Helen Mansfield
hmansfield@baxterbulletin.com
Back in November, members of the Twin Lakes Area fly fishing community — actually fly fishers around the globe — were shocked and saddened by the news that legendary tyer, conservationist and artist David “Dave” Whitlock had died.
To give readers a perspective on just what a big deal Whitlock was to the world of fly fishing, following his death on Nov. 23, 2022, an obituary writer with The New York Times composed one of its famous features on the man that ran in the paper’s sports section.
In that obituary, the one-time Mountain Home resident was referred to as “a dean of American fly fishing” who — according to the editor of Trout magazine — said Whitlock “tore down the notion that fly fishing was a stuffy sport.”
That sort of thing doesn’t happen to just any fly fisher born in Muskogee, Okla.
Friends and admirers alike will have the opportunity to remember Whitlock this Saturday as part of the 10th annual Lovefest held at Dally’s Ozark Fly Fishers in Cotter.
According to shop manager Steve Dally, Lovefest is a celebration of “big flies, big trout and the people who love them.”
He describes streamer fishermen as the type that are into food that swims and crawls, adding that they are on the “weird end” of the fishing spectrum. As for the White River, Dally said it is home to a number of big, brown trout that like to eat other fish and scientists have said that after these fish reach about 14 inches in length, they like to hunt for other fish.
“And the White has a number of good predators,” he said.
Around 2009-10, fly fisherman started fishing with bigger flies, which Dally said tend to move around like live bait, to catch these bigger fish. Previously anglers didn’t necessarily try for the big guys, assuming that they were just lazy — not realizing that it might just be their smaller flies don’t necessarily entice them.
While he said going after these big guys might not be for everyone, as not all fly fishers enjoy casting all day.
Dally describes the experience as more “visual” — which men tend to prefer — but it is a more active style of fishing that his own wife seems to prefer. He said even little kids get excited by it.
“Saturday is all about getting those kinds of people together, to meet their heroes in a non-stuffy environment,” he said.
2023 will mark the first time Lovefest has taken place since 2020. Dally said the first event, held in 2013 was put together in just a few weeks and brought in roughly 120 “lovers.” They’ve had as many as 300.
Sponsored by Shawnee Supreme Boat Company, this free event will kick around 6:30 p.m. at Dally’s. Whitlock’s close friend and master tyer Davy Wotton will demonstrate a couple of the streamer patterns that his late friend made famous.
Dally said the first 100 attendees will receive swag bags especially procured for Lovefest.
Lovefest will also serve as a fundraiser, as all proceeds and donations from the event will go to Whitlock’s widow, Emily Whitlock — an avid outdoors woman and fly fisher in her own right. Attendees are encouraged to donate generously.
According to the Dally shop blog, all flies “tied on the night by our crew of outstanding streamer developers will go into a MFC Waterproof Fly Box as the major raffle prize on the night.”
So far the evening’s line-up — which could change due to the anticipated inclement weather heading for our area — includes Andreas Andersson of Sweden, Kelly Galloup — known as “The Godfather of Modern Streamer Fishing,” Brita Fordice of RIO Flies, Chris Franzen, Chad Johnson, Alex Lafkas, Jeff Trigg, Brian Wise and Dally himself.
Another of Whitlock’s friends, local fly fisher and artist Duane Hada, will be painting live throughout the night — a work that will be inspired by his long-time friend and the White River. The finished piece will be auctioned off at some point during the evening, which will also feature door prizes and drawings.
Around 7 p.m. attendees will enjoy a bowl of gumbo from KT’s Smokehouse BBQ, along with samples from Sweetwater Brewery.
Dally said the evening should wrap-up around the shop by 9:30 p.m. and anticipates there will be “afterparties.”
“We hope to get this event back off the ground,” he said. “We’re excited about it.”
Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher is located at 1200 W. Main St., Suite 7. For more information on Lovefest, call Dally’s at (870) 435-6166.
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