LENDING A HELPING HAND AT THE SOWBUG ROUNDUP BY JOHN BERRY

As many of you know, the Sowbug Roundup is the premier fly tying show in the area and possibly the best in the South Eastern United States. It is sponsored by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers (our local fly fishing club) and held annually at the Baxter County Fairgrounds (this year it will be held on April 14, 15 and 16). I am proud to have been a part of this fine program for over fifteen years.

This is the North Arkansas Fly Fisher’s annual major fund raising effort. A significant amount of the proceeds are committed to a college scholarship fund that is ear marked to assist local residents in pursuing degrees in fisheries or conservation related areas. Other funds are used to fund additional educational programs. A recent program featured Gary Borger (a noted fly fisher and fly tyer) it lasted for two days and was open to the public at no charge. The club also holds fly fishing and fly tying classes that are also open to the public at no charge.

In an effort to keep admission prices down, the North Arkansas Fly Fishers hold auctions and raffles during the event. They keep admission prices low so that more local residents and families can attend without creating an economic hardship. As a result the price of admission is only five dollars for all three days and children under twelve are admitted free.

In order to maximize the revenue from the raffles and auctions the North Arkansas Fly Fishers solicits contributions, from the public. Since they are a qualified not for profit corporation (501C3), all contributions are income tax deductible. What they are looking for is fly fishing related items that you no longer need.

I have looked through my fishing gear. To say that, I have way more than I need, is an understatement. I have been accumulating gear for over three decades and it is time to get rid of some of it. When my brother, an active fly fisher and fly tyer for over thirty five years, passed away last year I inherited all of his stuff. I am going through all of it now to come up with some useful fly fishing gear to donate. I donated a large lot of fly tying materials to our local Trout Unlimited chapter last year.

If you don’t have any excess fly fishing gear to donate, that is no problem. They can also use just about anything. My wife, Lori, came across a Bodum French Press coffee maker that has never boon out of the box that we have never used (we have three others of varying sizes that we use on a daily basis) that she is going to donate. Cash donations are also accepted.

If you have something that you would like to donate, please contact Mike Tipton at (870) 404-8805. You can also drop any items by Blue Ribbon Fly Shop. Either Henry Seay or I will make sure that they get to the right place. Any contribution will be appreciated.

John Berry is a fly fishing guide for Blue Ribbon Guides in Cotter, Arkansas and has fished our local streams for over thirty years.