Southern Council Conclave
September 29-30, 2022 - October 1, 2022
Location: Mountain Home, AR
2022 Southern Council Conclave is happening.
Make plans to join us in 2022 - fellow fly fishers, fly casters and fly tyers - for a most relaxing time and opportunity to renew or make some new acquaintances. It is hoped this will be a low key event giving everyone opportunities to learn and visit. We fell it is important to reconnect with Southern Council member, as well as our visitors. Plans are underway to provide activities which will teach better skills for fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying.
ONLINE REGISTRATION: 2022 Southern Council Conclave Registration
Thursday Workshops
1. Euro Nymphing POE (Presentation Over Everything) Class
The on-stream clinic will be about the basics of Euro Nypmhing taught by Chris and Amanda Miller, premier Euro Nymphing couple of the Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas. They have fly fished for over 35 years and have really gone crazy over Euro Nymphing over the last few. Amanda is the first woman to achieve Gold and catch a wild trout at all 9 Missouri wild trout waters and accomplished it with Euro Nymphing. They specialize in wild trout, but love all fly fishing for all species.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds by 8:00 AM. Class starts at 8:30 AM and ends at 12:30 PM.
Limited to 10 people. Fee: $50.00
2. Mike George Deer Hair Tying Class
Learn to tie deer hair flies with Mike George, renowned international Mustad award winner. Tying materials and supplies are being supplied.
Mike George is a fly tyer who works with Deer Hair. I have tied at various venues including The Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Missouri, Sow Bug Roundup, Southern Council and International FFF Conclaves, Fly Tying Festival in Houston, Texas, Smallmouth Rendezvous in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey, and the Norwegian Forest Museum in Elverum, Norway.
Mike has assisted in fly tying classes and worked part time for K&K Fly Fishers for several years. He has conducted Advanced Deer Hair seminars for the IFFF at the Southern Council and the International level. My flies are individually auctioned for FFF (FFI) fundraisers and consistently appear in FFF Fly Plates, some specifically for “Casting for Recovery” and “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing”. They were used in an ad campaign for The First National Bank of Olathe. They have been in several issues of “Flyfisher” Magazine, featured in the autumn 2003 and mentioned in the autumn 2004 issues of “Fly Tyer” magazine, winner of the “Patent Patterns” Summer 2005 “Fly Fishing and Tying Journal”, and included in volume 1 issue 3 of the “Art of Angling Journal. He was honored to have been chosen the 2004 and 2009 FFF Southern Council Fly Tyer of the year. Other awards include first and second place medals in the FFF fly tying competition in 2006. There are also Gold Medals in the "Open" category of the Mustad Scandinavian Open (MSO) Fly Tying Competition in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 with Silver in 2008 and 2013. Also a Gold in the "Dry Fly" category in 2011. The MSO is considered the premier fly tying competition in the world. Mike believes he holds the record for the most Gold Medals in the Open category. In August 2015, Mike was honored to receive the IFFF Buz Buszek Memorial Award. All of my entries and medals and honors were earned with my Deer Hair work.
For more information and view Mike's skills, see Mustad Award Winning Patterns by Mike George.
Class begins at 1:00 PM and ends at 5:00 PM. Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds.
Limited to 5 people. Fee: $50.00
3. Casting Clinic for Intermediate/Advanced Level
Mark Borserine (Heart of America Fly Fishers) and a certified casting instructor will tailor the class to the needs of the students. Students and instructor will meet at the fairgrounds and then proceed to the Mountain Home's McCabe Park with a lake to conduct class.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. Directions: US 62 Business to past US 62 West, turn on Norcross Place to park lake.
TIme: 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Limited to 5 people. Fee: $50.00
Friday Seminars
1. Euro Nymphing Class/Seminar
1. Class runs through a quick history of Euro, gear, what we are striving to accomplish, teaches a background of rigging and leader building, water hydraulics and a great drift. Touching on POE and flies and specifics to tie a great Euro nymph. Taught by Chris and Amanda Miller.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in the Seminar Room at 10:00 AM.
Fee: Free
2. Fly Fishing in Belize
As an avid fly fisher and owner of River Edge Marketing, Bill Shank has been showing fly fishers - men and women -how to catch Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. He also take groups Saltwater fishing at the Blue Bonefish Lodge in San Pedro Belize. I also have contacts in Cuba and Patagonia.
He will provide a discussion of the presentation of the flies and how they are rigged for the fish we are trying to catch. This will include rod sizes and rigging the rods. Let us help you enjoy your dream trip of a flyfishing lifetime.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in the Seminar Room at 11:00 AM.
Fee: Free
3. Fly Fishing from a Kayak
Ted Geier, Ozark Mountain Trading Company, will discuss things to do and not do from a kayak while fly fishing. Ted has 50 years experience fly fishing, 30 of those years out of a kayak, mostly on the saltwater flats of Texas. He is on the OTMC Pro Staff and at the store for 6 years. He fishes for anything that swims and really like usual fish such as gar, carp, bowfin and snakehead.
During the seminar, he will cover these topics: 1.) Types of Kayaks, 2. What you need, 3. Transporting, 4. Anchoring (types and techniques), 5. Fly line maintenance on the kayak, 6. Rod preferences (long/short), 7. Rod Storage, 8. Accessories, 9. Rigging, 10. Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs), and 11. Questions and Answers.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds Seminar Room at 1:00 PM.
Fee: Free
4. Adventures of Fly Fishing in Alaska
Bill Shank, River Edge Marketing, will offer advice from his experiences as a group guide for fly fishers in Alaska over the past 10 years. He bases out of a great lodge called The Katmai Trophy Lodge in King Salmon Alaska.
In the presentation, he will discuss the ins and outs of travel and what equipment you will need to fish these great destinations. He also will discuss what to expect cost wise and what to expect when you get to the lodges. He helps you to arrange your air fair. All of the lodges where fly fishers are taken are first rate facilities with excellent guides and accommodations. In Alaska you would be catching Sockeye Salmon, King Salmon and Huge Rainbows.
Meet at the Baxter Country Fairgrounds Seminar Room at 2:00 PM.
Fee: Free
Friday Workshops
1. Tenkara Workshop (UPDATED 9-15-22)
Tenkara Workshop for 2 hours with Mike Tipton, North Arkansas Fly Fishers. Mike Tipton who has fished for about 10 years and hasn't used a conventional fly rod in the last five years will talk about how to catch big fish (or any fish) with Tenkara gear. He will discuss Tenkara and the differences between "traditional" and "American" Tenkara. He will talk about the different Tenkara rods and how to choose one and the different Tenkara lines and how to choose one, then set up the line for fishing. Mike will describe how to fish with a Tenkara rod and how to land fish. How to land big fish! Mike has broken numerous Tenkara rods. He will describe how to break and how not to break them. The class will include a lot of Tenkara gear to fondle and, if time permits, a hands-on component.
Class begins at 1:00 PM and ends at 3:00 PM. Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds.
Limited to 10 people. Fee: Free
Friday Night Reception NEW!
Dally's Ozark Fly Fishers at 1200 W Main #7, Cotter AR 72626 is planning to smoke pulled pork on site for a reception/social gathering for all fly tyers, vendors and members on Friday, September 30th starting at 6:00 PM.
Please RSVP so a proper head count can be obtained. Please indicate via email the number of your party who will be attending by contacting Larry Murphy or Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher with your RSVP response by Monday, September 26th.
Saturday Seminars
1. Advanced Euro Nymphing and Rigging
A class covering advanced methods and rigging for techniques such as Dry/Dropper on Euro as well as Euro Jigged streamer methods for tough/stained/difficult and high water situations. This takes your Euro game to the ultimate level. Many do not realize we dry fly fish as well as other methods on Euro.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in the Seminar Room at 9:00 AM.
Fee: Free
2. Spring Sulphur Hatch on the White River
Jeremy Hunt and Lisa Bellue (Fly's and Guides at Cooper John's) will present a session to help us understand the Spring sulphur (mayfly) hatch on the White River. Time: 11:00 AM Fee: Free
3. Missouri's Blue Ribbon Trout Slam
A presentation of the highlights and how to do Missouri's Blue Ribbon Trout Slam by Chris and Amanda Miller. Amanda is the first woman to achieve Gold on this. We share locations, methods, tips and highlights from our success. As well as how to navigate and make your entries on the website. This also announces the Missouri Smallmouth Slam that we started that is now picked up by the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Smallmouth Alliance.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in the Seminar Room at 1:00 PM.
Fee: Free
4. Fly Fishing the Boundary Waters
Tillman Pittman, Patty Lueken, Keith DeNobles and Mike Alberson (Arkansas Fly Fishers) will be presenting information to better plan a quality fly fishing trip on the Boundary Waters.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in the Seminar Room at 2:00 PM.
Fee: Free
5. Streamer Tactics for Smallmouth Bass in the Ozarks
Tadd Fore will help us understand streamer tactics for Smallmouth Bass in Ozark streams. Learn the ins and outs of water type, fly selection, and retrieve techniques needed to consistently be productive chasing the Ozarks' wild, native Smallmouth Bass.
Meet in the Seminar Room of the Baxter County Fairgrounds at 3:00 PM.
Fee: Free
Saturday Workshops
1. ART WORKS (Watercolor Workshop)
Create your own masterpiece with watercolor artist, T. A. Gooch, on Saturday, October 1st.
"Caped Crusader - Hawaiian Trigger Fish" will be the concentration of class efforts during the workshop.
Enjoy a relaxing three hour session exploring the world of watercolor with artist Trisha Gooch. At the end of class you will have your own watercolor masterpiece to hang. Bring your drinks and snacks...all supplies for creating your own masterpiece will be provided. T. A. Gooch's art can be viewed on her website (https://tagartworks.gallery). Trish is a watercolor artist just recently moved to Arkansas from Hawaii. Her paintings are tropical in nature and she enjoys painting wildlife, birds, fish & flowers.
Meet at the Baxter County Fairgrounds at one of the buildings (up the hill from main building). Class begins at 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
Limited to 20 people. Fee: $50.00
Youth Conclave
Young fly fishers will be educated in entomology, fly tying and on-stream fly fishing at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery on Dry Run Creek. This session is on Saturday, October 1, 2022 only. Trout must be released immediately after they are caught. Only artificial lures with a single, barbless hooking point can be used. Youth must have a signed release form in order to participate.
Meet at the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and Dry Run Creek at 9:00 AM. Sessions run through 4:00 PM. Lunch is provided to all participants.
Limited to 15 youth ages 15 and under (accompanied by parent or guardian). Fee: Free
Saturday Memorial Potluck Dinner
Recognition of all the past FFI Southern Council members who have passed away. Bring a dish to share with others at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. Time: 6:00 PM, Saturday, October 1st.
Breakfast
Cross Trail Outfitters (CTO) Arkansas will be serving on Friday/Saturday - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (or until supplies run out) inside the Baxter County Fairgrounds cafe. Homemade cinnamon rolls, sausage gravy with biscuits, breakfast burritos and hot coffee will be available for moderate price. CTO members/supporters will be serving this fresh, quality food. Donations accepted to help with the CTO program, so be generous, if you can.
Food Trucks
1. At The Curb - Burgers $12, All Beef Hot Dogs $5, Taco $6, Taco Fries $10, Loaded Nachos$10, Pulled Pork Nachos $10, Bacon Jam Queso Fries $10, Pepperoni Pizza Puffs $5, Fried Uncrustables $5 (grape or strawberry), Soda or water $3.
2. Nome's 2 Brothers - Breakfast foods like chorizo/egg $4, bean/cheese or cheese quesadilla $3, and trash can tacos (chorizo/egg/potato/sausage/bacon/cheese) on corn tortillas $6 served all day, salsas (tomatill0, pico de gallo, chile de ardol), Lunch tacos (Steak, ground beef, cilantro lime chicken, etc.) $5, water ($1)
3. Paradice Ice Cream - A Specialty Ice Cream Parlor that makes Homemade Dairy & Non-Dairy/Vegan Ice Cream - @ scoops $5, 4 scoops or hand packed pint $8, 3 scoop waffle cone $8, kid waffle cone $3, bottle water $1, Gatorade $2.
4. The Rollin' Razorback Food Shack - Frito pie, Hot Dogs, BBQ Sandwich, Chips and Drinks
Food Truck prices are subject to change, FFI Southern Council is not responsible for pricing changes.
Vendors
Vendor setup will be from 12;00 noon t0 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home, AR 72653.
These vendors are scheduled to be at the 2022 Southern Council Conclave.
Art Works (Trisha Gooch - PO BOX 16232, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72403)
Billy Vanderbilt (Jonesboro, AR)
Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher (Faye Clark - Cotter, AR)
Dooley Fly Fishing (Nick Dooley)
DSP - Dave Scaden Paddlesports (Kevin Humphrey - Jonesboro, AR)
Fly Armory (Cassville, MO)
Fly's and Guides at Copper Johns (Lisa Bellue/Jeremy Hunt - Lakeview, AR)
Four921 Spoons & Brooms LLC (Larry Murphy - Jefferson City MO)
Missouri on the Fly Podcast (Darrel Cureton)
North Arkansas Fly Fishers (Mike Tipton - Mountain Home, AR)
Ozarks Euro - Amanda and Chris Miller (Springfield, MO)
River Edge Marketing - Bill Shank (Nixa MO)
Women Connect (Lindsey Tucker)
Fly Tyer Sessions - David Boyer, Chief in Charge
Friday, September 30, 2022 - Morning Session
Peter Allen, Joseph Aimonette, Steve Antonic, Terry Beeson, David Boyer, Peggy Brenner, David Crowley, Stan Darnell, Jerry Felts, Charles Frank, Steve Fritz, Mike George, Howard Hawkins, Doug Hemme, Dan Jackman, Jerry Jester, Michael Lack, Don Lawler, Patty Lueken, Jalen Riley, Sunny Riley, Wayne Simpson, Robert Spangler, Sue Spangler, Mike Swederska, Terry Tanner, Jon Tupper, Roy Weeks, Bill Willmert, Clarence Winans
Friday, September 30, 2022 - Afternoon Session
Peter Allen, Joseph Aimonette, Steve Antonic, Ronald Beasley, Sandra Beasley, Terry Beeson, David Boyer, Peggy Brenner, John Bush, David Crowley, Stan Darnell, Charles Frank, Steve Fritz, Mike George, Howard Hawkins, Doug Hemme, Jerry Jester, Michael Lack, Patty Lueken, Jalen Riley, Sunny Riley, Wayne Simpson, Robert Spangler, Sue Spangler, Mike Swederska, Terry Tanner, Jon Tupper, Bill Willmert, Clarence Winans
Saturday, October 1, 2022 - Morning Session
Peter Allen, Joseph Aimonette, Steve Antonic, Ronald Beasley, Sandra Beasley, David Boyer, Peggy Brenner, John Bush, David Crowley, Stan Darnell, Michael Davis, Tom Emerick, Jerry Felts, Charles Frank, Steve Fritz, Mike George, Howard Hawkins, Dan Jackman, Jerry Jester, Michael Lack, Don Lawler, Patty Lueken, Robert Spangler, Sue Spangler, Mike Swederska, Terry Tanner, Jon Tupper, Roy Weeks, Clarence Winans
Saturday, October 1, 2022 - Afternoon Session
Peter Allen, Steve Antonic, Ronald Beasley, Sandra Beasley, David Boyer, Peggy Brenner, David Crowley, Stan Darnell, Michael Davis, Mike George, Howard Hawkins, Jerry Jester, Patty Lueken, Robert Spangler, Sue Spangler, Terry Tanner, Jon Tupper, Clarence Winans
Thursday, October 6, 2022 - Board Meeting
Fly Fishers International - Southern Council Board of Directors will hold a ZOOM meeting at 7:00 PM.