Henry Seay has been fly fishing on the White River for a long time.
The former Sony executive has been working the White River for 16 years and is one of the river’s go-to guides and teachers.
When Seay isn’t out on the water, he can be found at Natural State Fly Shop in downtown Cotter, often chatting with the locals before dipping into his small workshop to tie flies for the fishermen that pass through.
He helped build the shop from the ground up some five years ago after being asked to come on as a guide by its previous owner.
“I started working here on the White River about 16 years ago,” Seay said. “Rim Shoals asked me if I would tie flies. I said, well, I’ll do it for three days a week. I’m retired, OK.”
Originally from Hot Springs, Seay returned to Arkansas after battling cancer in Phoenix, Arizona, so that he and his wife could be closer to their children and grandchildren.
His love affair with fly fishing began with a vacation for fathers day some 24 years ago.
“I called my brother in Bentonville. He’s got three sons. I got three sons,” Seay said. “My three sons had not seen each other in other five years. I told my sons it’s time they started getting together; I’m going to bring you all to the White River, and we’re going to fish for three days.”
The fishing trip was a success for the family, with each son returning to their father every year after.
The group, which initially started with the eight men, has grown as more grandchildren participate in the annual fishing trip.
“We’re about 14 now,” Seay said. “My grandkids are saying they’re going to keep doing this after we pass on.”
Stories and experiences like that are why Rodney and Tina Coats purchased Natural State Fly Shop and the two other businesses attached to it.
Hailing from Fayetteville, the couple became infatuated with Cotter after taking a day trip to the city on the advice of a friend. The couple now owns the city’s top fly fishing shop, Cotter Trout Lodge, and the White Sands Café.
“It was such a nice spot, and it was so unique. That’s why I bought it,” said Rodney Coats. “I had a friend tell me they were for sale. It came as a package deal, so I bought the fly shop with the rest of it and moved the check-in for the lodge over to the fly shop as well.”
Coats said the three businesses work well together, with lodge guests getting their fishing equipment from the fly shop after having breakfast at the café in the morning. Lodge guests also receive a discount on fishing lessons from the fly shop’s three guides.
For Coats, the main focus of his purchase will always be on fishing.
“I’m not the best in the world and don’t know it all for sure. I’m still learning, especially on the fly fishing side,” Coats said. “I want to provide the best fly shop for the area and to make Cotter the next spot for tourists with the lodge and café. I want to build on what they’ve already established over there. Henry and the previous owner established a great fly shop.”
Natural State Fly Shop offers lessons for both a half-day and a full day. Half-day classes, which run for four hours, cost $350, and full-day, which run for eight hours, cost $500.
One of the fly shop’s three guides, Ben Woodard, said the guides take students to different locations on the White River, showing them good fishing spots while giving them a crash course in how to fly fish.
“I love being out on the White River. It’s a special place,” Woodard said. “It’s definitely the coolest place in the Ozarks. I love meeting people every day. So, stop by the fly shop. Talk to the guides and hang around for a lesson. If you want to learn on your own, that’s fine. Stop by and get some suggestions.”
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