowbug Roundup. Other judges include Tom Schmuecker the owner of Wapsi, the largest supplier of fly tying materials in the world, and me.
The flies will be divided into ten categories. There will be four categories for trout flies, dry flies, nymphs, wet flies and streamers. Then there are categories for small mouth, warm water and bass flies. In addition there are categories for saltwater and Salmon/Steelhead flies. These categories are new additions to the contest. There will be a separate category for youths (under sixteen years of age). In addition to these categories, there will be an overall best in show winner. You can submit flies in as many categories as you want.
Rules are being kept to a minimum. The entrant must tie the fly submitted for judging. Each entry must include the name, address, phone number and email address along with two flies for each pattern submitted with a recipe for the fly and instructions on how to fish it. You may submit as many patterns for as many categories as you want. All flies submitted for judging will become the property of the contest and will not be returned. Any fly that contains natural insect parts (wings, legs, etc.) will be eliminated from competition. Commercially tied patterns will not be accepted. The decision of the judges is final. Committee members and judges are not eligible to participate in the contest. To participate all you have to do is send the flies to John Berry at 408 Combs Ave. Cotter, Arkansas 72626. All entries must be post marked no later than March 9, 2015.
There will be plaques awarded for each category and for best in show. The big award is bragging rights for your prowess as a fly tier. The winners for all categories will be announced on Friday March 27 at the Sowbug Roundup Shindig which will be held at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church beginning at 6:00 PM. This event could become the top fly fishing social event of the year.
You cannot win unless you enter! My only regret in this whole process is that I cannot enter the contest because I am a judge.
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