Stories by Flip Putthoff

Nature on the west side: Trail sights unfold on west side of creek BELLA VISTA -- Hikers and bikers can take the high road, the low road or both during a streamside adventure along Little Sugar Creek. The stream flows through the heart of Bella Vista, past manicured... May 11, 2021

Family farm offers camping in style No worries about waking up in a puddle of rain water when tent camping at Little Sugar Farm. Guests can still savor the soothing sound of rain at night on a fabric roof when camping in style along Li... May 11, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Volunteers needed at river The 16th annual West Fork of the White River Cleanup will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Several local nonprofits and businesses are hosting the volunteer event. V... May 11, 2021

Applications accepted for elk permits The application period for Arkansas's public land elk hunting permits is open and runs through June 1. Hunters interested in pursuing Arkansas elk can apply at https://ar-web.s3licensing.com and sele... May 11, 2021

Schools program takes students outdoors Teachers looking for ways to incorporate the outdoors into physical education can have ready-made curricula ready to go for next school year through a new program offered by the Arkansas Game and Fish... May 11, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Black bass can be caught with a variety of lures. Aaron Jolliff at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the top three are top-water lures, spinner baits and any soft plastic lure such as... May 11, 2021

Feathers over fins: Hatchery a haven for birds and birders Some visitors at the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery focus on what's above the water, not the newborn fish swimming beneath. The hatchery's 17 fish-rearing ponds and their grassy and wooded banks a... May 4, 2021

Night owls gig for bullfrogs Bullfrogs should be sounding off at night soon. That means frog-gigging fanatics will be back to chasing them on ponds and lakes throughout Arkansas. Bullfrog season opened April 15 and will run thro... May 4, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Some hefty striped bass are being caught. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said several stripers of 20 pounds or larger have been caught, including a 37-pounder caught in l... May 4, 2021

Program stocks lakes with catfish The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission delivered catchable-sized channel catfish to lakes across the state the last week of April. That includes renovated Lake Bentonville. The community lake recently... May 4, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Seed collectors needed Project Wingspan, a regional seed collection and habitat effort of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, seeks area volunteer seed collectors and collection sites. Volunte... May 4, 2021

Slice of river life: Farmstead unveils pioneer spirit along Buffalo National River The welcome mat is out at the Parker-Hickman farmstead along the Buffalo National River. Standing on the front porch at the log home of this pioneer farm, one can almost hear a shout of "Come on in,"... April 27, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Bowhunters set archery shoot Cherokee Bowhunters archery club will host a 3D shoot Saturday at the Fort Crowder archery range east of Neosho, Mo. The course features 30 targets. Cost is $12 for adul... April 27, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Fishing for crappie has improved. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers recommends fishing for crappie with jigs or minnows 15 to 20 feet deep on the north half of the lake or f... April 27, 2021

Jigs get nod for springtime crappie Lots of anglers ditch their catfish poles and bass-fishing rods this time of year to catch a mess of crappie. With a slew of spinners, crank baits, grubs and other bait choices available, we asked th... April 27, 2021

Prize fish almost one that got away Odds were in the fish's favor when Tyler Hickman of Lowell hooked into a whale of a bass worth $5,000 during the ninth annual Pagnozzi Parker Charities Big Bass Tournament at Beaver Lake. When the fi... April 27, 2021

Prizes 'a plenty in fish story contest What happens at the lake stays at the lake, unless there's a big fish involved. Then it gets spread all over town in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's annual fish story contest. This year we'v... April 20, 2021

No license, no limit: Hunters roam woods for morel mushrooms PINEVILLE, Mo. — Melissa Nichols of Jane, Mo., may be the best mentor in the art of mushroom hunting. Nichols will find a morel mushroom anywhere in her peripheral vision, almost guaranteed. She’s de... April 20, 2021

Sylamore tops for turkeys, recreation Sylamore Wildlife Management Area ranked No. 4 among the state's top public hunting areas for turkey harvest in 2020. "Turkey and deer would be its strong points," said Jeremy Wood, turkey program co... April 20, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Striped bass are going for brood minnows or shad on the south half of the lake. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said the best fishing is from Prairie Creek park south to P... April 20, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Ozark-a-thon tests mettle Ozark Natural Science Center in Madison County will host the four-day Ozark-a-thon, hiking, biking and paddling event Thursday through Sunday to raise money for the center. ... April 20, 2021

Youth hunters bag gobblers Turkey hunters 6 to 15 years old harvested 813 birds during Arkansas' youth turkey season held April 10 and 11. Jeremy Wood, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission turkey program coordinator, said the prel... April 18, 2021

Knobby tires, trail tradition: Mountain bike festival celebrates off-road riding No cyclist in his right mind would pedal a perfectly good mountain bike down a steep hill and into an icy creek just for grins. Whoops and hollers sounded from a grinning crowd on the shore of Lee Cr... April 13, 2021

NWA fishing report BEAVER LAKE Time to chow down on some Ozark surf and turf with the white bass biting and morel mushrooms popping. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers recommends fishing for white bass in ... April 13, 2021

April in Arkansas means white bass Fishermen know that when dogwoods bloom, white bass are on their spawning run up the tributaries of Beaver Lake and reservoirs across the Ozarks. Today we offer a basic course on catching white bass, ... April 13, 2021

Follow the fins: Crappie move to shallow end Anglers are hot on the crappie trail as the water warms at Lake Sequoyah on the east edge of Fayetteville. Mike McBride of Winslow follows the tasty panfish as they move from deep water in late winte... April 6, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake White bass fishing is picking up in the White and War Eagle tributaries. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said fishing is best in the Twin Bridges area of the White River. ... April 6, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Group sets trail treks Hill 'N Dale hiking club will explore several of the region's trails this month. A hike is set for Wednesday on a section of the Tunnel Vision trail that is part of the Sugar ... April 6, 2021

Royal Ozarks gorge: Rocky hollow a natural for nature park Plenty of picnic tables dot this walk in the park. So do colorful bluffs, clear-flowing streams and waterfalls galore. Elk, white-tail deer and bison call this 10,000-acre swath of Ozarks home at Dog... March 30, 2021

Festival celebrates off-road biking The 32nd annual Ozark Mountain Bike Festival at Devil's Den State Park is Friday through Sunday, featuring mountain bike rides, a mountain bike poker run and the popular big splash contest. Most ride... March 30, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Hike explores Tunnel Vision Hill 'N Dale hiking club will hike April 7 in Bella Vista on a section of the Tunnel Vision trail. This is a 6.2-mile out and back hike. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Scotsdale g... March 30, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Striped bass are feeding on shad around the islands north of the Arkansas 12 bridge. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said striper fishing is "hit or miss" around the islan... March 30, 2021

Boat-launch practice pays dividends at ramp With the surge in boat sales comes platoons of new skippers eager to enjoy Beaver Lake once the water warms. It's easy to tow a brand new boat home. Getting it in and out of the water can be another s... March 30, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Park plans prescribed burns Pea Ridge National Military Park will conduct prescribed burns at times during the next several weeks. Burns will take place as weather conditions permit. Parts of the pa... March 23, 2021

Opening delayed for some Beaver campsites The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open some of its most popular Beaver Lake parks for the season April 1. Opening of certain camping areas at Prairie Creek, Horseshoe Bend and Dam Site River park... March 23, 2021

Program helps identify venomous snakes Learn to identify Arkansas' venomous snakes during a free online workshop set for 6 p.m. Thursday. The presenter is Lori Monday, a regional educator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The wo... March 23, 2021

Water, water always Nature has created a wealth of creeks and rivers that twist through quiet hollows. Yet the hand of man shaped one shining gem in the tiara of Ozark streams. The White River below Beaver Dam is a padd... March 23, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake White bass and striped bass are biting on the south end of Beaver Lake and moving into the tributaries. Reese Jones at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said striper fishing is good with b... March 23, 2021

Catch of day goes from stream to grill A smoked trout dinner is a tasty finale to a fine day of trout fishing on the White River or anywhere these spirited fighters are found. Think of smoked anything and the mind conjures visions of the ... March 23, 2021

Lake takes the cake: Outdoor adventures abound at park Hikers, kayakers and mountain bikers get plenty of bang for their recreational buck at Lincoln Lake. There's so much to do at the 90-acre lake, it'd take a small trailer to haul enough gear to sample... March 18, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Burns set for battlefield Pea Ridge National Military Park will conduct prescribed burns during the next several weeks. Burns will take place as weather conditions permit. Parts of the park and trai... March 16, 2021

Tight lines for big fish: Effort aims to keep stripers biting at Beaver Lake Area anglers and fishermen from across the nation head to Beaver Lake to feel the strong pull from a big, hard-fighting striped bass. Catching one is a downright giddy, heart-pounding fishing experie... March 16, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Striped bass are prowling the south half of the lake. Larry Walker at Hook, Line and Sinker in Rogers said anglers report catching stripers with brood minnows from Prairie Creek park sou... March 16, 2021

Forest loop a park original: Shaddox Hollow was first at Hobbs With so many new trails around the region, it's good to put one foot in front of the other on some of the first pathways built for hiking decades ago. That includes Shaddox Hollow Trail in the heart ... March 16, 2021

Wander by the water: Hikes lead to woods and waves at Beaver Lake Skippers in fast boats ply the rippled water at Beaver Lake. Slow strolls along shoreline trails offer a more leisurely experience on land. Seven trails for hiking meander through the Army Corps of E... March 9, 2021

Birds took hit during deep freeze People weren't the only ones shivering during the subzero cold and snow in mid-February. Birds, too, felt the brunt of the polar vortex. The record freeze killed untold numbers of birds, particularly... March 9, 2021

NWA outdoor briefs Hike explores Devil's Den Hill 'N Dale hiking club will hike 5.6 miles March 16 along the Fossil Flats Loop at Devil's Den State Park south of West Fork. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Lee Creek trailhead ne... March 9, 2021

Goose hunters enjoy extra season The polar vortex that descended on Arkansas and many other states prompted hundreds of duck and goose hunters in Arkansas to ask if birds had finally arrived. With warmer-than-normal conditions acros... March 9, 2021

NWA fishing report Beaver Lake Black bass fishing is tough, reports Aaron Jolliff at Hook Line and Sinker in Rogers. Cold water and a shad kill have created difficult fishing conditions. Bass are gorging on dying shad a... March 4, 2021

No headline SHOW OF ANTLERS Bull elk lounge at the edge of a meadow Feb. 21 in Boxley Valley near the Buffalo National River. (Courtesy photo/Terry Stanfill) SHOW OF ANTLERS Bull elk lounge at the edge of a meado... March 4, 2021