NAFF Intermediate Fly Tying Class

August 30th, 2025 - 9:00am - 3:00pm

Food Bank of North Central Arkansas

Mountain Home, AR

CLASS is FULL - can get on the waitlist at the link below

NAFF is again hosting an intermediate level fly tying class. Our own Dave Boyer will again be teaching the class.

The goal is to introduce the intermediate tier to a better understanding of the materials and techniques used in construction of a fly. We will discuss proportions, materials and techniques to better construct a fly that is acceptable to a fish. We will cover dry flies, wet flies and streamers. Students need to have the basic tying techniques down and be able to whip finish.

The class will be held at the Food Bank on Saturday, August 30. Be there and ready to start at 9:00 a.m., and the class will be completed by 3:00 p.m. Sandwiches from Schlotzsky’s will be provided for lunch. Class is limited to 10 students. This class is for North AR Fly Fishers members only.

Students must bring the following equipment.

Tools:

Tying vice, bobbin holder(s), scissors, bodkin, whip finisher, hackle pliers, hair stacker, tweezers, and a portable light if so desired.

Thread:

Pale Yellow and Black in 70 and 140 denier or similar. A spool of GSP in about 100-150 denier, white.

The class is for NAFF Member's Only, there is no charge for the class, but registrtaion is REQUIRED and the class is limited to 10 students.

Please click here to register:

2025 NAFF Intermediate Level Fly Tying Class - 8/30/2025

You must be signed into the website to register for this class (upper right hand corner of the website). Click on the forgot password link if you can't remember your password.

NAFF Fishing Outing on the Spring River!

Join us for a great day on the water! The North Arkansas Fly Fishers will be heading to Bayou Access on the Spring River for a club fishing outing on August 21. We’ll meet at the access at 9:00 a.m., so bring your gear and be ready for some fun!

The club will be serving up brats, buns, condiments, and plenty of cold water. NAFF members are invited (but not required) to bring a side dish or dessert to share with the group.

For up-to-date fishing and wading conditions, check out Mark Crawford’s “Spring River Report” in this newsletter. You can also visit his blog at www.springriverfliesandguides.com.

It’s about a 1.5-hour drive, and Google Maps will guide you straight to the Bayou Access (look for “paved bayou access road”). Don’t let the winding gravel road after the end of the paved road discourage you, it’s all part of the adventure!

Please be sure to register on the NAFF website so we can get an accurate headcount for food and logistics.

We hope to see you there with a rod in hand and a smile on your face!

To assure we plan enough food, please register for the event at the link below. Because this is a Member's Only, you will need to be signed into the website to register:

NAFF Fall 2025 Outing

August Meeting

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025

Jamie's Local Flavor Restaurant

1502 US-62E

Mountain Home, AR

All Members wishing to eat or socialize are encouraged to arrive around 5:00pm

Presentation Starts around 6:00pm

Warm Water Fly Fishing Adventures in the Arkansas Ozarks

Paul Port

AGFC Fisheries Biologist Paul Port will present a comprehensive guide to the diverse fly fishing opportunities found in the Arkansas Ozarks. Moving beyond the region’s renowned trout streams, he will explore the two distinct ecosystems: the clear, free-flowing rivers and the expansive, structure-rich lakes.

Paul will teach us tactics for targeting aggressive Smallmouth Bass and abundant Panfish in premier river destinations such as the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek. He will then shift the focus to lake fishing, covering strategies for pursuing Largemouth and Spotted Bass, powerful "linesides" like Striped and Hybrid Bass, elusive Walleye, and even the unique challenges of catching Gar and Carp on Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes.

Paul will conclude the program with valuable resources, including conservation efforts and essential gear recommendations, to help club members plan their own unforgettable Ozark fishing adventures.

Paul Port is the District 2 Fisheries Management Biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, where he has worked since 2008. Originally from Northeast Iowa, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and a master’s in Fisheries Management from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Paul’s early experience includes fisheries work with the Iowa DNR and the Illinois Natural History Survey. In his current role, he manages Bull Shoals, Norfork, and Greers Ferry Lakes, as well as the Buffalo River and Crooked Creek. An avid angler, Paul enjoys fishing for anything that swims—often with a fly rod.

River Flow Data for the Fly Fisherman

Norfork Tailwater Flows

Bull Shoals Tailwater Flows

SWPA-Generation Schedule

AGFC Trout waters

AGFC Family & Community Stocked Fishing Ponds

How to Use This Water Flow Data

Gene's Resort North Fork River Cams

Fly Fishing Mentoring Program

If you are interested in learning to fly fish, and don’t know where to start, we offer a mentoring program. It is available to all skill levels. Whether you are new to the area and need to know where to fish, when, and with what, or wonder why you’re not as successful as you hope to be, this program can help. Click on the button below for additional information or to sign up for this program.

Mentoring Program

Fly Tying Classes

We offer two fly tying classes - a beginners fly tying class and intermediate fly tying class.

The beginner fly tying class is hosted through the ASU-MH Community Education Program - Click the button below to sign up for the class or for more information and schedules.

The intermediate fly tying class is hosted by NAFF and more information can be found by clicking the link below.

Fly Tying Classes