Fly Fishing from a Kayak

During the seminar, Ted will cover topics such as:

• Types of Kayaks
• What you need
• Transporting
• Anchoring (types  and techniques)
• Fly line maintenance on the kayak
• Rod preferences (long/short)
• Rod storage
• Accessories
• Rigging
• Personal Floatation devices (PFDs)
• Questions and Answers.
  
  

Ted Geier, Ozark Mountain Trading Company, will discuss things to do and not to do from a kayak while fly fishing.  Ted has 50 years experience fly fishing, 30 of those years out of a kayak, a lot of that time on the saltwater flats of Texas.  He is on the OTMC Angling Pro Staff and has been at the store for over 10 years.  He fishes for anything that swims and really likes unusual fish such as gar, carp, bowfin and snakehead.

My Year-Long Journey to Becoming a Better Tier Using Suggestions from Ten Master Fly Tiers

Larry Olson will share the best ideas from ten Master tiers - Tom Rosenbauer, Kelly Galloup, Mike Stewart, Eric Austin, Hans Van Klinken, Skip Morris, Tim Flagler, Al Beatty, Wayne Luallen and Craig Matthews that have helped him to become a better tier.

Larry Olson is a current member of the FFI Fly Tying Group Board of Governors. He is the Managing Editor of the Whip Finish Journal and the Lead Editor of the new book on fly tying, "Fly Tying for All Fish All Waters". He is the 2025 recipient of the Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award. He has also conducted and developed courses and events for introducing youth to tying flies and leads the Fly Tying Group's grant program.

Learn New Techniques by Tying the Parachute Adams

A great opportunity to learn new fly-tying techniques from an expert - Al Ritt. Different techniques and materials will be demonstrated while tying a classic - the Parachute Adams multiple ways. No better way to cement new techniques into your tying!

The class is limited to 8 students. The students should bring their own vise, tying tools and 70 denier black thread. This is NOT a beginner class, but if you can tie a woolly bugger, you can take this class.

NOTE - this class is in the Commercial Bldg, Rm. C-3 (up the hill from the main building)

Al has fished as long as he can remember and has been fascinated with flies for almost as long.  Growing up in southern Michigan he fished primarily for warm water species but remembers feeling magic in trout and trout flies. Al recalls making “flies” including forming his own “hooks” out of pipe cleaners. He took his first formal tying class in 1983 after moving to California. Since then, he’s tied flies and fly fished for trout, grayling, bass, pike, panfish, catfish, carp, steelhead, salmon, bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon, redfish and other species.

The class has a $35 fee and limited to 8 people. REGISTRATION is REQUIRED, please click on the following link to register:

Deep Dive into Fly Tying Techniques with Al Ritt - 3/26/2026

Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for nearly two decades and has fly-fished the heart of the Lone Star State for over 25 years. In addition to guiding his home state, Chris has been a licensed fly-fishing guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King Vises, and Scientific Anglers.

Hackle Stackers, Alternate to Parachute or Catskill Hackle

This presentation will discuss Bob Quigley’s alternate to using a parachute to float a fly. We will explore using the technique on dry-flies. We will discuss different hackle posts, hackles and other aspects of the Hackle Stack (Paraloop) technique that will help you produce a ‘buggy’ fly. A perfect presentation for a show featuring the delicate dry fly!

Dave Boyer has been involved with teaching fly tying for more than 12 years. While living in Southern California he oversaw the Long Beach Casting Club’s Beginning Fly Tying Classes, 17 weeks of classes over the winter. He was also the lead and one of the major instructors for teaching intermediate and advanced tying at the Long Beach Tying Forum covering cold water, warm water and saltwater flies. He has tied at FFI Faires, Sowbug Roundup, the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo in addition to various local events throughout the Southwest, Southern and Texas Councils. He is currently Past President of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers (NAFF) while maintaining membership with the Long Beach Casting Club. He writes a monthly fly-tying tip for the newsletters of NAFF, Tri-Lakes and the Long Beach Clubs.

Certified Casting Instructor, David Alford will lead the Fly Fishers International (FFI) Bronze Casting Challenge, a fun way to improve your casting. The Casting Challenges are Bronze, Silver and Gold. We will offer the Bronze Casting Challenge at Sowbug. The Bronze Casting Challenge will include a short demonstration of the Challenge parts that you will need to pass and then individual testing.  You can stay in the casting area after he goes over the Challenge components or leave and come back as per the schedule developed by Mr. David Alford the Casting Instructor (CI) that will be conducting the teaching and testing. If you do not pass all of the components of the Challenge, you will receive a document that you will need to keep and present to the next CI that will help you complete the Challenge. Once completed, you may submit the completed document to FFI to receive recognition for passing the Challenge. You do not have to be a member of FFI to take the Challenge, but if you want to receive the recognition, you will need to join FFI.  

Born in 1951 and growing up in south Arkansas, David began fly fishing at around 10 years old with popping bugs catching bream. By the early 70's and away at college in Conway, the Little Red River was the place to fish for trout with an old friend at school in Searcy. Relatives purchased property on the LRR in 1976 and I've been hooked ever since. The 80's had him building rods from graphite blanks and since 2010 out of split bamboo. His interests in casting started around 2005, from wanting to get rid of all my mistakes. In 2009, he passed the FFI certified instructors (CI) exam. Since then, he has had the chance to take lessons from other MCI instructors, including Joe Libeu, Al Buhr, Chuck Easterling, Macauley Lord, and Steve Hollensed. I am a member of Arkansas Fly Fishers (AFF), Fly Fishers International (FFI) and enjoy teaching fly casting.

Please meet at the Women's Connect table in the Sowbug Entry Hall at least 15 minutes before the event and please bring yor fly fishing rod and reel.

The class is FREE, but limited to 15 people, you must register at following link:

Bronze Casting Challenge - 3/27/2026

Facts & Figures - Update on the Hatchery

Very timely update on the water conditions and where we are with fish in the hatchery from a local expert - Scott Yaich.

NOTE - this seminar is in Room C3 in the Commercial Building, up the hill from the main building

Scott C. Yaich, Ph.D. was born and raised in rural southeast PA. He has a Bachelor’s in biology, University of Delaware, 1974 and a Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in wildlife ecology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C), 1980. He was a visiting Asst. Professor at Illinois State University, 1980-81, then a Researcher, Wetland restoration on surface-mined lands, SIU, 1981-85. After that he worked at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Wetlands and Waterfowl Programn Coordinator, 1985-1992, then went to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, District Wildlife Management Biologist-Arkansas, 1992-1996. Then he was at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Chief-Wildlife Management Division, 1996-1997, Deputy Director-Wildlife, Fisheries and Enforcement Divisions, 1997-2001, then worked at Ducks Unlimited, Director of Conservation Planning, Chief Scientist, 2001-2017. Then Scott retired to Mountain Home, September 2017, but continued with volunteer work at Ducks Unlimited de Mexico Board of Directors, 2019-current and the Friends of the Norfork and White Rivers Board of Directors, 2019-current.

Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for nearly two decades and has fly-fished the heart of the Lone Star State for over 25 years. In addition to guiding his home state, Chris has been a licensed fly-fishing guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King Vises, and Scientific Anglers.

Learn New Techniques by Tying the Parachute Adams

A great opportunity to learn new fly-tying techniques from an expert - Al Ritt. Different techniques and materials will be demonstrated while tying a classic - the Parachute Adams multiple ways. No better way to cement new techniques into your tying!

The class is limited to 8 students. The students should bring their own vise, tying tools and 70 denier black thread. This is NOT a beginner class, but if you can tie a woolly bugger, you can take this class.

NOTE - this class is in the Commercial Bldg, Rm. C-3 (up the hill from the main building)

Al has fished as long as he can remember and has been fascinated with flies for almost as long.  Growing up in southern Michigan he fished primarily for warm water species but remembers feeling magic in trout and trout flies. Al recalls making “flies” including forming his own “hooks” out of pipe cleaners. He took his first formal tying class in 1983 after moving to California. Since then, he’s tied flies and fly fished for trout, grayling, bass, pike, panfish, catfish, carp, steelhead, salmon, bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon, redfish and other species.

The class has a $35 fee and limited to 8 people. REGISTRATION is REQUIRED, please click on the following link to register:

Deep Dive into Fly Tying Techniques - 2026-03-27

Out of the United Kingdom - Knowledge and History of the Dry Fly

One hour presentation on the  development of the dry fly from its European roots to modern day in the United States.

Davy Wotton, a world famous fly fishing and tying expert grew up in Wales but has lived in the United States for many years. He started commercial fly tying in the 60s and has written countless articles, published several DVDs and hosted multiple television shows. Davy also owned a fly tying materials manufacturing company, developing SLF dubbings for many famous tiers including Dave Whitlock. The dubbings are currently sold by WASPI.Davy has developed many fly patterns which are sold locally and through companies like Feather-Craft in St. Louis. He is generous with his time, being a featured demonstration tyer and speaker, in person and on social media, He has a unique perspective about the history of fly tying as the history started in his country.He is a FFI Hall of Fame inductee and a true leader in the fly fishing industry.

Demonstration on How to Tie Historical Dry Flies

One hour presentation on how to tie a dry fly using historical materials and techniques.

Davy Wotton, a world famous fly fishing and tying expert grew up in Wales but has lived in the United States for many years. He started commercial fly tying in the 60s and has written countless articles, published several DVDs and hosted multiple television shows. Davy also owned a fly tying materials manufacturing company, developing SLF dubbings for many famous tiers including Dave Whitlock. The dubbings are currently sold by WASPI.Davy has developed many fly patterns which are sold locally and through companies like Feather-Craft in St. Louis. He is generous with his time, being a featured demonstration tyer and speaker, in person and on social media, He has a unique perspective about the history of fly tying as the history started in his country.He is a FFI Hall of Fame inductee and a true leader in the fly fishing industry.

Practical Dry Flies – From Film to Topwater

Are you a novice dry fly tyer? Improve your skills while incorporating traditional materials to tie three practical dry flies which float from low to high on the water; Renegade, Seven-Turn Sulfur Cripple and Skittering Caddis. This class will provide tips for wrapping hackle, forming parachute posts and creating deer hair wings, techniques that can be applied to many dry fly patterns.

This is NOT a beginner class – but if you can tie a Crackleback or Elk Hair Caddis and perform a whip finish you can take this class. Students should bring their vise, basic tools, including a hair stacker, and 70 denier or 8/0 thread in olive or black; and tan or yellow. 

NOTE - this class is in the Commercial Bldg, Rm. C-3 (up the hill from the main building)

Susan Parsons is a retired pathologist who lives in Lakeview, Arkansas and has been fly fishing and tying for seventeen years. She has earned the Fly Fishers International Bronze and Silver Tying Skills Awards and has won several categories of the Sowbug Roundup Fly Tying contest. She serves on the Board of Directors of North Arkansas Fly Fishers and regularly writes articles for the NAFF and FFI Women Connect newsletters. Susan truly enjoys spending time at her vise developing her skills and discovering techniques to tie practical fishing flies.

The class has a $20 fee and is limited to 8 people. REGISTRATION is REQUIRED, please click on the following link to register:

Practical Dry Flies – From Film to Topwater - 3/28/2026

You need a new fly line, so you ask yourself - How do I determine what line would match my skill and equipment level?  This presentation intended to demystify the world of fly lines, from a man who built a fly line for Scientific Anglers - Chris Johnson. 

Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for nearly two decades and has fly-fished the heart of the Lone Star State for over 25 years. In addition to guiding his home state, Chris has been a licensed fly-fishing guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King Vises, and Scientific Anglers.

The cost of the class is $20 and Registration is REQUIRED.
Please click on the following link to register for the class:

Demystifying Fly Lines - Chris Johnson - 3/28/2026

Fly Fishing in Malaysia

The FFI Fly Tying Group has developed a very special Program to help fly tiers become better fly-tying instructors. This program will be presented by Dutch Baughman, Chair, FFI Fly Tying Instructor Program.

The Program provides a wealth of high-quality fly tying instructional resources free of charge, to all fly tyers. The Program also provides an opportunity for a Fly Tying Instructor to pursue recognition as an Endorsed Fly Tying Instructor from the FTG Board of Governors. The Sowbug Roundup will host a special workshop introducing the complete Fly Tying Instructor Program, presented by Dutch Baughman, Chair, Fly Tying Instructor Program. “Walk-ins” are welcome to attend, but to help us assure we have enough Program Materials to hand out, please register for this workshop.

This class is FREE, but to assure we have enough classroom supplies, PLEASE register for this class at the following link:

FFI Fly Tying Instructor Workshop - 3/28/2026