Sowbug Invite
Hello Everyone,
Sowbug Roundup is scheduled for March 24th through March 26th in 2022 and I invite you to be a
Demonstration Tier at the 23rd year of this event. The skilled, creative, and friendly fly tiers who
participate have made this an enjoyable and successful learning and social event. We hope you will
again take part. Please update your information below and if you are aware of any tiers this invitation
has missed or are interested as new tiers, please feel free to forward this message to them. The only
tiers event on Wednesday, March 23rd will be the Tiers Party at five o’clock in the evening. The
remaining days are scheduled tying times. Sowbug Shindig, the major social event, will be held on
Friday, March 25, 2022. Please respond as soon as you are able with your preferred tying sessions and
other requested information.
Sowbug Roundup again takes place at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home, Arkansas and
is sponsored by the North Arkansas Fly Fishers and a large number of local merchants and volunteers.
The event is held annually (normally in March). About 150 tiers participated in the 2019 event, last time
we had one. All money raised at this event goes toward providing college scholarships to qualified
students and to civic, conservation, and other appropriate and deserving projects.
In response to this invitation, please provide the following information. If you have difficulties with the
form, just send your name, times (sessions) you want to tie, updates to contact information, and
whether or not you will attend the tiers party:
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________________
Please indicate your choices for tying sessions:
Thursday, March 24th AM Session (9 AM to 12 PM) ____________
Thursday, March 24th PM Session (1 PM to 4 PM) ______________
Friday, March 25th AM Session (9 AM to 12 PM) ______________
Friday, March 25th PM Session (1 PM to 4 PM) _______________
Saturday, March 26th AM Session (9 AM to 12 PM) ____________
Saturday, March 26th PM Session (1 PM to 4 PM) _____________
We also would appreciate your indication if you will be attending the Tiers Party on Wednesday, March
23rd, 2022 so that we will be able to prepare enough food and drinks:
Will attend Tiers Party (Yes, No) _______________
Number Attending Tiers Party________________
I am hopeful that we can have four tying classes in the upcoming Sowbug of the caliber we have had in
previous years. If you would like to provide a tying class, or if you would like to suggest a topic or
someone you think could offer an appropriate class, please contact me at or
972-670-2425.
Please plan to bring three flies with you to go in items to be auctioned during the event. I will provide a
baggie and slips of paper to write your name and the fly’s name. Please check in upon your arrival to
receive your Tiers Pack which will include your name badge, table tent, and Sowbug Pin. Also, when you
turn in your flies at the event, please give us a note detailing where you are staying and for how many
nights. This will help us in discussions of support with the Mountain Home Advertising & Promotions
Commission.
The scheduled events and dates you may be interested in are listed below.
• Requested deadline for invitation response, January 15, 2022
• John Berry Fly Tying Contest, Deadline for entries, February 7, 2022
• Event Emphasis on Warm Water Fishing with Dave and Emily Whitlock as Guests of Honor
• Tiers Party, Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022, 5:00 PM (Location to be determined)
• Sowbug Shindig, Friday, March 25th, 2022, 5:30 PM
• Children’s Day, Saturday, March 26th, 2022
• Sowbug Programs: Featured Tiers, Children’s Programs, Seminars, Classes, Raffles, Auctions
The Tiers Party will be on Wednesday, March 23rd starting at 5 PM, location to be determined and you
will be updated on a subsequent email. These are well attended and everyone has a great time. When
you respond to this invitation, make sure you let me know if you are attending this party and if anyone
will be accompanying you so we can purchase enough food and drink.
The Sowbug Shindig will be on Friday, March 25th at 5:30 PM. At this event, we will serve a meal and
have a live auction. When you pick up your tiers packet, request the number of tickets you need for you
and your spouse. This event is free for tiers and spouses. This event will be held at St. Peter’s the
Fisherman Catholic Church at 249 Dyer St. To get there from 62B and the Sheid Bypass (Hwy 62/412),
drive toward downtown to 178 (6th street), turn left and proceed approximately three blocks to Dyer St.
and turn right on Dyer. The church parking lot will be about a block on your left.
The John Berry Fly Tying Contest rules are below. Please read the rules carefully.
We look forward to seeing everyone after the last couple of difficult years due to Covid. We will be
monitoring the pandemic situation and if things change you will be updated on protocol and our plans.
David M Boyer
2022 Sowbug Fly Tying Chair
1310 Eastside Centre Ct, #6339
Mountain Home, AR 72653
972-670-2425
SOWBUG ROUNDUP FLY TYING CONTEST RULES
Rules have been kept to a minimum. The entrant must tie the fly submitted for judging. Each entry must include the name, address, phone number and email address along with two flies for each pattern submitted (they must be exactly the same size, color, etc). You need to include the recipe for the fly, instructions on how to fish it and the category you wish to have it judged in. There are eleven categories, nymph, dry fly, wet fly, smallmouth bass, bass, warm water, salmon/steelhead, salt water and tenkara. In addition, there is a best in show award.
This year we are adding an additional category, Dave Whitlock pattern. This is homage to Dave, our guest of honor. You may tie any published Dave Whitlock pattern.
You may submit as many patterns for as many categories as you want. You can win a maximum of three categories (best in show is considered a category). All flies submitted will become the property of the contest and will not be returned. Any fly that contains insect parts (legs wings, etc.) will be eliminated from competition. Commercially tied patterns will not be accepted. The decision of the judges is final. Committee members and judges are not eligible to participate in the contest.
To participate, all you have to do is send your flies, recipes and fishing instructions to me, John Berry, at 408 Combs Ave. Cotter, Arkansas 72626 by Wednesday February 7, 2022. The winners will be announced on Friday March 25, 2022 at the Sowbug Roundup Shindig which will be held at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church.
John Berry
www.berrybrothersguides.com
(870) 435-2169
(870) 404-8015