Stories by Flip Putthoff
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Pull Of The Oars
EVENT OFFERS TASTE OF ROWING FOR CREW OF 15
A crew of rowers skimming gracefully across the water is a sight to behold when members of the Rowing Club of Northwest Arkansas grasp the oars at Lake Fayetteville. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Trolling crank baits is one of the best ways to catch crappie, reports Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Deer Season Review Brings Good News
THIS YEAR’S HUNT A SUCCESS ON SEVERAL FRONTS
A subscription to Arkansas Wildlife, the magazine of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, is a bargain at $12 per year. It’s worth the price this month alone to read Cory Gray’s recap of the 2012-13 deer season. Continue reading...
Bass Team Notches Fourth Win
Harrison Anglers First At Chamber Tourney With 23.32 Pounds
Johnny Hagood and Garry Bundy won the 22nd annual Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce buddy bass tournament held Saturday at Beaver Lake with six bass weighing 22.32 pounds. Continue reading...
LIVIN’ LARGE
COMMISSION PROJECT’S GOAL IS MORE LARGEMOUTH BASS
Largemouth bass are among the most prized game fish at Beaver Lake. Anglers may catch even more if a project by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission is successful. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Black bass are spawning, reports John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: More Than One Way To Catch A Bass
CHOICES WIDE OPEN FOR CHAMBER TOURNAMENT
In the grand scheme of fishing contests on Beaver Lake, the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce buddy bass tournament is king of the hill as far as the number of anglers. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Crappie are biting, but anglers should fish deeper than usual because of a rising lake level. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Sun Sets On Spring Gobblers, Hunters
OUTLOOK BRIGHTER FOR OZARKS’ WILD TURKEYS
When the sun sets on Sunday, the last day of spring turkey season, hunters may hear one last gobble from a wise old tom, strutting with its fanned tail in the evening glow. Continue reading...
More Morel Mushrooms Mark Meadows
POPULAR HUNTING SEASON SHORT
One of Arkansas most popular hunting seasons is a short one, but there’s no limit when the quest is for those delightfully delicious spring delicacies, morel mushrooms. Continue reading...
Foundation Off And Running
Group's Aim To Complete Projects At Beaver Lake
With Beaver Lake shimmering blue in the background, officials with the Beaver Lake Foundation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the legal document that allows the foundation to begin assisting the corps with projects around the lake. Continue reading...
EGG-STRA EFFORT
PROJECT FOCUSES ON RESIDENT GEESE
Volunteers armed with cooking oil, not shotguns, hope to reduce the number of resident Canada geese here closer to zero, one goose egg at a time. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Decisions Abound In Swing Of Spring
APRIL SERVES UP PLATTER OF CHOICES
The last paragraph my tomcat, Boat Dock, penned in his fine outdoors column last week was, “April in Arkansas. You gotta love it.” Actually it was an OK column, but if I don’t say it’s fine I get a full-claw swipe across the ankle. Continue reading...
Silver Anniversary
FESTIVAL MARKS 25 YEARS OF OFF-ROAD RIDING
Bike riders offered a tip of their helmets as Arkansas’ longest-running mountain biking event, the Ozark Mountain Bike Festival, marked its silver anniversary earlier this month. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Fishing seems to get better every day for crappie and white bass. Continue reading...
FLW Weigh-Ins Draw Fishing Fans
Hammons Center Packed For Expo, Show Of Bass
It becomes obvious, quick as a bass can bite, that fishing fans at an FLW Tour weigh-in come more for their love of fishing and not the eye-popping show of big bass. Continue reading...
Program Gets Veterans Fishing
‘Operation Troop Salute’ Follows FLW Tour
Army veteran Chad Rozanski wanted the same thing as the Walmart FLW Tour anglers fishing near him Friday at Beaver Lake. Continue reading...
FLW Anglers Climb Ladder
Professional Fishing Takes Skill, Dedication, Money
The casual fisherman sees glittery boats, fancy jerseys festooned with sponsor logos and big, big bass. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Good catches of white bass are coming from the War Eagle and White River arms as the spawning run progresses. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Mulberry Ride Leads To Pie
COUNTRY CUISINE PART OF SCENIC TRIP
One of Arkansas’ most scenic drives is a special treat on any Sunday afternoon. It’s even better when seen at 10 mph on a bicycle. Continue reading...
Ready To Reel
FLW TOURNAMENT STARTS TODAY AT BEAVER LAKE
Visiting pros on the Walmart FLW Tour have fingers and toes crossed that the good bass fishing local anglers have enjoyed this spring will hang on through the high-stakes tournament that starts today at Beaver Lake. Continue reading...
Under The Sea
Fish fanciers appreciate colorful show of fins
Stand for 10 minutes in front of John George’s aquarium, and it’s easy to see how keepers of the fish-filled tanks become such cheerleaders for their pastime. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: The white bass run is on. Catches of over 100 white bass are reported from the White and War Eagle river arms of Beaver and in the area of Point 12. Continue reading...
KNACK FOR NATURE
OUTDOORS IS CLASSROOM FOR MASTER NATURALISTS
Students in this year’s Arkansas Master Naturalist class may find themselves wading knee-deep in an Ozark stream one Saturday, then studying trees in a forest of springtime green the next. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Gravel-Bar Coffee Quicker Than Instant
BACHELORS LEARN TRICKS OF FLOAT-CAMPING GAME
The season is here for that most hallowed of local traditions, the Ozark float trip. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Are The White Bass Running Yet?
WARM TEMPERATURES NEEDED TO JUMP-START FISHING
It’s fitting that Monday is April Fool’s Day the way spring has disguised itself as winter so far. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Tools Give Money’s Worth
RELIABILITY A REFRESHING CHANGE FOR COLUMNIST
When the satellite television receiver went on the blink last month, I blamed it on old age — of the equipment, not the viewer. Continue reading...
Birder’s Big Year
QUEST TAKES STUDENT TO ALL CORNERS OF STATE
Mitchell Pruitt may have accomplished what no other Arkansas high school student has done. Continue reading...
Paddlers’ Plan B
FLOATERS ADAPT TO QUICK CHANGE IN RIVER
Paddlers on streams like the War Eagle sometimes settle for what the river gives them and not hope for gifts the river keeps. Continue reading...
COMMENTARY: Proposal Would Lift Bass Limit
ANGLERS MAY BE ABLE TO KEEP SPOTTED VARIETY NEXT YEAR
Starting next year, anglers may be allowed to keep any spotted bass they catch at Beaver Lake regardless of size. Continue reading...
Roar Of The Crowd
ANGLERS SHARE STORIES AT START OF SEASON
SELIGMAN, Mo.- Dan Van Laningham learns something new every March on the opening day of trout fishing at Roaring River State Park. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Pro Dislikes Bassmaster Finish
MCCLELLAND TAKES FIFTH PLACE
To the casual angler, finishing fifth in the Bassmaster Classic seems like a dream come true. Pros like Mike McClelland of Bella Vista set the bar higher. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Fishermen Renew Friendship
Opening Day Of Catch, Keep Season Draws Thousands
There’s more than trout to the annual openingday pilgrimage that’s expected to bring 2,300 fishermen to Roaring River State Park on Friday. Continue reading...
Trail Trifecta
Teacher Lays Down Triple Set Of Tracks
ROGERS — Bikers, hikers and horseback riders at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area never know which Chris Cantwell they’ll see on the trail. Continue reading...
HIKE ON HIGH
HOME VALLEY BLUFF A NATURAL TRAIL TO LOFTY SIGHTS
Forests, lakes and streams are lyrics of the siren song that draws wanderers to the Ozarks from afar. Magnificent views like the one from Home Valley Bluff might be the chorus. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Black bass and crappie are biting at Beaver Lake this week, reports John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Continue reading...
State To Host Fisheries Conference
It’s never too early to start planning when you’re hosting a shindig for 2,000 guests. Continue reading...
SEASON TO REMEMBER
YOUNG HUNTER’S ACCOMPLISHMENT BRINGS AWARD
FAYETTEVILLE — Winning the Triple Trophy Award for deer hunting is an occasion for any hunter to celebrate. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: What’s more romantic than a Valentine’s Day fishing trip? Pack along some jerk baits and crank baits for black bass, or minnows and jigs for crappie. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Getting Lost Is Easy To Do
NO ONE PLANS ON LOSING THEIR WAY
A couple of us were riding our mountain bikes after work at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area when we rolled up behind two hikers on the Hidden Diversity Multiuse Trail. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Much-needed rain that fell last week has brought muddy water to the south end of the Lake. Continue reading...
Trout Stocking Program On Hold
BELLA VISTA — Anglers should still catch rainbow trout into next fall at Lake Brittany, even though the fish are no longer stocked. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Bass Circuits Expand For Anglers
FIRST CASTS TO TAKE PLACE AT TOURNAMENT IN MARCH
Bass fishermen at Beaver Lake have two new bass circuits to choose from as the 2013 tournament season kicks into gear. Continue reading...
Oh, The Memories
FISHING DAYS RELIVED IN PHOTOS
TEAGLE ROCK, Mo. - There’s no telling how many thousands of watery miles J.D. Fletcher logged during the decades he worked as a fishing guide on the Kings River and Table Rock Lake. Continue reading...
Warming To Winter
ANGLERS FIND BASS EAGER TO BITE AT SWEPCO LAKE
Anglers who wish it was springtime all the time only need to wet a hook at Swepco Lake. Hot water flowing from the Flint Creek Power Plant on the lake’s eastern shore keeps the reservoir warm as July even in January. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Jerk baits are the top lure for black bass at Beaver Lake. Continue reading...
Day Among Birds
HIKES, TALKS HIGHLIGHT QUEST FOR FEATHERS
ROCKY BRANCH — There’s reason to cherish Beaver Lake for its bountiful drinking water, fishing, boating, shoreline picnicking and hiking. Continue reading...
NWA FISHING REPORT
Beaver Lake: Jerk baits are the top lure for black bass, reports John Hodge at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers. Continue reading...
THE FLIP SIDE: Big Trout Turning Heads
STOCKING PROGRAM UNCERTAIN FOR BELLA VISTA’S LAKE BRITTANY
There’s good news and bad from Lake Brittany in Bella Vista, where rainbow trout rule the roost during winter. Continue reading...
EAGLE SCOUTS
RAPTORS PUT ON SEASONAL SHOW AT BEAVER LAKE
ROCKY BRANCH — Warm, inviting water brings visitors to Beaver Lake during the summer. Continue reading...
