Hats Off and High Water
The Sowbug was a jewel of an event and I enjoyed every minute. A gathering that emphasizes fly-tying skill and friendship epitomizes our sport.
Since we have again reaped the benefit of prolonged efforts by others, I want to thank the Sowbug Committee on behalf of all the attendees. Specifically Paul Craig, Dean Darling, Ron Lee, Carolyn Hellmuth, Dennis and Amy Galyardt, Bob Jones, Richard Thomas, Betty Pahl and many, many others deserve our heartfelt thanks. Give them a personal thank you when you see them at club events. They certainly deserve to know how appreciated their hard work is.
If this wonderful program is to continue and grow, we need the involvement of more club members. Watch for the next Sowbug meeting.
This crazy winter has brought us tornadoes and record rains (over 15 inches in March), which means of course there will be no wade fishing to speak of until after mid-May.
In light of this grim prospect, I have begun to inventory substitute fishing activities for actual fly-fishing. I envision myself cleaning fly lines, organizing flies in fly boxes, practicing casting and reading fly-fishing books. Worse, I am feeling sorry for myself that I will miss the Spring Caddis hatch. I have really anticipated the hatch all through the winter because it provided world class fishing last spring.
On a more positive note, the annual Cotter Trout Festival is on for Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19. Friday night brings good barbeque, a beer and wine garden to enhance the food and fine music from renowned blues singer Big Red and her band. Saturday from about 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, NAFF will provide the public with free casting lessons. While I enjoy teaching casting to neophytes, I sure hope three or four other club members will help me. You do not need any exceptional casting or teaching skill, merely a desire to help people experience the joy of fly casting.
Several very encouraging conservation activities are in the works for the Norfork River. I will report on those in our April Meeting.
Tight Lines,
George Peters