Pictures from the Southern Council Conclave, Federation of Fly Tyer&#3

[Harold Ray 0]

John Maddux and I always get to the tyings before they set up, and often we help. Last year he and I along with 3 other men began at 8:00 am and finished around 3:30 pm that afternoon.

 

This year, they had part of their local club come in to do the work. It was a real pleasure not to have to do it again, but who knows what will happen next year.

 

John and I live in Waco, Texas. Mountain Home is about a 10 hour drive north into Arkansas, nearly to the Missouri state line. I go twice yearly for big tying events, the Conclave usually the first weekend in October, and the Sowbug Round-Up, a big flytying get together for three days in March. Mountain Home, with the White and Norfork Rivers, is a premier trout destination in the United States; the largeest brown caught in this area ran around 40 pounds.

 

Here are pictures from the beginning of the set-up on through the meeting:

 

 

And, this is where I just brought most of my materials, etc. in and have begun setting up. Below you will see a few of my poppers:

[Harold Ray 0]

Below is John Maddux, a very good flytyer and fisherman from Waco, Texas:

 

Dave and Emily Whitlock usually set up just across the isle from us, so here are a few images of their's. Dave is a real gentleman and Emily is a true Southern lady; both are wonderful to be with and a pleasure to talk with and observe while drawing, painting, and tying.

 

Here are a couple of Duane Hada's works. He is a great guide for anything that swims in the waters around Mountain Home, and he is a widely recognized artist. We waded the White one day several years ago when it was on the rise. Duane is at least twice as large as I am, at 160 pounds, and he is tall. I hit a place where my feet didn't touch bottom, told Duane, and he grabbed me so I could hold on, and he waded on. Several people have washed away there and drowned in rising waters. They come up fast, and there is little to no warning, depending on where you are.

 

I love these little dudes! I bought several and started putting them on my cap, and I'm getting some for my grandchildren. All us kids enjoy things like this!!

 

I like these DiabloPaddleSports kayaks, neat, and something different. They are made in Austin, Texas:

 

The Golden Rule On-Line Fly Shop. This is a shop where you get good service, the products you want and need, and fair, honest treatment. Not a bricks-and-mortar store, sales are done at shows like the Conclave or Sowbug, or on-line at http://www.goldenruleflyshop.com/. Shop with confidence.

 

 

A good picture of Dave Whitlock:

[Guest]

Cool photos, Ray. Have always wanted to get down to one of these shows, specifically the Sowbug. Had the pleasure to meet Whitlock a few years ago, don't know if there is a nicer person.

[Harold Ray 0]

The show is getting in gear:

 

That's Diane Blair in the yellow shirt, but she's got her back to us. She is a wonderful lady who gives her time and knowledge to anyone who needs it, teaching, coaching, tying, casting, and fishing. She and her husband, Richard, live and work in Dallas.

 

The Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery is a nonprofit citizens group chartered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to support and promote the hatchery. As a citizens group, the Friends is able to promote the hatchery in a manner that the hatchery, as an agency of the federal government, cannot do for itself. If you agree that the Norfork National Fish Hatchery is important to the economic and recreational well being of the Baxter and Marion Counties please join us.

 

Ben Levin, 870-688-1604, on the right is a super guide and good young man who works with Duane Hada and fishes for everything, including BIG brown trout.

 

The TFO guru, Jeff Jackson, is a great guy and really helpful. Temple Fork Outfitters, with TFO rods, reels, and accessories, headquartered in Dallas, is a heavily used and very well respected company.

 

The folks from Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher:

 

 

I have not met the owners of BERRY BROTHERS GUIDE SERVICE, Fly Fishing For Trout, but I know their reputation, and it is good. They support the Conclave every year, and I see John Berry discussing topics and giving advice on John Wilson's Fly Fishing Arkansas and Missouri informative and friendly website.

 

JOHN BERRY, seen pictured below I believe, is a fly fishing guide on Arkansas White, Norfork, Spring, and Little Red Rivers for trout and Crooked Creek for Smallmouth Bass. He has been a fly fishing guide in the Ozarks for the past fifteen years. He is the past president of the Mid South Fly Fishers (two terms).

 

John served as the Conservation Director for the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. He is a life member of the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Mid South Fly Fishers. He is also a member of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Federation of Fly Fishers Guide Association, and the Arkansas Outfitters and Guides Association.

 

Larry Notley is a master woodworker who attends the Conclaves and Sowbug shows, selling beautifully done woodwork for use in flytying and the kitchen. That smile of his is a constant companion, so you can tell he is a pleasure to be with and around!

 

Keith Gann, Moose Creek Rods and Knives, http://wwww.moosecreekrodsandknives.com/. Keith also sells hatchets and hand axes; I bought two beautiful, refurbished, vintage Boy Scout hatchets from him and a seven-foot (hard to find), square (never saw one before), beautiful, fiberglass flyrod, too, and will probably buy more when I see him next.

 

I don't know the folks at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in Mountain Home, but I do know they are always at the Conclave supporting it. They are some of the first to set up and the last to leave.

[Harold Ray 0]

WAPSI tying station with some of the team members, many of whom are family: this is Joe Schmuecker, son of long time WAPSI owner Tom Schmuecker.

 

Bill Heugel, East Texas friend and great tyer. Ed Kessie is sitting to his left in the tan cap and olive shirt.

 

An intent Bill Heugel

 

And, there is Eric Schmuecker, another son of WAPSI owner Tom Schmuecker, tying at the WAPSI Conclave station. Several members of the Schmuecker family tie at these events, and their company gives the tyers gift packets of materials that are greatly appreciated.

 

Slim Mitchell, McKinney, TX, is a longtime tyer and Conclave dependable from Texas, ties another one!

 

Sherry Steele, Byhalia, MS, is Slim Mitchell's sister. She and her husband, Boyd, attend all of the Mountain Home shows.

 

Randy Sublett, Mountain Home, Arkansas

 

A stroll down an isle between rows of flytyers; you enter a world here of water, fish, and ways to entice them to your hook. In the three day run of the Federation of Fly Fishers' Southern Council Conclave at the fairgrounds in Mountain Home, Arkansas, hundreds of of happy souls learn more about their hobby or vocation, and the flies, rods, reels, boats and kayaks, along with all the other assorted gear needed to chase and land the fish of their dreams.

 

Johnny Chamness, a friend and flyfisherman from Alabama, was the auctioneer for the Southern Conclave's annual auction for 26 years. In that time, he managed sales that brought in millions of dollars for the support and function of the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers.

 

Kim Schultz is busys tying a neat, "swimming" walleye fly on a jig hook.

 

Steve Jensen. Steve frames and ties. He does exquisite framing work and all of the frames for all of the big Conclave plates. Plates framed by him have sold for around a quarter-million dollars at Conclave auctions.

 

Terry Tanner, a Missouri gentleman, ties more of his big fish enticers and beautiful works of art.

 

Kyle Moppert from Louisiana is always busy helping and building and bettering the flytying and flyfishing world.

 

Joe Amonetti of Ozark Fly Fishers

[Harold Ray 0]

Al Bourisaw Ozark Fly Fishers

 

Mile George. Mike has won his division of the MUSTAD SCANDINAVIAN OPEN (MSO) seven times with one second place a couple of years ago. Mike ties deer hair flies and is world class in his work obviously.

 

Skip Schorb and Tony Spezio, two of the Ozark trout and White and Norfork River intelligentsia; their knowledge and abilities could fill volumes!

 

More of a good thing; you never know who or what you may see in a quick glance across the tying floor!

 

Sister Carol Ann Corley: this lady ties great flies! Ken Bohannon is to her right in the dark blue cap and white shirt; he is a deer hair man. You see the in the picture below, too.

 

Norm Crisp, of Stream Side Adventures, and friends discuss trout, fishing the Missouri Ozarks, Wyoming, and Chile on the Cheap. What a beautiful way of life!

 

Norm Crisp of Prairie Village, Kansas is Owner and Head Guide. Norm is an internationally known fly fisherman, author, teacher/lecturer and water resources scientist. Norm began fly fishing over thirty years ago as a boy growing up in New Hampshire. Since leaving there he has continued fly fishing throughout North America and many parts of the world including Russia, Nepal, Scotland, England, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, the former Yugoslavia and even the Atlas Mountains of Morocco in North Africa. Norm has written several articles about fly fishing for trout and his travels in search of trout.

 

Steve Couch is the owner of the Golden Rule Fly Shop, an online business, out of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

 

Mike George at work again explaining and demonstrating. He never stops. If you've got a question, Mike will answer it. He is a deer hair tying instructor and teacher who does near perfect work and expects the same from you or anyone who ties with him. There are two or three other images farther down.

 

Peter Allen, our resident Englishman, and Sherry and Boyd Steele, faithful Conclave and Sowbug attendees, and Slim Mitchell's sister and brother-in-law. Good folks!!

 

An incubating deer hair fly in the skillful hands of an ever gracious and modest Mike George; he is the man who can make lifeless deer hair live again.

 

Mike instructing.

[Harold Ray 0]

Skip Shorb discussing flies. One day several years ago, I walked in and Skip was tying 32s. I told him all I could see was a red dot where the fly was supposed to be and asked why he was tying flies so small. With a grin, Skip said, "Ray, just to show you I can!" And that is Skip. He is a mechanical genius who has invented and built many innovations and products.

 

Dennis "Wild Bear (an', folks, that name ain't far off) Reed", no offense, Dennis, but you've got to admit you are a character!

 

Bill Willmert from Arkansas

 

And, that's Wilford Brimley from Hollywood, California in the hat and John Petrie from Dallas beside him. Wilford is a famous actor and former Hollywood stuntman.

 

I'm sorry about the identification of the moustached man in the photo above. He just thinks he's Wilford Brimley. Actually, that's John Walther from Missouri. That is still John Petrie beside him and Bill Willmert is across the table tying. Wilford......errrr... John does have identity problems, but he is a good cook and friendly fellow, even if he does have problems figuring out who he is and where he lives.

 

Okay, okay, John, I'm just kiddin'!! Take care of yourself! Ray

 

G. S. "Stack" Scoville, Tennessee, http://www.danica.com/flytier/sscoville/sscoville.htm

 

Joe Ilig, New Orleans, in glaases, watching G. S. "Stack" Scoville, Tennessee, http://www.danica.com/flytier/sscoville/sscoville.htm

 

Fred DuPre' is from Dallas and is another friend. he fishes the White and Norfork Rivers a lot, travelling up from home and camping right on the river banks. And, he catches many trout.

 

Richard Blair from Dallas, a friend and tyer of great poppers and many other types flies.

 

Kyle Moppert: Kyle, John, and a group of us get together the first weekend in November on Toledo Bend for The Rendezvous, a fishing, flytying, friendship, and good food time of fun and relaxation.

 

Bill Huegel tying again!!

[Harold Ray 0]

Ted Crona: He's from Alabama and he ties beautiful flies.

 

Mike Davis, Austin, AR

 

Kim Schultz

 

Mark Romaro, a former member of FTF who lives in Mountain Home, ties there for both the Conclave and Sowbug Round-Up.

 

Tom Berry, Fairfield Bay, AR

 

Dirk Burton is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Red Stick Fly Fishers.

 

Randy Sublett

 

Dow Lawler is a member of Shreveport, Louisiana's North Louisiana Fly Fishers.

 

John Petrie is from Plano, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. He has tied for years and is a friend.

 

Pat Hummert Ozark Fly Fishers

[Harold Ray 0]

Tony Spezio, White River Legend

 

Terry Tanner, a well known tyer of beautiful flies. I bought one of his framed sculpins in the Southern Council Conclave which will hang in my main exam room at the clinic. Terry is a true gentleman.

 

If you ever wondered who owns and runs WAPSI, the company many of your flytying tools and materials come from, this is the man, Tom Schmuecker of Wapsi Fly Company.

 

Richard Blair from Dallas. He and his wife, Diana, tie in many meets in Texas and louisiana, and they are always ready to help others learn more about flytying, flycasting, flyfishing.

 

Michael Ames, the man who made this year's Conclave happen. He did a great job!

[NJ All Day 0]

Thanks for that Ray, looks fantastic with many great people and tiers.

[bowfin47 0]

Ray,

 

I tyed for two mornings and got by to speak for just a minute with John. We were supposed to get back together... it just didn't happen, as every time I came by he was busy or I was runnin'.

 

Sorry, I missed being able to sit and talk with ya' there, but I had folks in front of me for the entire time that I was tying. However, I do see that ya' got my photo. In case anybody cares, that me wearing a blue shirt in the photo just above "Bill Huegel tying again!!"

 

Will you be coming to the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous?

 

I hope so.

 

Kyle

[Guest]

Thanks for sharing Ray,

That's too funny, I lived in Tyler,Tx for about 5 years, my dad and many friends still live there. My grandparents lived in Mountain Home Arkansas and I used to spend summers there. A few years back one of my friends Chris Stroud from Tyler, and his family met up with me and mine and stayed at the Trout Dock right at the confluence of the Norfork and White rivers. We had a ball and caught tons of trout. We hired two guides on that trip Scott Branyan (the ozark fly flinger) and one from The Blue Ribbon Fly Shop. Thanks for sparking some great memories! I'll keep that sowbug roundup in mind, sounds like a good excuse for a road trip.

[Harold Ray 0]

Will you be coming to the North Toledo Bend Rendezvous?

 

Kyle,

 

I'll be there, and I'll be back for the Sowbug, too.

 

I'm in the process of getting everyone's names in there with their pictures. I've been getting these up between patients and work today, so its been a little hectic.

 

Ray

[mybadhabit 0]

Haven't been tying long enough to be fortunate to be able to attend either "Sow bug" or Conclave, but I do recognize a couple of faces from my local fly club, and have been fortunate to be able to learn from both Richard and Diane Blair on occassion. In fact Diane is the one who I am collecting the CFR flies for, she is a big part of it down here in the Dallas area. It really looks like I could do an intensive learning session by attending one. I do consider myself fortunate in that I get to see and get educated by veterans by tying every week with older and much better tyers that are in the DFF Club. I love the fact that almost every week I learn some new technique or short cut to tying.

 

If things go right, I hope to attend Sow-Bug in the spring with a few friends.

 

Thanks for the pics and details.

 

Blane

[Harold Ray 0]

Blane,

 

If you want to learn and come to the Sowbug, you won't be disappointed, and you WILL learn!! I love going. You will meet people, learn names, learn technique, flies, and you'll have a blast.

 

The Ramada Inn is usually the base and a convenient place to stay, but its a great idea to call early and get a room. I made a reservation before I left Mountain Home the other day.

 

Ray