THE FLIP SIDE

Fame and fishing lures rewards of fish-story contest

Word from the water is that fishing is as good this spring as it's been in years. That bodes well for a bumper crop of fish stories this year for the annual Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette fish story contest, which starts today.

So you want to be a published author? Now is your big chance. Just enter your true fish story in the contest. It just might make the paper. If you win, you'll get a swell prize and bask in the glory of fish story fame that only this contest can bring.

We'll accept entries here at fish story central through May 31 and announce the winner here in NWA Outdoors sometime in June. We'll run the winning story, and the author's picture, along with all the other stories we can fit into the section.

Such a prestigious literary contest demands a great prize. Our 2016 fish story champion wins a fine selection of fishing lures courtesy of Arkie Lures in Springdale and from War Eagle Custom Lures in Rogers. They are almost guaranteed to catch the big one at your favorite lake, river or pond.

The contest is for true fish stories. No yarns. Stories can be about something that happened yesteryear or yesterday, on far away waters or right here on our Ozark waterways. Fish story scribes are welcome to attach or enclose a picture with their entry.

Here's how to enter. Write down your story. Send it in.

Email stories to [email protected]. Be sure to type "Fish Story Entry" or something similar in the subject line. Or, mail your fish story to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Fish Story Contest, 2560 N. Lowell Road, Springdale, Ark., 72764.

Be sure to include your name, the town you live in or near and a daytime phone number.

With fishing so good this spring, our trio of judges will be burning the eight-o'clock oil going over all the entries. Judges for this year's contest are Jon Hobson, angler extraordinaire; Anita Overbey, who holds down the fort at the Hobbs State Park visitor center, and my tom cat, Boat Dock.

The annual fish story contest may be the only competition that spills the beans with tips on winning. First, the contest is for fish stories, not fish novels. No long-winded fish story has ever won the contest. The early bird may get the worm, but short and sweet wins the fishing lures. Second, be sure to get your story in by May 31.

Some anglers, like George Rowland of Fayetteville, send in their fish stories before we even announce the contest. George enters the contest without fail every year and sent his story in about a month ago.

What better excuse to go fishing than the fish story contest. "Hon, I can't (insert your favorite chore here) because I gotta hit the lake and get a fish story for the contest."

Jot down your story on a Big Chief tablet. Write it on a napkin or shoot us a story via email. Good luck with your fishing and good luck in the contest.

Wanted: Your camping tips

Camping season is here and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette seeks camping tips from our readers for a feature to run in May.

Tips may be about any style of camping, including backpacking, canoe camping or car camping. Readers may submit more than one tip.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 04/26/2016

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