
The "Seventh Ever"
Little Mo' Fly Fishing Festival
February 13-15, 2009
Despite the fact that Valentine's Day fell on Saturday this year, no less than 90 folks from 39 different cities and towns appeared throughout the weekend for this years Fly Fishing Festival. And finally, the weather was near perfect throughout!
My thanks and appreciation to everyone who took part!
First and foremost I have to thank all the Usual Suspects for their programs and fly tying demonstrations! This wouldn't be much of an event without them! Ya'll contact them and say hi and thanks too!
Paul Lawler (left) visits with Bill Heugel and Ashley Berry while tying... Fred DuPre fishes out materials in the background>>>>>
The Usual Suspects:
Fred DuPre - Dallas, TX
Johnny McJunkins - Mineral Springs, AR
Larry Offner - Baton Rouge, LA
Dick Waldrep - New Boston, TX
Eddie Driskill - Shreveport, LA
John Scarborough - Shreveport, LA
David Chin - West Monroe, LA
Rex White - Stonewall, LA
Richard and Diane Blair - Dallas, TX
Gordon Shaw - Shreveport, LA
Ashley Berry - Little Rock, AR
Bill Heugel - Hemphill, TX
Wes Traister - Pennsylvania / Riverside
Diane Blair - Dallas, TX
Richard Blair - Dallas, TX
Don Lawler - Shreveport, LA
Paul Lawler - Shreveport, LA
Thanks, certainly, go to everyone who brought food - all the NLFF bunch - Mary Scarborough, Carmoleta White, John Fatherree, I hate to start naming names because I'm going to forget someone! Marcey Berry, Dick Waldrep - who else???
<<<<< Having fun! Some of the bunch, I think, trying new technology to figure out what's in my Little Mo' Wooly blend!!!!
My thanks to Bubba Smith, Texarkana, TX for showing us his shots from fishing in Slovenia, not to mention his pot of venison chili! "Mon Oncle" Larry Offner for his talk about the Rio and fishing New Orleans City Park! And to Gordon Shaw and his Fishing Farm Ponds program. I think this was the first time Gordon has done a presentation here! 
The most studious Bill Heugel (at right) presented a quite informative discussion of Fish Senses, what fish see smell and hear, that if any of you get the chance to see again at any other fly fishing event you will definitely want to check it out!
And in what has become a bit of a tradition Trout Program "head" biologist Jeff Williams returned to give us the latest reports and intentions of the AGFC as far as the fishery is concerned. Most enlightening, once again!
Jeff indicated that the Skinny Water Project may be a reality this summer or fall (2009) and discussed the beginnings of the plan for the access trail from Hind's Bluff upstream past River Ridge! Also, that there should be another batch of Browns heading this way in the coming weeks! Great stuff from the AGFC!
Our great thanks to Don Jackson of Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters as, not only did he bring his usual stuff from the store, but he kindly donated a TFO rod which we raffled off with proceeds going to the Friends of the Little Mo! We raised $380 for the Friends and the rod was won by my old buddy John Fatherree of Shreveport!
<<<<< Eight folks came out for the "Can You Take It" casting clinic on Sunday morning at Riverside!
And I was so pleased that Dan Bogler of the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Development Co was here to be a part and bring all of those River Ridge prints that he graciously allowed to be door prizes just for being around! I hope everyone who recieved or bought one outright truly appreciates what they took home with them!
Actually, I hope everyone appreciates whatever they may have taken home with them - new knowledge, techniques, gear, flies, new friends,
President's Day Weekend 2010! February 12-14th!
Accomodations:
For those wishing to camp out...
Dynamite Hill and Parker Creek Corps campgrounds near Narrows Dam - electricity and hot showers!
And The Crater of Diamonds State Park on the south side of M'boro - also electricity and hot showers!
American Heritage Inn - 870-285-2131 - 705 North Washington
Diamond John's Riverside Retreat - 870-285-4027 - 81 Roy Rd
Diamond Oaks Inn B&B - 870-285-1535 - 1701 South Washington
Little Shamrock Motel - 870-285-2342 - 919 North Washington
Miner's Rock Shop and Camp - 870-285-2722 - 2235 HWY 301 South
Queen of Diamonds Inn - 870-285-3105 - 318 North Washington
Swaha Lodge - 870-285-2272 - 205 Dynamite Hill Rd
Johnny Cox's Old Factory Site Cabin - 870-285-3819 - at the Factory Site
Mark Wiley's Fly Fishing Cottage - 870-904-0733 - Hwy 19 and Factory Site Rd
Terry Dickeson's White Oak Creek Cabin - near the Factory Site
We collect a very minimal registration fee of $5 per person or just $10 for the whole family. I want to keep that cost low but there are things I have to cover after all!
See you all there!!!
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